Eco Start Project

26.08.2020

nature_priroda — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Harald Arlander)

Organic fruits, vegetables and herbs have become very popular on the market in recent years, so has the need for their production. Recognizing the importance of this trend, land potential in their environent, as well as the needs of their fellow citizens, the Women’s Association “Vukovar” once again made good use of the support of European Union funds and implemented a project that will train forty-two citizens for organic farming, herbs cultivation and processing.

The Women’s Association “Vukovar” has been active within the local community for more than twenty years, intending to more engage vulnerable groups of citizens, such as elders and unemployed women, victims of domestic violence and members of national minorities, in social de-velopment and decision-making and contribute the better quality of life for them. They carry out their activities by implementing both national and EU programs and projects. One of them, currently underway, is the Eco Start project, with the aim to empower citizens who are interested in producing organic fruits, vegetables, and also in producing, growing and processing herbs. Like many other projects they have implemented so far, this one is supported by the EU Fund, whose competitions the Association monitors regularly and in which participates when they can be aligned with the needs and capabilities of the local community.

“Our activity is based on listening to the real needs of citizens and other community organisations, and by organising and implementing activities, we influence the information, education and empowerment of marginalised groups of society. We regularly monitor the announcements of the competition and report to those areas where our Association is active. Preparing a project is not a difficult job if it involves projects that follow our vision and mission and contribute to the achievement of our goals, as well as the goals of a particular competition. All of our projects are based on the protection of human rights, the development of the local community, improving the lives of old and infirm people, as well as encouraging the employment of vulnerable groups of society”, says Jelena Jankovic, a member of the Association. “For the project to get funding from the EU funds and to be implemented, it is important to have the human capacities for its realisation, project partners, and the project activities themselves should be relevant to the target group which is involved in the project. Also the project must contributes to the achievement of the objectives set out in the relevant national and regional strategic documents in the area of the competition. The advantage is if the project has greater regional coverage.”

The Eco Start project started a year ago was written in collaboration with an adult school and with them agreed to implement training for two programs – an ecological producer of vegetables, fruits and aromatic herbs and aromatic and spice herbs producer and processor. The City of Vukovar supported them by giving land for practical training.

“The response of the participants is good, which shows that the interest in organic agriculture has increased recently and that people started to take care of what they eat, where they buy food and if that food is really organic”, our interlocutor said, adding that forty-two people were involved in the project, divided into two equal groups for each training program. The largest number of students were middle-aged women who have been unemployed for a long time. “The target group of this project is the unemployed, young people and women. We want to enable them to become more competitive in the labour market by acquiring new knowledge and skills and giving good support to those who want to start their own business in organic agriculture,” emphasizes Jelena Jankovic.

Those who wish to embark on this type of work after completing the training can count on national and EU funds. “The importance of organic production in Croatia can be seen in the continued financial support for ecological production through grants under state and EU assistance. The state stimulates producers to decide to engage in organic production through constant finance and other forms of support”, explains Jelena Jankovic. She also adds that the reason for the growing number of areas under organic farming can be found in the realisation of support for organic agriculture, financed from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, under measure 11 – “Organic farming”. Besides, users involved in organic production can earn extra points in most public calls within the Rural Development Program. In this way, additional work and effort are rewarded.

What has further encouraged the realisation of this project is the fact that the environment of Vukovar is well suited for organic production and rich in arable land. In fact, our interlocutor points out, the whole of Croatia has quality, but underutilised land for organic farming, because such products are harder to grow, and they are much more expensive on the market. However, demand for organic products is increasing, and since 2010 records an increase in the number of organic producers in Croatia, which certainly has been contributed by incentives in organic farming.

The training program for producers and processors of aromatic and spicy herbs is conducted through two hundred and two hours of theory and practice, and the training program for organic producers of fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs lasts one hundred and fifty hours. In addition to getting basic knowledge of plants, vegetables and fruits, production and processing technology, they also learn about occupational safety and health, fire protection and first aid. The training is not completed yet, the practical part of the course is currently underway, and after that, the participants will pass workshops “From field to table” and “How to get your job in agriculture”. After that, the twenty most motivated will receive five career counselling hours and assistance in developing a business plan.

In focus:

In addition to the Eco Start project, the Women’s Association “Vukovar” is currently implementing two other EU projects – Wish for Vukovar. With this project, they employed ten women for helping the elderly at home and the New Knowledge – New Opportunities project, which offers the possibility of free training for designing and implementing projects from EU funds for the unemployed and the long-term unemployed. Beside EU projects, the Association also implements national projects whose aim is to improve the quality of life of people in their community and ensure better accessibility of social services.

“Within our association, there is a Club of Third Age Persons, where fifteen to twenty people gather every day in the afternoon. For the fourth year in a row, we have been conducting daily activities for the elderly, such as exercises with the help of a physiotherapist, measuring sugar and blood pressure, cultural and entertaining activities (creative workshops, natural cosmetics workshops, reading rooms, games for improving memory, etc). Also, we are authorised to provide free legal aid, we have an SOS line that operates every day from 8 am to 6 pm”, says our interlocutor.

The Women’s Association “Vukovar” cooperates with similar organisations in the region. Through a three-year Empowerment to Better Integration program, they carry out part of their activities in rural areas to contribute to the widening of alternative social services where they are not available, assisted by organisations operating in those areas. They also have good cooperation with local self-government, institutions and establishments. They are members of the Gender Commission, the County Team for Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, the Mobile Trafficking Team, the Women’s Network, the SOS Network and the PETRA Network.

