The Potential of Digital Business Models in the New Energy Eonomy

11.01.2022

solarni paneli - solar panels — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bill-Mead)

The pace of digitalisation in the energy sector has accelerated rapidly in recent years, leading to a transformation of many traditional business models. Thanks to innovative technologies and access to new types of data, new revenue streams and services have emerged, costs have been reduced and barriers to new market entrants have been lowered. Energy companies continue to find novel ways of doing business and engaging with their customers.

This article highlights the potential of digital business models to facilitate clean energy transitions, with a particular focus on how they can enhance energy efficiency and demand-side flexibility. It also identifies a set of general recommendations for governments to support the scaling up of innovative business models.

The energy system is undergoing deep structural change as electrification becomes more prevalent across industries and energy-demand patterns shift. According to the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE), 240 million rooftop photo-voltaic solar systems and 1.6 billion electric cars are integrated into the power system by the middle of this century, while more than 85 percent of the world’s existing building stock is retrofitted to meet standards that are zero-carbon ready. The average annual rate of economy-wide energy efficiency improvement doubles through to 2030, compared with the average over the last ten years to 2020, in NZE. To achieve this, the flexibility of future low-carbon electricity systems (based on hour-to-hour ramping needs) quadruples to accommodate variable sources of renewable power. Batteries and greater demand-side response deliver about half of NZE flexibility improvements. Thus, accelerating action in the current decade is crucial for meeting these climate objectives.

Under the NZE, annual investments in clean energy increase to around USD 4 trillion by 2030. Close to 70 percent of that is borne by the private sector – consumers and investors, who will be reacting to price signals and government policies. The required measures – including building retrofits, installations of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other initiatives – all involve high up-front capital investments. Reaching this level of financial commitment is a huge challenge, particularly – but not exclusively – in emerging markets and developing economies.

Given the magnitude of the investments needed, and the rapid pace of change required, many legacy business models in the energy-service sector may not be up to the challenge. Rapidly adapting their physical equipment and infrastructure to customers’ changing needs is difficult, for example, and their analog methods of data collection are labour-intensive and yield limited insights.

In contrast, digital business models are software-driven. Having access to more granular data, combined with advanced analytics capability, allows digitally enabled companies to more accurately quantify the benefits their solutions bring to customers. This can also help speed the development of new products and services. Digital tools and platforms can ease and accelerate the energy transition by facilitating efficiency and demand-side flexibility. At the same time, digitalisation creates new business opportunities and revenue streams for energy service providers, while helping consumers to better understand their energy use and lower their bills.

Source: IEA

EBRD and EU Promote Energy Efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina

10.01.2022

solar-panels-solarna-energija-krov-kuća-zgrada — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are stepping up support for Bosnia and Herzegovina by providing a EUR 6 million financial package to help it improve the energy efficiency of its public buildings.

The package includes a EUR 4.5 million EBRD loan and a EUR 1 million investment grant from the EU, and will finance energy efficiency measures in 20 public buildings in Republika Srpska, including 16 schools and 3 hospitals. In addition, the EU is providing a EUR 500,000 technical assistance grant for project implementation.

The energy measures will include thermal insulation, new windows, upgraded heating, ventilation and cooling systems, and energy efficient lighting. Once these improvements have been made, managers will be appointed to monitor the energy consumption and performance of each building.

The improvements are expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 90 percent, heat consumption by around 80 percent and electricity consumption by 63 percent.

Manuela Naessl, EBRD Head of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: “We are extremely happy to see this project signed, not only because it is aimed at improving energy efficiency in schools and hospitals, but also because this is a novel business model that will see public buildings contributing to loan repayment from achieved energy savings.”

The investment will be implemented with support from the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund of Republika Srpska. Public buildings are expected to share at least 50 percent of energy savings with the Fund during the loan tenor to help with the repayment. This type of energy efficiency fund transactions is the first of its kind, not only in Republika Srpska, but also in the wider Western Balkans region.

The EU funds are secured from the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme, which is supported by the EBRD, the European Union, bilateral donors and beneficiary countries cooperating under the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

The EBRD and EU are also supporting energy efficiency improvements in public buildings of Sarajevo. The project, which includes renovating 40 public buildings, is already under way.

Since it began operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996, the EBRD has invested EUR 2.7 billion in 193 projects in the country.

Source: EBRD

Loyal Partners In Serbia’s Green Transition

08.01.2022

Some would say that after 70 years of existence, a company would not have any challenges to face. Tetra Pak company’s employees are still full of life and energy, but also responsible towards future generations, in terms of food safety and environmental protection. It arrived in Serbia as a pioneer of foreign investments and kept growing together with the country’s economic prosperity.

Globally speaking, Tetra Pak is a leader in multilayered food and beverage cardboard packaging and process equipment for this industry. Their products reach more than 160 markets around the world, whereas more than 25,000 employees work daily to ensure food safety everywhere and anytime. The current global covid-19-related crisis has proven how much what they do matters for the food industry and the functioning of the economy as a whole. Their entire business model relies on two assumptions: (1) food safety and (2) sustainable development – and these intertwine in everything they do.

Dragan Rajković, Regional Director of Sustainable Development at Tetra Pak Central and Eastern Europe, says the sector he manages covers the development of the circular economy through investments in recycling and cooperation with state authorities in the most efficient packaging waste management systems. Besides that, it is worth mentioning biodiversity protection through responsible resource management and complete certification of all naturally processed materials, as well as fighting climate changes by using low-carbon materials and reduction of emissions throughout the production and value chain.