Prepared by: Tamara Zjacic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURAL RESOURCES, march – may, 2020

Oil Spill in Mauritius Calls for More Efforts to Safeguard Coral Reef Ecosystems

25.08.2020

corals_korali_coral_reef_koralni_greben — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

On July 25, 2020, a Japanese cargo ship struck a reef on the southeast coast of Mauritius, leaking tons of oil into coral reefs, pristine turquoise water lagoons and unique ecosystems of the island nation.

The grounded ship split up, releasing more oil in the sea that is home to some of the finest coral reefs and marine protected areas in the world.

The oil spill has the potential of causing devastating and widespread impacts on the country that depends on her seas for food, livelihoods and tourism that accounts for 36% of Mauritius GDP and generates US$4.3 billion annually.

Oil spill threatens the fishing industry as boats and fishing gear may be damaged. In the case of a massive spill, human health may be affected through direct contact, inhalation of the oil or consumption of contaminated seafood.

While the country has declared a state of environmental emergency and disaster response is underway, the situation highlights the vulnerability of marine ecosystems and habitats such as mangroves, seagrasses and corals.

Oil, a complex mixture of many chemicals, can kill corals, depending on species and exposure. Chronic oil toxicity impedes coral reproduction, growth, behavior, and development. The time of year when a spill happens is critical since coral reproduction and early life stages are particularly sensitive to oil.

Efforts are already underway to better protect the underwater world.

Just two months before the Mauritius oil spill; the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a long-standing partner of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), adopted a Recommendation to safeguard the future of coral reefs. It recognizes the vulnerability of coral reefs to climate change, ocean acidification, land-based pollution such as nutrients and sediments from agriculture, sea-based pollution, overfishing, among other activities.

Corals support a quarter of all marine life, provide at least half a billion people with food security and livelihoods; protect coastlines from damage by buffering shorelines against waves, storms and floods. Estimates indicate coral reefs account for $2.7 trillion per year in ecosystem service value.

The Recommendation, adopted in May 2020, after more than 18 months of work and stakeholder consultations, aims to get coral reefs and related ecosystems prioritized and monitored with rigorous indicators within the Convention on Biological Diversity Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework being decided in May of 2021.

It calls on countries to safeguard coral reef ecosystems, identifying a set of six coral related indicators for adoption and a further five indicators for priority development, to provide improved information on ecosystem integrity, function, intactness, and resilience.

How will the indicators help save coral reefs?

Monitoring clearly defined metrics consistently will enable countries to detect and act upon changes in reef ecosystems caused by human activity and natural threats.

Leticia Carvalho, Head of UNEP’s Marine and Fresh Water Branch, supports the Recommendation and said: “Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystems in the ocean, housing approximately 25% of marine species and providing livelihoods for at least 500 million people around the world, but unfortunately they are also the most vulnerable ecosystem to climate change globally. The time is now for member states to join hands to address the global coral reef crisis.”

According to the IPBES 2019 Global Biodiversity assessment, almost half of coral reefs globally have already been lost. This puts on the line the safety, well-being, food, cultural heritage, and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people who depend on the ecosystem.

Coral reef protection is central to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) geared towards the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems to fight the climate crisis and enhance food security, water supply and biodiversity.

Source: UNEP

Latin America’s Energy Community Underlines Link Between Energy Transformation and Prosperity

24.08.2020

windfarm_vetroelektrana — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

High-level energy and climate decision makers from Latin America and the Caribbean underlined the importance of low-carbon energy policy to securing stable, long-term prosperity across regional economies, during a webinar co-hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE).

The virtual meeting entitled Accelerating Latin America’s Energy Transformation: RE and Economic Recovery was built around the recent analytical work featured in the Agency’s Global Renewables Outlook report, Power Generation Cost 2019 and the Post-Covid Recovery report – all of which reinforce the centrality of energy transformation to positive long-term economic outcomes in Latin America and around the world.

The discussion sought to deepen regional decision makers’ understanding of the strengthening economic case for more purposeful energy transformation action, highlighting the socio-economic benefits of a renewables-based energy system. The virtual meeting also served as an important platform for an exchange of knowledge and experience between regional governments and development partners. Representatives from Panama, Uruguay and the Global Wind Energy Council participated alongside IRENA and OLADE and the UK’s Regional COP 26 Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Latin America has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with persistent oil market volatility further compounding regional economic challenges. As region decision makers look to identify a pathway to recovery, Fiona Clouder, UK COP26 Regional Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean said the region’s recovery had to be green and sustainable, noting that it must be underpinned by renewable energy.

“In our changing world, building a green recovery and a sustainable future is even more important,” she said in opening remarks. “With vision, ambition and natural resources, countries in Latin America are well placed to transition to low carbon economies, using renewable energy as part of that transformation. COP26 gives us an opportunity to work together to share ideas and best practice to address the challenges of climate change and build a better future.”

In his opening remarks, Mr. Alfonso Blanco, Executive Secretary of OLADE stressed the importance of cooperation and highlighted the role of international and multilateral organisations to support the development of strategies for the economic recovery of the region, with the energy sector as the main driver during this process.