In focus:

“Since our very beginning here, Serbia has been our reliable business partner and an ever-full source of talents for domestic and global operations. One of our priorities is to establish and develop an efficient packaging waste management system. It would reduce the amount of waste, develop the necessary gathering and sorting infrastructure, as well the competitiveness of all kinds of packaging waste among recyclers. We make a lot of effort as Tetra Pak, but also with the Serbian industry associations to point out to the Serbian government about the best European and global examples and create packaging waste depositing system to serve as an example for this part of the world. Recently, we proved in Kragujevac and Belgrade that this is possible and that the citizens respond to this very positively and ask for more gathering and packaging depositing devices, so there are no obstacles whatsoever for any packaging materials to enter the depositing system. A recent study by a well-known research company showed the same results,” Rajković says.

The goal is a comprehensive packaging deposit

At the moment, Serbia and the region need to get a solution that is to form a full circle of circular economy, that would not confuse the consumers nor discriminate climate-friendly packaging solutions, such as cardboard packaging. Only a comprehensive depositing system is a good and efficient system. All other options mean waste piling and increasing costs per waste unit.

“Our goal is very simple, and it subsumes that not a single Tetra Pak pack becomes waste. Our ambition is to collect and recycle 90 percent of our packaging by 2030. Serbia is definitely on that track. Currently, there are two Tetra Pak packaging recyclers in Serbia. These are Feplo factory from Čačak and Brzan Plast from Batočina. We have partnered in the latter almost a decade ago on the installation of the first complete recycling plant for used Tetra Pak packaging.

Most municipalities enable the citizens to correctly dispose of used Tetra Pak packaging, which is then recycled in the aforementioned plants.

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RECYCLING.

Translator Vesna Savić

A Green-Oriented Business

06.01.2022

Pellets produced in the Eko Step Pellet factory have lower CO2 gas emissions, contain minimal moisture, and when burnt, the ash is below 1.2 percent, which is within the European A2 standards, with a tendency of reducing to A1. Besides that, pellet fuels are produced from raw materials that are of 100 percent domestic origin, namely from bogue trees coming from highly controlled sources. Due to high quality, they also bear the Serbian Čuvarkuća (Homekeeper) trademark, which is one of the bi recommendations for the buyers.

Nevertheless, considering the extent of the shadow economy and imports of uncertified pellets at lower prices, domestic pellets producers are facing a real problem. How can the authorities help solve this problem and how to encourage the citizens to switch from coal, oil, or wood to non-woody biomass boilers – we asked these and many other questions to Jadranka Stepanović, the owner of Eko Step Pellet, a company that abides by business eco-standards even in her Ramonda Hotel on the Rtanj mountain in East Serbia.

EP: How important are pellet fuels for environmental protection and energy efficiency?

Jadranka Stepanović: Our orientation towards environmental protection is unquestionable. Eko Step Pellet is a superb example of biomass use as an energy product and the production of pellets by applying the highest environmental standards. We produce pellets from bogue trees cut down for heating purposes, without mixing other kinds of trees and extraneous matters, which makes them high-calorie energy products and of high quality in terms of ecology. Pellets produced in this factory have low CO2 gas emissions, contain minimal moisture, and when burnt, the ash ratio is below 1.2 percent. Pellets are produced from 100 percent domestic raw materials. What is important for environmental protection, and above all forest capacities, is the fact that Eko Step Pellet company has signed a 10-year long contract with “Srbijašume”, a public company from Serbia, therefore allowing the procurement of bogue for the production of our pellets from highly controlled sources. Bogue coming to our factories is a tree meant to be cut down, in order to restore the forests in Serbia through afforestation, i. e. through constantly planting new trees.

In focus:

EP: What is the capacity of your Petrovac on the Mlava river factory? How many employees do you have?

Jadranka Stepanović: The installed capacity of our production line is 5 tones of pellets per hour, and factory potential can reach up to 35,000 tones per year. There are 43 hardworking and highly motivated employees in our factory, that are the heart and soul of the Eko Step Pellet company. We are especially proud of our five female colleagues who would, along with other colleagues, do anything to challenge gender equality stereotypes. We are all but a humble team ready to meet new challenges and succeed.

EP: What challenges and problems have the producers of pellets been facing this year?

Jadranka Stepanović: The biggest problem in pellets production is the gigantic disturbance in the electricity market in Serbia, but also in Europe. Namely, the price of electricity per kilowatt-hour increased rapidly in the past couple of months, therefore causing the rise of production prices of raw materials we use in the production of pellet fuels. The increase in prices also includes the price of wood assortments (in our case, of bogue), bag foils, and stretch wrap film. I would like to also add that we support the suggestion of Mr. Marko Čadež, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, that the contracts we have with the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) continue to be valid under the prices previously set for another 120 days until we see what the European and global market situation will be! That would save the industry, as well as the end-consumers of pellet fuels! Another problem we have is the fact that, even though the construction of solar power plants and wind farms is expanding, their electricity production still cannot respond to high market demands. In the long term, the strengthening of EU capacities of renewable energy is probably going to help the sector to satiate the demand for clean and inexpensive energy sources. However, due to the marginal market system, and until big batteries for renewable energy storage in cases of bad weather are developed, the EU member states will keep facing similar situations. Another problem for pellets manufacturers is the black market as well as the import of non-certified pellets. Low prices of unverified manufacturers cause distrust in the domestic pellets manufacturers. Low prices of pellets guarantee neither quality nor their fuel power. Moreover, buying uncertified pellets causes problems for consumers’ pellets boilers. Eko Step Pellet, as a laureate of the Best of Serbia 2019 award and holder of the Čuvarkuća trademark, guarantees the quality of pellets it manufactures, so consumers can fully trust its price and quality ratio.

Interviewed by: Danijela Isailović

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RECYCLING.

Translator Vesna Savić

For Bosnia Without Trash

05.01.2022

safet kubat — Fotografija: ljubaznošću Safeta Kubata

An informal Facebook group, whose goal is to make the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina become ecologically aware, has reached almost 53,000 members after nearly two years of existence, thus becoming a real eco-movement, that organized numerous wild landfill cleaning activities, afforestation as well as fish stocking activities. Safet Kubat, an activist and group leader, explains what the biggest ecology-related problems in BiH are and why the group “Be the change” is so special.

Over the course of more than 12 years, Safet Kubat from Zenica was an activist for many causes, but also he focused on serious scientific methods for resolving different social and ecological problems. For a long time, he felt a flame of trying to solve environmental problems and apply his knowledge in practice so as to mobilize his community. He firmly believes that it does not make sense to talk about the EU and NATO integrations without having first dealt with waste, i. e. waste in its widest form. This is how in early 2020 he created a Facebook group titled “The rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Be the change“, which now has 53,000 members and has become a distinguished phenomenon and factor.

EP: How did the idea to create this Facebook group occur to you?

Safet Kubat: For a long time there was a spark in me wanting to solve waste problems, wild landfills, and at the end of the day to have Bosnia without waste, because that really pains me. The experience from western countries teaches us that waste is treated as a resource. For example, Sweden uses waste for heating, and it even purchases waste from Norway. Secondly, there is also the love for certain parts of BiH, the love I feel for rivers, for the Una River in particular. However, there was this one event that changed all for me. While we were mapping wild landfills in the municipality of Zavidovići, trying to make the authorities do their job, a man was passing by with a cart full of waste, just passing by a waste container and uphill for about 100 meters, over a goat track, to throw the waste out into the nature. He then went back happy, as if he had felt some kind of relief. I asked him: Wow, man, was that good? He responded: I cannot describe how happy I am having done that. I was left standing in awe and have been thinking about that event for a long time. When I asked him if he realized what he has done to nature, how he polluted the forest and the water he drinks, he gazed at me confused. Of course, I had to report him, but even today I have no idea whether he was punished or not, but that is a completely different problem. And then I created the group, without even thinking about the number of its members, but to become visible and have a tool for solving environmental problems.

In focus:

EP: Who are your supporters and what is the feedback you get?

Safet Kubat: In terms of support, our group is specific in that domain as well. We do not receive any donations, nor do we have commercial programs or accept sponsorship. The goal of all this is that the group remains autonomous, as well as the movement, that we are rapidly forming. Our biggest strengths are our activists, as a new form of activism, that does not originate from a typical civil sector. Here I must highlight media support, which mainly support us and our eco-activities. The feedback we get is amazing and originates mainly from the citizens, which gives us further strength but also raises our responsibility. This is all because the citizens want real social changes and problem-solving, not only pipe dreams. The activists roll up their sleeves and work, without much ado. This resulted in more than 2500 different cleaning activities.

EP: The group gains more and more followers who virtually support your work and the ideas you aspire to. What is the real situation when you are in the field?

Safet Kubat: In order to prove that our group is not merely a place to comment and publish articles, I am going to list some numbers that might answer your question best. Among other things, I would like to highlight 2,560 cleaning activities in various locations, more than 60,000 trees planted, as well as more than 55,000 fish in rivers and tributaries in our restocking activities. We have reported more than 100 polluters to the inspection, be it citizens or companies, and there are also numerous petitions, protests, amendments of laws, and active participation in public disputes. We have recorded more than 10,000 videos and published 22,000 posts in the group, that have more than 450 million views. I wish to mention a big eco-activity in the town of Zenica where we took more than 850 eco-activists to the streets, in only a few hours, and gathered 30 tons of waste, and set up 12 big eco-billboards.

Interviewed by: Milena Maglovski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RECYCLING.

Translator Vesna Savić

Ball Uses Recycling to Dominate the Global Market

04.01.2022

Every day in the market we see new products being made with only one goal, which is to make our lives easier. Only a few of us would ask how much does manufacturing such new things (that are more or less needed or completely unneeded) affect the environment, and it is almost certain that the majority of them, by the end of their lifetime, is to end up in landfills.

Recycling is a process involving the collection and processing of materials that would otherwise wind up at landfills, with the goal of transforming them into new products. When we recycle, we reduce using natural resources, protect natural plant and animal habitats, decrease water pollution, save energy, shrink carbon emissions and the amount of waste in landfills. And while some materials are rarely or hardly ever recycled, some can be recycled innumerable times. Aluminum is one of the metals that can be recycled innumerable times.

In that process, aluminum does not lose any of its features, nor is its metal structure being destroyed. Recycled aluminum is in no way different than the original, and, interestingly, one in two supermarket cans are recycled at least once and come from Ball Packaging Europe’s factories. In our conversation with Jelena Kiš, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs Manager for Central and Eastern Europe at Ball Packaging Europe corporation, we have had the chance to talk about her company, recycling, environmental protection, and their plans for the future.

EP: How long has it been since your company had started working on creating a cleaner environment in Serbia?

Jelena Kiš: Ball is present in Serbia for more than 16 years now and from day one we have been continuously working on contributing to our economic growth and environmental protection. Economically speaking, I would like to highlight that more than 250 of our workers produce around 1.5 billion cans a year, 80 percent of which is made for exports into more than 20 global markets. We are extremely proud of the fact that Belgrade has become the operational center for the entire Ball EMEA global business (GBS) team. Product development, technology, and people, above all, are at the core of our plans, along with long-term priorities such as dedication to sustainability in all business segments.