“We need to increase [renewable energy] investments throughout our region to reactivate the economy,” he said. “Between OLADE and IRENA, we have to start working on the necessary strategies to reactivate the regional economies and put the energy sector as the main driver of that recovery. In our region, there is a great potential in terms of energy resources, and therefore, the post-pandemic regional economies have the potential to be reactivated through the energy sector.”

Latin America is among the most dynamic renewable energy marketplaces in the world. Close to USD 120 billion of renewable investments were made between 2010 and 2015, placing several countries in Latin America among the top 10 largest renewable energy markets globally. Today, the region boasts around 200 gigawatts (GW) of installed renewable capacity, accounting for more than half of power capacity and a quarter of total primary energy.

Yet the region’s full potential remains unexplored. IRENA estimates that over 90 per cent of the region’s potential remains untapped and investment needs in the region are estimated at USD45 billion per year between now and mid-century – an increase of more than 10 per cent over current plans and policies. A regional initiative coordinated by OLADE sets a regional goal of reaching at least 70 per cent of renewable energy in electricity in by 2030.

Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General of IRENA, said attracting the increased investment would offer the region strong returns, both in the short and long-term. “Latin America is tackling the economic toll of the pandemic and the World Economic Forum suggests the region’s economy is poised to contract in 2020,” she said, “meaning forward thinking energy and economic policy making is critical.”

“Accelerating the renewable energy transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean would create more than 3m jobs across the region by 2050,” she continued. “IRENA’s Transforming Energy Scenario offers the region the scope to develop economic returns of between 3 and 8 dollars on every dollar invested in the transformation.”

Many countries in the region have already taken positive steps towards economic recovery built around an accelerated energy transformation and the prioritization of low-carbon technologies. Serving as a platform to build regional understanding of the measures and policies being implemented, the discussion heard representatives from Panama and Uruguay share their plans and experiences.

Ms Guadalupe González, Director of Electricity, Secretary of Energy, Panama reinforced her country’s recognition of the socio-economic benefits. She noted that Panama has developed the Energy Transition Agenda 2030, built around five important pillars for renewable energy deployment that not only discuss the implementation of low-carbon technologies but also social aspects to improve energy access, job creation, role of women in the energy sector, building capacities on renewables, and the empowerment of the energy consumers.

Mr Fitzgerald Cantero, National Energy Director, Uruguay highlighted his country is following a pathway towards the decarbonisation of the economy starting with the power sector, which reached 98 per cent of renewable energy generation in 2019. He noted that Uruguay’s variable generation, particularly from wind energy, has left the country with a power surplus that can be used to support cross-border trade of power, promote the use of e-mobility and the potential production of green hydrogen for transport, industry and international trade.

Regional energy policy measures designed to aid the economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic were summarized as the development of more flexible power grids, energy efficiency solutions, electric vehicle charging for electric vehicle deployment, energy storage, interconnected hydropower, green hydrogen, and other technology investments consistent with long-term energy and climate sustainability.

Source: IEA

Video Game Industry to Rally 250 Million Players to Protect the Planet

22.08.2020

joystick_džojstik_gaming_igranje_video_igrica — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Some of the biggest names in mobile gaming today – with a combined active user base of 250 million players – unveiled a series of environmental activations they will be integrating into live games such as Subway Surfers, Angry Birds 2 and Golf Clash.

During the first ever Green Mobile Game Jam, which took place from March to April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, developers and CEOs from 11 companies committed to integrate these green activations such as new modes, maps or buildings, themed events, storylines and messaging.

The UNEP-facilitated Playing for the Planet Alliance supported the Green Mobile Game Jam, whose organisers hope that the shared learning and new practice, represents a new turning point for green thinking in game design for mass audience mobile games.

“We are excited to see the gaming industry throw its weight behind global efforts to reverse the climate crisis,” said Inger Andersen Executive Director of UNEP. “The climate emergency needs all hands on deck. In reaching out to 250 million gamers, we hope to inspire audiences to take action.”

John Earner, CEO of Space Ape who helped oversee the Jam said, “I was skeptical whether we could pull it off, especially during lockdown, but it was really inspiring to see companies who are normally very competitive come together and deliver some really great work. I see a huge amount of potential here for our industry and player communities going forward.”

The results of the jam, activation designs and timelines for implementation can be seen on this Green Game Jam page with activations from:

MAG Interactive will be running awareness and tree-planting themed events in their games WordBrain and WordBrain2.
Sybo will be launching a world tour stop in Subway Surfers which will ask their community to take action on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
Space Ape will be educating and engaging players about the benefits of renewable energy through their game Transformers: Earth Wars.
WildWorks has introduced new renewable energy choices such as solar and wind power that reward players with special eco-credits and unlocks in the Animal Jam.
Playdemic will be seeking to educate and activate millions of mobile gamers in their game Golf Clash.
Fingersoft will be adding recharge stations with solar panels in Hill Climb Racing 2.
Rovio will be hosting two in-game events in Angry Birds 2 around the theme of reforestation and will share links with players where they can learn more about reforestation efforts and how they can contribute.
Pixelberry will design a new book in Choices that will see two sisters raising awareness about climate change while their family’s fishing business is affected by a major fish die-off.
Creative mobile will be restoring biodiversity through special events to fundraise for the Wolf Conservation Trust in their game Zoocraft: Animal Family.
Future Games of London are shining a light on melting polar ice with a new game update in Hungry Shark World; Arctic Extinction.
GameDuell will be providing the Belote.com players with practical information about sustainability that they can use in their daily life.

The participants of the jam were asked to address themes ranging from climate change, supporting action around reforestation and restoring nature to exploring how games can integrate education on renewable energy. Green Game Jam participants voted Playdemic as ‘Overall Winner’, MAG Interactive as ‘Most Adoptable’ for their collaboration with TreesPlease and Creative Mobile as “First to Market”. Wildworks emerged as ‘UNEP favourite.’

Some activations have already been integrated and the rest will go live by early 2021 or sooner. The Playing for the Planet Alliance is partnering with Google Play to promote eligible games, with the activations later this year. Next year, organisers hope that additional companies will sign up to participate in the jam, potentially reaching up to 1 billion gamers with the activations.

Source: UNEP

Volvo Buses Inks New Electric Bus Orders In Norway

22.08.2020

Volvo-electric-bus--570x322 — Photo: Volvo Buses

Norway is one of the most active nations when it comes to cutting carbon emissions. That means putting significant incentives in place for electric vehicles, be they passenger vehicles, trucks, ferries, or buses. One of its policy initiatives calls for all urban buses in the country to be battery electric by 2025.

Vy Buss is one of the largest bus operators in the country. Recently it announced it will have 150 electric buses in operation by next summer. BYD has already delivered a number of electric buses to Vy Buss but this week the company announced it will purchase a large number of electric buses from Volvo Buses as well for use in the cities of Drammen and Ålesund, Those buses should be delivered before the end of this year.

According to a Volvo Buses press release, six Volvo 7900 Electric buses began operating in the city of Drammen in February 2019. This fall, they will be joined by another 22 Volvo electric buses. Two of the new buses will be high-capacity models that can carry up to 120 passengers. For Ålesund, Vy Buss has ordered ten Volvo 7900 Electric buses, part of a larger order totaling 66 Volvo buses.

“Volvo Buses has been with us from the very start of our journey to increased electromobility. Our partnership with Volvo Buses is strong, they build good quality buses and their widespread network of dealers and workshops is very important to us,” says Ole Engebret Haugen, president of Vy Buss AS. The purchase contract provides that Volvo will provide all service and maintenance on site at Vy Buss depots.

“More and more cities in Europe are choosing to improve their environment and create new possibilities for urban planning by gradually electrifying their public transport,” says Svenn-Åge Lökken, sales director for Volvo Bussar Norge. “Over the past year alone we have received orders for more than 300 electrified buses in Norway and Sweden, including the recent orders for Drammen and Ålesund. Together with operators and city planners, we are continuing to develop transport solutions for sustainable electrically powered public transport that meets each city’s unique prerequisites.”

Eliminating diesel powered buses not only reduces carbon emissions, it also lowers fine particulate levels and nitrogen oxide emissions, both of which have a negative impact on people who live in cities serviced by those snorting beast. To determine the true cost of electric buses, it is necessary to factor in the social benefits that arise from having cleaner air and better health outcomes for city residents.

Author: Steve Hanley

Source: Clean Technica

Plants – You Owe Them Your Life

21.08.2020

Protecting plants is vital for the future of our planet – that’s why 2020 is the International Year of Plant Health.

Plants aren’t just a nice addition to your windowsill: they are the source of 98 percent of the air we breathe and 80 percent of the food we eat. Sadly, we often forget how much we owe them. Neglecting plant health can have devastating results, not just for plants themselves, but also for humans and our environment.

Climate change and human activities have altered ecosystems, creating new niches where pests and diseases can thrive. At the same time, the value of international trade in agricultural products has almost tripled in the last decade, consequently increasing the risk of pest and disease outbreaks. All of this can seriously damage agriculture – jeopardizing livelihoods and leaving millions of people without enough food to eat.

Keeping plants healthy is of paramount importance, and everyone has a role to play. Whether you are a farmer, government legislator or a holidaymaker, here are some of the ways you can help:

1. Don’t take plants along for the ride

It’s tempting to bring home that exotic flower from your travels, but foreign plants can carry unseen pests and diseases. Every year, up to 40 percent of global food crops are lost to plant pests and diseases, leading to annual agricultural trade losses of over USD 220 billion. As with human health, prevention is key. When travelling to and from other countries, refrain from bringing plants and plant products (such as fresh fruits, herbs, etc.) with you to ensure that foreign pests and diseases are not accidentally introduced to your country.

You should also be careful when ordering plants and plant products online or through postal services because packages can easily bypass the regular phytosanitary controls that are vital for keeping our agricultural industries safe from external threats. The mobility of the plants and plant products is subject to International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, so you want to make sure the company you order from is following these standards.

2. Trade safely and according to international standards

Many countries depend on trading plants and plant products to sustain their economies. In fact, the annual trade value of agricultural products now USD 1.7 trillion! Yet, trade can quickly spread plant pests and diseases and seriously damage native plants and biodiversity. Government representatives and policymakers should ensure that they have implemented the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards. Signed by 184 contracting parties, the IPPC is a global treaty that provides an international framework for protecting plant resources from pests and diseases and promoting safe trade among all countries.