In focus:

The Recan Foundation – a non-profit recycling organization – was founded in 2005. The Foundation supported “Every Can Matters”, an international partnership program between can and beverage manufacturers, the recycling industry, and environmental organizations. There are already 1,000 locations in the system, thanks to the Foundation’s activities and constant regional campaigns. After collecting the cans, right before their recycling, they are being transformed into an authentic work of art – the Pixelata. It is a mural made up of used cans the creatives play with and mix and match in order to create a real visual. For years now, in different music festivals and other events in Serbia and the region, the Pixelata has held its special place and, together with the Foundation, it serves to raise awareness on the importance of recycling, especially in the youth. This is our priority, and it is what we are going to work hard on and devotedly in the future as well.

EP: When it comes to your company, is there room for improvement in this area in Serbia?

Jelena Kiš: As one of the biggest global manufacturers of “packaging of the future”, we are aware of the responsibility we have and we have accepted at the highest possible level. Together with interest groups across the industry, we are undertaking several activities in order to introduce solutions for the climate crisis and develop and promote the best methods, policies, and procedures for establishing a completely circulatory system of aluminum beverage packaging.

We have published a vision for our industry titled “Towards the Perfect Circle”, defining how, if we work together, we can top the 90 percent recycling rate of the most recycled beverage packaging in the world – the aluminum cans, bottles, and glasses – in comparison to current 69percent, and increase the global average of recycled materials up to a whopping 85 percent.

Consumers around Europe and the world seek ever more truly sustainable packaging that can be endlessly recycled, again and again, highlighting they would be ready to pay more for it due to the positive ecological impact. In Serbia, up to 74 percent of interviewees said they would like to do more in terms of recycling, which is not surprising because the first metals were melted in this very area. This was done in Vinča, a world-famous archeological site, situated in Belo Brdo town, with the remains dating from 5300 to 4600 BC. In this area, the seed of the industrial revolution was sewn and the first molecules melted in Vinča are still circulating today, considering the frequency of their recycling throughout history.

EP: Environmental protection is one of the most important segments at Bell. What steps are you taking in this area in particular?

Jelena Kiš: Taking care of our environment is the focus of our business, and we wish to transpose this to our consumers as well. They are our biggest allies in making our vision come true, so they rightfully expect us and our industry partners to provide a more sustainable future for them. They want to see their favorite beverages in packaging that will not harm the environment they live in. That is why we keep educating the market about the importance and advantages of tin cans, as is the case with “Metal Recycles Forever” marking on all our products. In comparison to 1980, when the first soft drink can was made, its weight today is 45 percent lower and is made of one material that can be endlessly recycled without obstructing its quality. There is always room for improvement and our road to the circular economy is clearly defined.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RECYCLING.

Translator Vesna Savić

The Round we Must not Lose

03.01.2022

gvožđe_struja — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Doctor of Sciences, Associate Professor, Department Chief, Consultant, and MMA fighter – all of these terms describe one person. Luka Strezoski is living proof that anything is possible if you love what you do. He managed to join seemingly unjoinable things together, both in science and in sports, and he is successful in all of them. Besides the fighting pits, this young scientist leads another battle, in which his opponent is far more dangerous than a sporting rival. There is almost no living being that had not yet felt the consequences of climate change, and since human activities caused this global problem, it is only humans who can work on solving it.

Luka Strezoski, along with other world-famous scientists, aims to contribute to completely using renewable energy sources and abolishing fossil fuels because, as opposed to the sports phrase “it is not important to win – it is important to participate”, this round we must not lose. Fossil fuels, that lie at the epicenter of climate concussions, should be replaced by renewable energy sources (RES) as soon as possible. Strezoski agrees with these words of wisdom, highlighting that he will consider his career success only if he and his team manage to contribute to this energy transition.

As an Associate Professor and Electrical Power and Applied Engineering Department Chief at the Faculty of Technical Sciences (FTN) in the University of Novi Sad, Luka’s main area of work is developing models, algorithms, and methods that enable electrical power companies to monitor, control, and protect electrical power systems based on the production of large amounts of electricity from renewable sources. Our interlocutor is proud to highlight that his team, in cooperation with the Energy Electronics and Transducers Department at FTN in Novi Sad, was chosen among numerous European universities, to be the host of the biggest European scientific conference titled “Smart Electrical Power Systems”.

IEEE Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (IEEE ISGT) conference will be held next October in Novi Sad.

“Organizing this conference is a huge thing for our University, for the city of Novi Sad, and even for our whole country because we will get a chance to listen to the biggest world experts in the area of electrical power, right here in Novi Sad, and thus position as a central place in the electrical power and RES integration. This is like bringing Wimbledon to Novi Sad”, Strezoski says.

Step-by-step for switching to RES

No matter how tempting it is to switch to RES, Strezoski highlights clean sources are based on completely different technologies than traditionally alternating devices, and therefore their integration brings numerous challenges. This is especially notable when it comes to the electrical power systems and huge amounts of RES scattered all over the globe, so Strezoski emphasizes that abolishing fossil fuels completely is miles away.

“The challenges and problems are completely different than when we consider only one RES and only its point of connecting to the system (this has been widely publicly debated). I would like to accentuate that it is completely different to view whether a RES will jeopardize operations in its connection point with the electrical power system, starting from the analysis of electrical power system with an enormous amount of RES, and their influence on the entire system’s functioning. The nature of such problems is completely different, and they are more numerous. This is exactly what we are dealing with”, this young scientist asserts.

He also warns that we must not be seduced only by the benefits of green energy and rush into unplanned integration of a great number of RES, guided by unrealistic goals such as “100 percent RES by 2030.”.