Anyone in the transportation and trade sectors can practise safe trading too. Ensure that your business enforces existing phytosanitary legislation and look into adopting innovative technologies such as electronic phytosanitary certification (ePhyto) when importing or exporting plants and plant products. Makes sure that your clients are aware of the risks associated with taking plants and plant products across borders and are up to speed on the best practices to follow.

3. Promote and adopt more sustainable pest and disease control solutions

Plant pests and diseases are one of the main reasons behind biodiversity loss and poor plant health. They are responsible for USD 220 billion in crop value loss. However, we need to deal with pests and diseases in environmentally friendly ways and minimise the use of hazardous pesticides. Pesticides can kill pollinators and beneficial insects, which are natural pest enemies and crucial for a healthy environment. This is important information not only for farmers but also for policymakers who should be encouraging the use of sustainable alternatives, wherever available.

More sustainable solutions are the heart of Integrated Pest Management, an ecosystem-based approach that focuses on long-term prevention through a combination of techniques such as biological control, biopesticides, intercropping, physical barriers such as tree cover, insect nets and good airflow, and the use of pest or disease-resistant seed varieties.

Citizens can support plant health by buying produce from farms that use ecological approaches for pest control, including biological fertilizers and biopesticides.

4. Use pest-free and disease-free planting materials

A sustainable and environmentally friendly way of keeping plants healthy is to use pest-free and disease-free planting materials and checking plants for pests and diseases before reproducing them. Farmers should avoid monoculture systems whenever possible and use more sustainable systems such as crop rotation methods that favour biodiversity and suppress the accumulation of pests and pathogens.

2020, the International Year of Plant Health

The next months are an important opportunity to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment and inspire everyone to take concrete action.

Keeping our plants healthy is vital to achieving not just Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger – but all of the other Sustainable Development Goals too. Make this the year that you take action and get involved.

Source: FAO

Donorum Has Ecology and Philanthropy at Heart

19.08.2020

cooking_kuvanje — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

In 2016, France prescribed that it is compulsory for all supermarkets in its territory to donate excess food on a daily basis. Otherwise, they face fines of up to €75,000. Thus, solidarity among the French is encouraged by the letter of the law. On the other hand, due to the absence of the Law on Donations in Serbia, donor companies have to pay VAT of 25 per cent, revealed Gordana Jovanovic, manager of Donorum.

Together with Ilija Veselinovic, Zvezdana Mutapovic, Filip Krivokapic, Tomas Momcilovic and Stefan Zivic, Gordana launched Donorum intending to offer the response to the accumulation of food waste in Serbia. This non-profit, non-governmental association originated from the desire of youth to help socially disadvantaged people. Its name comes from the Latin word meaning gift – donum. Guided by the motto that food surpluses are not a problem solely of an ecological and agro-economic nature, but that they also affect people in our community, donors Gordan, Ilija, Zvezdana, Filip, Tomas and Stefan have designed the Public Kitchen Infrastructure application.

In focus:

According to the United Nations, more than 250,000 tonnes of food is thrown away annually by Serbian households, which means that each country resident sends around €200 to the landfill. A not too nice and convenient place to invest money, we will agree! “Other countries view food waste as a basic resource, while our companies and individuals continue to fail to realize its potential due to regulations and irresponsibility,” said our interlocutor, who is by profession a geographer and an environmental engineer.

One of those countries Gordana is talking about is Ireland, which is where the Food Cloud app comes from. Food Cloud was an inspiration for her and her colleagues to make Public Kitchen Infrastructure. It brings together more than 4,000 charities with the largest retail chains out there, such as TESCO and ALDI. “We believe that a similar project is feasible for us, as we have proven by creating this app,” she said.

We also received firsthand information about how Public Kitchen Infrastructure functions. “Donors and humanitarian organisations should register to our website donorum.org. Then we do the checking. Registered users then receive their profiles. Donors can post donations to our platform at any time after the process is completed and they become visible to all affiliated charities,” Gordana, one of the original creators of Donorum, revealed to us. She adds that donors have the option to indicate the quantities of food that they have on disposal and the packaging those are in, as well as the option to check the donation as “an emergency” if necessary.

The application is free of charge, and the data is updated in real-time and is available to the public. It started working at the end of October 2019, when company Imlek donated milk for the rehabilitation centre Duga from Novi Sad and the charity organisation Carolija from Belgrade.

Gordan, Ilija, Zvezdana, Filip, Tomas and Stefan united their knowledge and skills in designing the website and promoting their association and application. The available resources were put into service by a noble cause. However, it requires collective action. Ecology and philanthropy seek the involvement of the state, industry and legislators, and Donorum delivered them a great meeting place.

Can We Use the App?

Currently, individuals cannot make their contribution to the work of Donorum’s public kitchen. Still, the team hopes to receive project funding soon to enable them to create an application for Android and Apple devices, Gordana explained.

By then, the association is inviting citizens to follow them on social networks, where they share tips for preventing food waste at home.

Prepared by: Jelena Kozbasic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURAL RESOURCES, march – may, 2020

More Energy Efficient Buildings in Krusevac, Uzice and Vrbas Thanks to a New Tender

18.08.2020

meeting_sastanak — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Ministry of Mining and Energy and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the Swiss Confederation call for tender submission for supply and installation of plant and equipment for energy efficiency rehabilitation/reconstruction of buildings in Krusevac, Uzice and Vrbas.