Even though he highlights that the replacement of fossil fuel power plants with those using RES is one of the most important questions of today, which should save lives of millions of people threatened by air overpollution, energy transition should be done so as not to put stability and trustworthiness of electrical power systems at risk.

“We must act carefully and have a plan, which means that we should gradually replace fossil fuel power plants with renewable sources, bit by bit. Or else we will cause more damage than good”, this young scientist says.

In focus:

A compound of science and economy guarantees success

Strezoski believes that scientific work without practical application of results is not a complete success, whereas the economy without science is destined to stagnate. Competitors will quickly eat companies who do not realize that. According to him, what everyone should ideally aspire to is a compound of science and economy, where science is at the forefront by developing innovative solutions, and then only the best of them are applied in the industry, that is the real world.

“That way, science, and economy significantly improve one another. Science provides innovation and progress to the economy, whereas the economy guides science in a realistic and applicable direction”, Strezoski adds.

Besides his academic career, Strezoski is currently a chief consultant at the Schneider Electric Development Center, in the area of integration of big amounts of renewable energy sources into electric power systems, as well as a member of the Technical Board at the same company.

“Ever since I started my cooperation with Schneider Electric, I have been developing a comprehensive software solution for monitoring, management, control, and protection of electrical power systems with lots of RES, that is the development of DERMS (Distributed Energy Source Management System). This is a centralized software solution intended for control centers of electrical power companies, that enable operators and engineers to complete monitoring, communication, and the possibility of optimum electrical power system administration with big amounts of RES, as well as the tools for protecting such systems from failure and other unwanted events. This software is very complex, based on cutting-edge technology, and regarding huge and highly dynamic changes in electrical power systems, DERMS should also be adapted and improved, by constantly developing new and innovative solutions. In my opinion, such an approach is a perfect example of compounding science and industry”, Luka says.

He adds that more than a year ago the company also founded the Technological Board. Within the Board, he manages a few working groups with the goal of joining science and industry together in order to encourage young experts to develop innovative solutions and participate in global scientific conferences. Only the best solutions would be applied to commercial products.

Global, but ours

It does not come as a surprise that Luka gained a lot of his knowledge and skills abroad. However, he decided to apply all his knowledge in his home country.

During his master’s studies, this young scientist had been awarded a scholarship to spend one part of his studies in London, at the City, University of London. He had also spent a part of his doctoral studies in the US, where he continued his research at one of the best universities in the world, namely the Case Western University in Ohio. After getting back to his hometown, Strezoski defended his doctoral thesis and became the youngest Doctor of Sciences at Novi Sad Faculty of Technical Sciences.

He revealed that studying abroad meant a lot to him because, among other things, he got a chance to take a sneak peek into the world of electrical power of today and see what the global problems that have not been solved to this day are.

“I acquired very important and strong connections with some of the most important scientific institutions in the world, and this will help our Department, the Faculty and the University position on a global scale of electrical power systems”, this young Doctor of Sciences explains.

Strezoski highlights that living abroad had changed his electrical power views, but also his relationship towards students, as well as teaching, experiments, and other scientific feats.

“I think we must go out into the world, show what we know best in the global scene, and prove, through cooperation with scientific institutions of the world, that we are one of the strongest research teams in the area of electrical power systems in the world”.

A healthy mind in a healthy body

What Strezoski managed to achieve in science, he achieved in sports as well – namely, he is a highly successful professional sportsman. He admits that his sports career made a huge impact on his personal development, because as he says, every sport, and especially martial arts, brings out the best in you and later maintains your “sharpness”, character and discipline.

As one of the best examples of this, Luka mentions the fact that he had had to lose 15 kilograms before every match to be able to fight in his 77 kg category. This means that every match demanded exhausting preparations, both physical and mental, for a young man who is disciplined in such a way to apply it in life in the most correct way, so success will be guaranteed for him.

“Therefore, my advice for all parents is to encourage their children to do sports (especially martial arts) from the earliest age, because this “investment” will bring them lots of advantages later in life”, Luka concludes.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RECYCLING.

Translator Vesna Savić

When Clean Environment Brings the Eco-Friendly Municipality title

02.01.2022

zlatibor — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Gorana B)

Photo: Office of the President of the Municipality

Čajetina municipality in Serbia has set a very clear and ambitious goal for itself. It is inclined to officially become the first eco-friendly municipality in Serbia. At the moment when our problems seem unsolvable, since we are fighting wild landfills, plastics in rivers and lakes, and at the beginning of the heating season with polluted air as well, the very notion of an eco-friendly municipality in Serbia seems like a pipe dream.

However, according to Milan Stamatović, the municipality of Čajetina president, they have a different situation. There are no wild landfills on their territory. Instead, there are wastewater reclamation facilities. Besides that, they are intensively working on waste management projects, they regularly organize afforestation activities, educate the young, and gladly listen to suggestions about environmental protection.

EP: How is the municipality of Čajetina going to become the first eco-friendly municipality in Serbia?

Milan Stamatović: We gave this promise to the locals, but all guests on Mount Zlatibor and our local self-governments management is working hard on fulfilling it. A wastewater treatment facility was recently opened, recycling islands have been set up in Zlatibor town, the problem of solid waste disposal was solved, and as you probably know, there are no wild landfills either. The effort to promote green (ecological) means of transport is a step towards that goal. One of such means is the Zlatibor Gondola, and since a little while back you can rent eco-cars as well. “Zlatibor” communal-public enterprise (CPE) from Čajetina and the local self-government are currently undertaking two projects: the first being the Primary Waste Selection project on the territory of Čajetina municipality and the second being the Afforestation of Zlatibor Transshipment Station project. In the case of the former, the local self-government and “Zlatibor” CPE are involved in the Support to Local Self-governments program on the way to the European Union, to improve environmental protection.

With the help of the Swedish government, the program is executed by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SKGO) and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). When a support package was granted to the local self-government of Čajetina in 2017, it had a clear goal – to become an ecological municipality. This meant establishing control over all kinds of waste in the entire municipality territory and reusing waste as a resource to support the sustainable development of the society. The goal is to build a recycling yard and recycling islands, to establish primary waste selection in the entire municipality territory, reduce the amount of biodegradable waste in all of the communal waste, build a safe waste management system adjacent to separate flows, and educate the citizens about the impact waste may have on humans and the environment. To achieve the goals set, the working group has created the Local Waste Management Plan, a strategic document defining numerous measures and activities.

In focus:

EP: What does the Local Waste Management Plan foresee?

Milan Stamatović: There are five measures in the Local Waste Management Plan in total. Despite difficult circumstances, caused by the covid-19 pandemic, all the activities envisaged have already started. The first measure is related to strengthening the technical and human capacities of “Zlatibor” ECPE in Čajetina. This means providing adequately stationed communal infrastructure, regular communal equipment restoration, and strengthening human resources. These are all prerequisites for other measures and activities. The second measure is related to building an efficient and sustainable daily waste selection on-site, following the principle of separating dry waste from wet waste and handing high-quality dry waste over to the final selection center in the Duboko Regional Waste Management Centre.

The third measure covers waste treatment. The municipality of Čajetina is planning to have three ways of biodegradable waste management: (1) domestic composters both in urban parts, where appropriate, (2) for domestic animal feed in rural areas, and (3) a central composting facility. The fourth measure is building a safe collection system for special kinds of waste (PVO) and ensuring adequate separate flows under the law. The fifth measure is related to raising awareness about the influence of waste on humans and the environment, personal responsibility, mutual trust, and creating positive habits for all participants in the waste management process.

EP: What is currently being worked on in the Primary Waste Selection project?

Milan Stamatović: We are currently working on conceiving the project and getting a construction permit for a recycling yard. This is an area where all kinds of waste will be safely transported to, accepted in special containers, and transmitted to authorized operators for final treatment, all under the law. We are about to finish a feasibility study that provides solutions for choosing the right technology and capacity for the central composting facility. The composting facility is intended for wet waste treatment (green waste from yards and public spaces, food waste, sanitary towels, baby diapers, used one-off tissues, all kinds of ashes, cigarette butts) and waste sludge from used communal water treatment facilities. For the time being, we have built three of them, and are planning to finish another two recycling islands by the end of the year. This is an area built for the temporary collection of primarily selected waste, stored in special containers, before being forwarded to the recycling yard.

The municipality of Čajetina provided for the location (Bregovi landfill) for the safe disposal of construction waste and inert waste from the demolition of buildings. We are currently in the final phase of feasibility study development and preparation of projects for authorization grants for the construction of intermediary facilities for transshipment of animal waste, which is to be transported into authorized rendering plants. We are intensively working on building a business facility for “Zlatibor” CPE, covering: an administrative facility, workshops for communal equipment maintenance, garage and container facilities, a temporary reception-transshipment station for all kinds of waste under the responsibility of ”Zlatibor” CPE (until a recycling yard has been built) and aggregate storage for the winter road maintenance service. All of these are only the prerequisites to initialize a primary waste selection system that is to start next year.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RECYCLING.

Translator Vesna Savić

EV Chargers soon at the OMV Serbia network

31.12.2021

OMV and Charge&GO have joined forces to improve the network and availability of chargers for electric vehicles in our country, so you can expect that electric chargers will become available at selected OMV gas stations in Serbia. Thanks to the cooperation between the two companies, highways in Serbia will also get more charging points, which will make traveling easier for domestic EV owners, while drivers of electric cars in transit through Serbia will also have a place to recharge their vehicles while taking a break to rest and refresh.

“We believe the future of mobility means a diversified offer in our stations that should respond to changing needs of our customers. This offer should include electromobility and we entered a partnership with Charge&GO for installing chargers for electric vehicles in the OMV stations” says the Retail Manager in OMV Serbia, Nikola Bozalo.

With more chargers, the need for information about their location and availability is growing. In order for drivers to be able to access the chargers in the network, a digital platform and a Charge&GO application are available too. This platform facilitates the use of charging points for electric vehicles and drivers in Serbia are already using it, and it will soon be available to electric vehicle drivers in the region as well.

OMV and sustainability

Photo: Promo

OMV produces and markets oil and gas, as well as chemical products and solutions in a responsible way and develops innovative solutions for a circular economy. With Group sales revenues of EUR 17 bn and a workforce of around 25,000 employees in 2020 (incl. Borealis), OMV is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies. At the heart of OMV’s corporate strategy is sustainable business. OMV has pledged to support the Paris Agreement targets and key climate targets set by the EU Council for 2030.

OMV’s specific climate goals are: zero greenhouse gas emissions from operations by 2050 or sooner, a leading position in the circular plastics economy (thanks to innovative solutions such as ReOil®) and at least 60 percent of the low-content product portfolio; and without carbon.

The company will achieve these goals thanks to the increased use of crude oil for petrochemical products, a higher share of gas in the product portfolio, hydrogen solutions for mobility and industry, e-mobility solutions and the delivery of advanced biofuels.

What is charge & GO?

Foto: Promo

The Charge&GO company has developed the first regional digital platform and application that enables fast and easy charging of electric vehicles. The platform provides drivers of electric vehicles with an efficient charging service and payment for the use of charging points, as well as the possibility for companies to remotely manage their network, which includes numerous services such as charging control, charger monitoring, pricing, usage restriction and review of charging sessions.