Ministry of Mining and Energy in collaboration with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the Swiss Confederation are publishing call for tender submission for supply and installation of plant and equipment for energy efficiency rehabilitation/reconstruction of six (6) buildings in Krusevac, five (5) buildings in Uzice and six (6) buildings in Vrbas.

Complete tender documentation is available for download on the Swiss website for public procurement (SIMAP).

Deadline for submission offers is 22nd October 2020 before 11:00.

Detailed description of call for tender submission is provided in the attached document – HERE.

Source: MEEMP

Strong Cooperation and Enabling Policies Can Lead Energy Transformation in Southeast Asia

17.08.2020

ASEAN Energy Transformation — Photo: IRENA

Meeting future energy demand in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a high priority in the region. With current indigenous fossil fuel resources incompatible with climate and sustainable development goals, and the COVID-19 pandemic causing fuel price volatility and economic uncertainty, the region can now seize the moment to put renewable energy sources at the forefront of its energy planning and growth agenda.

That was the focus of a joint-webinar hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE). With IRENA’s recent Global Renewables Outlook (GRO) report and Power Generation Cost 2019 report framing the discussion, the virtual event entitied ‘Accelerating the Southeast Asian Energy Transformation’ brought together more than 160 participants from across the ASEAN region and further afield, to identify ways to catalyse the energy transition in Southeast Asia.

Under IRENA’s GRO, Southeast Asia’s economy could by grow an additional 2.9 per cent above current plans and policies by 2050. The Agency’s ‘Transforming Energy Scenario’ is a model that aligns the global energy system with the goals of the Paris Agreement. GRO 2020 shows that Southeast Asia could meet about 41% of all of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030 and create an additional 6.7 million green jobs by 2050. Participants learned that as a result of dramatic cost reductions, replacing the world’s costliest 500 gigawatts of coal fired power in favour of renewables next year would yield annual savings of up to USD 23 billion per year.

In opening remarks, Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General of IRENA emphasised that the region stands at a crossroads in terms of its energy future, highlighting that sustainable and affordable energy can be the cornerstone of growth and the pursuit of climate and sustainable development goals for ASEAN countries. Ms Singh pointed to the importance of renewed political will and the adoption of strong policy frameworks to drive the region’s sustainable energy progress.

Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ACE stressed the region’s commitment to fulfing the Paris Agreement as well as achieving regional goals, including the ASEAN Plan for Action and associated regional energy cooperation frameworks. “We are progressing towards our 23 per cent aspirations renewables target,” he said, adding: “but our current path will leave us 5 per cent short by 2025. With renewables’ costs falling, they can greatly support our economic, climate and sustainable development goals.”

Building new solar is cheaper than building new coal in all countries of the region, noted Ken O’Flaherty, UK COP 26 Regional Ambassador for Asia Pacific and South Asia, highlighting that new coal plants make bad business sense, risk stranded assets, and are incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Acknolwedging the need for parties to convene and strengthen cooperation, he said: “Together we can ensure that every country across Southeast Asia has the ability to unlock their renewable energy potential, and pursue clean alternatives to coal power. Under the UK’s Presidency of COP26, in partnership with Italy, our energy transition campaign aims to accelerate the global transition from coal to clean energy. We are working closely with countries, development banks, investors and civil society. We look forward to working closely on COP26 and our energy transition campaign with our key regional partners, including ASEAN institutions, ACE, IRENA, IEA, NDC Partnership and ADB.”

With a view to establishing outcomes, participants heard interventions from high level participants of Indonesia, Viet Nam, Singapore, the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association and ACE, as well as from UNESCAP, with whom IRENA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and the Global Wind Energy Council, which is a member of IRENA’s Coalition for Action.

Liming Qiao, Asia Director of the Global Wind Energy Council, finds the region’s wind energy potential to be promising, with the market growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.6% in the last decade —largely driven by the cost reductions and government policies. Sharing other speakers’ view on the importance of policy certainty, she said: “While many countries can have ambitious long-term renewables targets, the right policy frameworks and clarity of those are still missing which hinders the industry progress for the lack of stability. This is a critical roadblock that needs to be resolved for more and larger-scale renewables development in ASEAN.”

In closing, Dr Nuki Aguya Utama, said that growth based on clean sources is one of the region’s highest priorities, and that cooperation is the key. “Regional energy cooperation is crucial to accelerating renewables deployment, with an uneven endowment of renewables potentials across the region. ASEAN will play a role in implementing mitigation measures.”

Source: IRENA

Over 150 Solaris Electric Buses Now in Poland

16.08.2020

Poljska_autobus — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Valik Chernetskyi)

Ostrołęka was the leader of this transformation towards electric mobility, as they were the first to order electric buses from Solaris. The first electric buses though appeared in the streets of Jaworzno. Today the fleet of the public transport carrier PKM in Jaworzno comprises 23 electric buses manufactured by Solaris. Further 20 are in production.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Valik Chernetskyi)

The following cities have already chosen the Solaris state-of-the-art electric buses, featuring advanced batteries and innovative safety systems and delivered with comprehensive after sales services: Bełchatów, Bielany, Bolesławiec, Chodzież, Ciechanów, Godzianów, Gręboszów, Inowrocław, Jaworzno, Katowice, Konin, Kozienice, Kraków, Kutno, Lublin, Łomianki, Malbork, Miechów, Ostrołęka, Ostróda, Ostrów Wielkopolski, Oświęcim, Poznań, Radom, Rzeszów, Sochaczew, Sosnowiec, Stalowa Wola, Szczecin, Szczytno, Toruń, Tychy, Warszawa, Włocławek and Września.