Thanks to the cooperation with the Finnish platform „Virta“, the fastest growing platform for charging electric vehicles in Europe, the users of the Charge & GO platform have access to more than 170,000 chargers in 30 countries around the world, which form a global partner network.

For more information on new charging locations and availability of fast chargers, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagramu i Facebook.

Source: OMV

Another Wake-Up Call: Sea Ice Loss is Speeding Up

30.12.2021

ice-led-Antarctic — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Last week, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic, 38C, on 20 June 2020. This warming is causing previously permanently frozen permafrost below ground to thaw.

The Arctic is now amongst the fastest-warming regions on the planet, heating at more than twice the global average. Scientists are worried because carbon dioxide and methane previously locked up below ground are released as permafrost thaws.

Methane is the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant and greenhouse gas, exposure to which causes 1 million premature deaths every year.

Methane is also a powerful greenhouse gas. Over a 20-year period, it is 80 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide.

We asked United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) climate change expert Pascal Peduzzi to explain the significance of sea ice loss.

UNEP: What happens to sea ice in the Arctic may seem remote and irrelevant to our daily lives. Why does sea ice loss matter?

Pascal Peduzzi: It matters because the extent of sea ice affects local ecosystems, regional and global weather patterns, and ocean temperatures and circulation. If Arctic sea ice continues to shrink, we may see a summer ice-free Arctic Ocean by the mid-2040s and the disappearance of polar bears and other animals. However, there are also global consequences. Snow and ice help keep the planet cool because they reflect the sun’s rays back into space. Warmer temperatures mean Arctic sea ice is reduced, ocean temperatures rise, and the warmer water (with a bigger volume) contributes to sea-level rise.

The lowest extent of sea ice on record was in 2012. 2020’s extent was almost as small, and while 2021 was slightly higher, the trend is clear. In addition, in 2020, the area of Arctic Sea Ice was the lowest on record for the month of July.

UNEP: Why is this happening? What is causing the loss of sea ice?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Derek Oyen)

PP: Increasing emissions of greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide (CO₂), are to blame. The global trend in the increase in CO₂ concentration is not only rising but accelerating. If we compare the same month of May, in 1960 it was +0.9 parts per million (ppm) per year, in 1980 +1.21 ppm; in 2000 +1.83 ppm and in 2021 it is +2.48 ppm/year. Global heating is real. There is a strong correlation in the long-term trends between CO₂emissions and atmospheric CO₂levels and we’re in danger of missing key Paris Agreement goals as the emissions gap widens.

UNEP: What is UNEP doing to highlight the dangers?

PP: UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2021: The Heat is On along with the World Environment Situation Room are painting a worrying picture. Monthly global temperatures for January, February, March and July 2020, were the second warmest since records began in 1880, while in April, May and June 2020 they were the warmest ever on record since 1880. 2021 was slightly cooler, however, the month of July was ranking 3^rd on records. Severe extremes were recorded in various regions of the world.

UNEP: What are the implications?

PP: Reduced Arctic sea ice means increased ocean temperatures. Combined with melting glaciers on land, this contributes to sea-level rise, which is accelerating. Between 1994 and 2010 sea-level rise averaged 3.3 mm per year, but since 2010 it has been rising at an average of 4.4 mm per year.

A warming world threatens the planet’s library of life, including our own existence. We need to change the way we do agriculture, our industry, the way we travel, and how we heat and cool our homes. We need to ramp up renewable energy and rapidly phase out fossil fuels. We need to implement nature-based solutions and introduce a circular economy. Solutions exist, but their implementation is too slow. We also need more data and science. Governments need to get serious about climate action.

Source: UNEP

28. Jun Donates “Smart Recycling Boxes” that Feed Stray Dogs to Belgrade

28.12.2021

dog-pas-hrana — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Humanitarian organization 28. Jun today donated to the Stari Grad municipality in Belgrade two vending machines that feed stray dogs and encourage recycling.

The “Smart Recycling Boxes” are essentially vending machines that dispense dog food and water in exchange for recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are placed into slots at the top of the machine, while food and water is dispensed out of the bottom, making it accessible to stray dogs. By using the funds from the recycled bottles to purchase food for the animals, people are encouraged to recycle.

The machines are approximately the size of an ATM and utilize natural energy with the aid of solar panels installed on its top. The machines also contain technology that can provide analytics on usage, as well as monitor levels of food, water and waste. It even talks, thanking users in Serbian and English and reciting trivia about the Stari Grad municipality.

The vending machines aim to give strays a better life and reduce their hardship on the streets, while also encouraging its users to adopt a healthy recycling habit. The machines operate at no charge to the city, and the recycled bottles cover the cost of the food.

Source: 28. Jun

Global SUV Sales Set Another Record in 2021, Setting Back Efforts to Reduce Emissions

27.12.2021

driving-school-saobraćaj-auto-zagađenje — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

As the global economy has recovered strongly this year, car sales have rebounded too. Globally, they are set to grow by 4 percent in 2021, according to the auto industry tracker MarkLines, reaching close to 80 million and making up part of the huge drop they experienced in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In particular, electric car sales have continued to show their resilience to volatility in the wider car market. In a few key car markets – such as Germany (above 34 percent), the United Kingdom (28 percent), France (over 23 percent) and China (18 percent) – the market share of electric cars reached record levels as of late November.

To date, around 34 countries have announced policies that set a future deadline for banning new registrations of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. This has been accompanied by announcements from automakers such as Ford, Volkswagen and General Motors of plans to phase out ICE cars from their production lines. Yet, even if global electric car sales in 2021 end up meeting the most optimistic expectations, SUV sales are still set to be five times higher.

Global SUV sales have proven very resilient throughout the pandemic, growing by over 10 percent between 2020 and 2021. In 2021, SUVs are on course to account for more than 45 percent of global car sales – setting a new record in terms of both volume and market share. The growth of SUVs continues to be robust in several countries, including the United States, India and across Europe. In some other countries, such as China, the growth of SUVs is stagnating, mainly driven by the big rise of small battery-powered electric cars.

The increasing number of electric SUV models released in 2021 means that SUVs are electrifying faster than in previous years. In 2021, around 55 percent of the electric car models on the market were SUVs, up from 45 percent two years ago. For the first time ever, the electrification ratio of SUVs matches the electrification ratio of non-SUV cars. In both the United States and the European Union, e-SUVs are expected to account for more than 55 percent of all electric car sales in 2021. By contrast, the majority of electric car sales globally in 2021 were still non-SUVs, driven especially by preferences for smaller cars among Chinese consumers. For example, mini electrified models made their appearance in China with a price of less than 10,000 USD.

You can read the whole article HERE.

Source: IEA

EBRD Backs Serbia’s Upgrade of Agricultural Infrastructure

27.12.2021

irrigation-zalivanje-voda-hran — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is supporting Serbia’s efforts to upgrade its agricultural infrastructure and make it more climate resilient. A EUR 15 million EBRD loan will finance the construction of modern irrigation infrastructure in Vojvodina region, making agriculture in Serbia’s “breadbasket” more resistant to weather factors.

The financing will enable the introduction of efficient irrigation technology near Borkovac and Pavlovac reservoirs in Fruska Gora, as well as fresh water supply from the Sava River with restoration of the reservoirs ground. The new infrastructure will enable top-up irrigation during the peak dry season and provide sufficient water for around 3,500 hectares of land in the Ruma and Sremska Mitrovica municipalities, which is mostly covered by orchards and vineyards.

This is the second loan the EBRD is extending to the country for upgrades to its agricultural infrastructure, following a EUR 15 million loan in 2019 for the construction of irrigation services in Svilajnac and Negotin, scheduled for implementation in 2022.

Miljan Ždrale, Regional Head of Agribusiness, South East Europe, EBRD, said: “Building climate resilient infrastructure will allow the farmers in Vojvodina to better plan their production and with more security. Better access to irrigation services will also allow them to increase their expected crop yields and their income.”

As part of the project, the EBRD will help the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management to develop a new training programme on efficient irrigation technology for local farmers, also targeting women, with a view to increasing their employment potential and creating new job opportunities for them.

The investment also entails the preparation of the first irrigation strategy in Serbia, aiming to ensure sustainable, demand-driven and efficient irrigation for enhanced and climate-smart agriculture. The national strategy, developed for a ten-year period, will be complemented by a five-year action plan and priority irrigation investments for the period until 2030. The assignment is implemented jointly with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Formal approval of the Irrigation Strategy and the Action Plan is expected by mid-2022. Once adopted, the Strategy will pave the way to pursuing a meaningful reform agenda by improving efficiency in managing the irrigation sector and introducing more commercial principles.

Accounting for 9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and 17 percent of employment, the agricultural and food-processing industry plays a vital role in the Serbian economy. However, the sector suffers from underinvestment and outdated technology, while water supply systems are often vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as drought, flooding or exceptionally harsh winters.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Serbia. The Bank has invested more than EUR 6.9 billion in 296 projects in the country to date. The Bank’s focus in Serbia is on private-sector development, improving public utilities and facilitating the country’s transition to a green economy.

Source: EBRD

Dragonflies Threatened as Wetlands Around the World Disappear

26.12.2021

The destruction of wetlands is driving the decline of dragonflies worldwide, according to the first global assessment of these species in today’s update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Their decline is symptomatic of the widespread loss of the marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers they breed in, mostly driven by the expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation around the world.

With today’s update, the number of species at risk of extinction on the Red List has exceeded 40,000 for the first time. The IUCN Red List now includes 142,577 species of which 40,084 are threatened with extinction.

“By revealing the global loss of dragonflies, today’s Red List update underscores the urgent need to protect the world’s wetlands and the rich tapestry of life they harbour. Globally, these ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests,” said Dr Bruno Oberle, IUCN Director General. “Marshes and other wetlands may seem unproductive and inhospitable to humans, but in fact they provide us with essential services. They store carbon, give us clean water and food, protect us from floods, as well as offer habitats for one in ten of the world’s known species.”

The assessment of the world’s dragonflies and damselflies reveals that 16 percent out of 6,016 species are at risk of extinction, as their freshwater breeding grounds increasingly deteriorate. In South and Southeast Asia, more than a quarter of all species are threatened, mostly due to the clearing of wetland and rainforest areas to make room for crops such as palm oil. In Central and South America, the major cause of dragonflies’ decline is the clearing of forests for residential and commercial construction. Pesticides, other pollutants and climate change are growing threats to species in every region of the world, and are the greatest threats to dragonflies in North America and Europe.

“Dragonflies are highly sensitive indicators of the state of freshwater ecosystems, and this first global assessment finally reveals the scale of their decline. It also provides an essential baseline we can use to measure the impact of conservation efforts,” said Dr Viola Clausnitzer, Co-chair of the IUCN SSC Dragonfly Specialist Group. “To conserve these beautiful insects, it is critical that governments, agriculture and industry consider the protection of wetland ecosystems in development projects, for example by protecting key habitats and dedicating space to urban wetlands.”

Source: IUCN

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