We shouldn’t forget Gdynia which has been developing its emission-free trolleybus transport network on a big scale for years, and recently welcomed super-trolleybuses to its fleet, i.e. Solaris Trollino, featuring traction batteries of the type mounted on electric buses, recharged from the overhead line. This is how Solaris paved the way for public transport transformation in Poland.

“It’s a great pleasure and honour for us to fill each and every order, irrespective of whether we deliver only one 8.9-metre electric bus or 130 Urbino 18 electric buses, as it is the case now for Warsaw. We can be proud, as any decision by local governments to purchase this type of vehicle is a step towards cleaner air and higher standard of living in Polish cities,” says Javier Calleja, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A.

In parallel to carrying out contracts, the company is happy about the decisions of further local authorities and the representatives of municipal transport carriers to move towards electric mobility. In the past months Solaris signed many significant contracts for the delivery of modern electric buses to Polish cities. The biggest orders were placed by Lublin, Cracow, Poznań and Katowice. It is worth noting that all of these cities had used Urbino vehicles before. Thus, decisions to purchase new vehicles were spurred by direct experience in using these vehicles.

At the beginning of May the public transport operator ZTM in Lublin commissioned the bus maker from Bolechowo to manufacture 12 Solaris Urbino electric buses that would join the 15 Trollino trolleybuses and 20 e-buses of 12 metres ordered last year.

Moreover, the Cracow operator MPK Kraków also opted for more electric vehicles, namely 50 Urbino 18 electric buses. Apart from a considerable number of articulated electric buses, 50 plug-in charging devices were ordered. Cracow has yet again opted for Solaris buses, since there are already 400 Urbino vehicles, including 26 Urbino electric, which cruise along the streets of the city.

The operator MPK in Poznań where passengers have been benefiting from 21 comfortable Solaris e-buses for a few months now, placed an order for a batch of 37 electric-drive buses. 31 of these are Urbino 12 electric buses, and 6 are 18-metre articulated buses.

More electric Solaris buses will also be delivered to Katowice. In June the representatives of the public transport carrier (PKM) signed a contract for five Urbino 12 electric buses, and then at the beginning of August – for 5 Solaris articulated electric buses. Following the completion of the latest order 20 modern, emission-free electric buses in total will be cruising the streets of the capital of the Silesia region. Moreover, two electric blood collection buses cruise along the streets of Katowice. Solaris manufactured them for the Regional Blood Donation and Blood Treatment Centre and they are the first of this type in the world.

The sales of electric buses in Europe is growing dynamically, and Poland is the 5^th Member State of the European Union for the number of electric buses in cities. It is indeed a very important market for the Polish manufacturer. The share of Solaris e-buses in the Polish electric fleet is clearly dominant: they account for 76% of the whole e-bus fleet. Only in 2019 as much as 98% of electric buses orders in Poland were placed with Solaris.

Source: Clean Technica

Global Food Prices Rise in July

14.08.2020

polje — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Bruno Martins)

Global food prices continued rising for the second consecutive month in July, led by vegetable oils and dairy products, according to the benchmark United Nations report.

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Seth Schwiet)

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index averaged 94.2 points in July, a 1.2 percent increase from June and nearly 1.0 percent higher than July 2019. The FAO Food Price Index tracks international prices of the most commonly traded food commodities.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index increased 7.6 percent since June to reach a five-month high, with international quotations for the key oils rising amid, in the case of palm oil, likely production slowdowns, revived global import demand and protracted migrant labor shortages.

The FAO Dairy Price Index rose 3.5 percent in the month, with all products from butter and cheese to milk powders rising.

The FAO Cereal Price Index was practically unchanged from June, although maize and sorghum prices registered sharp increase – influenced by large purchases by China from the United States of America – while those of rice fell, reflecting prospects of large 2020 harvests. Wheat prices changed little amid slow trade activity.

The FAO Sugar Price Index rose 1.4 percent, as strong sugar crush numbers from Brazil only partly mitigated the effects of rising energy prices and the prospects of lower sugar production in Thailand due to a severe drought.

The FAO Meat Price Index, in contrast, declined by 1.8 percent in July and averaged 9.2 percent below its level of July 2019. Pig and bovine meat quotations both fell in the month as global import demand volumes remained below export availabilities, despite the coronavirus-induced disruptions to the industry in key exporting regions. Poultry meat prices increased, influenced by production cuts in Brazil triggered by high feed costs and concerns over future demand.

The price coverage of the FAO Food Price Index was expanded and rebased in July 2020. The feature article of the latest Food Outlook explains details on this revision.

Source: FAO

Some Electric Vehicles Are More Affordable Than Petrol Cars in UK

13.08.2020

car_road_forest — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (JP Valery)

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often seen as being more expensive than petrol cars, but if the fuel saving costs are taken into account and the upfront purchase price is spread across monthly leasing payments, then a new EV could cost the equivalent of less than £200 per month.

If the UK is to meet its 2050 Net Zero target then all new cars on sale need to be EVs by 2035, or possibly earlier — to be confirmed following a government consultation which closed on 31 July. To ensure that the maximum number of motorists are able to make the switch to electric cars over the coming years, EVs need to be as affordable as possible. The following five electric cars are examples of vehicles that motorists can drive today — with zero tailpipe emissions and all the other benefits that electric cars offer, including being virtually silent, very refined and easy to drive.

Editor’s note: The calculations below don’t even take into account big tax savings available with electric vehicles in the UK, which make cheap electric vehicles even cheaper relatively speaking!

5 cheap electric vehicles with monthly costs that can be lower than petrol cars:

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (John Cameron)

1. Smart EQ ForFour 17 kWh Passion Advanced 5dr Auto
Electric driving range (official WLTP combined): 81 miles
Estimated real-world electric driving range: 55 miles
Monthly lease cost: £176.88
Estimated fuel savings per month: £85
Cost per month after fuel savings deducted: £91.8

2. Skoda CITIGOe IV SE 37 kWh 5dr Auto
Electric driving range (official WLTP combined): 170 miles
Estimated real-world electric driving range: 130 miles
Monthly lease cost: £231.55
Estimated fuel savings per month: £85
Cost per month after fuel savings deducted: £146.55

3. Renault ZOE GT Line 50 kWh 5dr Auto
Electric driving range (official WLTP combined): 245 miles
Estimated real-world electric driving range: 195 miles
Monthly lease cost: £279.59
Estimated fuel savings per month: £85
Cost per month after fuel savings deducted: £194.59

4. Volkswagen e-Golf 35 kWh 5dr Auto
Electric driving range (official WLTP combined): 144 miles
Estimated real-world electric driving range: 125 miles
Monthly lease cost: £331.32
Estimated fuel savings per month: £100
Cost per month after fuel savings deducted: £231.32

5. Peugeot E-2008 50 kWh Active 5dr Auto
Electric driving range (official WLTP combined): 206 miles
Estimated real-world electric driving range: 170 miles
Monthly lease cost: £338.30
Estimated fuel savings per month: £120
Cost per month after fuel savings deducted: £218.30

The monthly lease costs are for a 4-year Personal Contract Hire (PCH) covering 10,000 miles per year; they include VAT and there is no initial rental. Estimated fuel savings are based on 14p per kW electricity costs and monthly mileages covered as part of a 10,000 miles per year PCH.

Maintenance costs of EVs are also lower than those of petrol cars, and for company car drivers, EVs have zero Benefit in Kind tax for 2020/21.

Mike Potter, Managing Director of DriveElectric, comments: “There’s much talk about EVs reaching price parity with petrol cars over the coming years, but zero emission electric cars can be more affordable than people think today. Fuel costs of EVs are around 20% of the fuel costs of petrol cars, and spreading the cost of the initial purchase price over monthly leasing payments means that EVs are now typically cheaper than petrol cars from a whole-life cost point of view. This could enable large numbers of motorists to make the switch to EVs to help improve local air quality and achieve Net Zero.

“The driving ranges of the latest EVs are sufficient for many people’s regular driving patterns, and for those such as business users who regularly need to cover lots of motorway miles, there’s an ever-increasing variety of vehicle options available with electric driving ranges over 300 miles.”

DriveElectric is an electric vehicle leasing company that has been helping organisations and individuals to adopt EVs to save money, lower emissions and transition to low carbon energy since 2008. DriveElectric aims to make the switch to electric cars and vans simple for business fleets.

DriveElectric also offers a FlexiHire service which enables businesses to hire an electric car or van for a period of a few months rather than being committed to a lease over a number of years. As there’s also no upfront payment, the FlexiHire service provides a cost-effective way to drive an electric vehicle.

DriveElectric staff are currently working remotely from home and business operations are following COVID-19 government guidelines.

Source: Clean Technica

Status of Climate Risk Management in Latin American and Caribbean Banks

12.08.2020

Karibi_palme — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Rowan Heuvel)

A survey among 78 financial institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean holding 54% of the total assets managed by the banking sector in the region, revealed that 38% of banks incorporate guidelines on climate change in their strategy and 24% have a policy on climate risk evaluation and disclosure.

The study entitled “How the Banks of Latin America and the Caribbean incorporate climate change in their risk management”, presented last week during an online event, was prepared by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, with the collaboration of the Latin American Federation of Banks (FELABAN).

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Random Institute)

About 69% of the participant banks identified forestry and agriculture as the sector most exposed to climate risks, followed by the energy generation sector at 44%. Even 80% of the institutions recognized that the main physical risk to be incorporated in their risk evaluation and management was ‘flooding,’ followed by ‘drought’ (mentioned by 41% of the banks).

Banks in the region have an opportunity to improve the assessment of climate risks in their plans and strategies, with the aim of increasing their resilience and be better prepared to support the transition to low carbon economies.

According to the report, 41% of the institutions that took part in the survey recognized they do not have mechanisms to identify, analyze and manage climate risks.

The authors concluded that climate risks remain unmanaged mainly due to a lack of knowledge regarding the financial impact of climate change, and because of the absence of regulatory demands.

Banks in the region still tend to perceive climate risks from the perspective of how companies impact the environment, and not how exposed these companies are to climate threats. Considering the latter is key for financial institutions in the face of the expected increase in disasters and other impacts of extreme weather, the report notes.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, given current concentrations and on-going emissions of greenhouse gases, it is likely that by the end of this century the rise in global temperature will exceed 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. This will come with higher sea levels and more frequent and intense climate disasters.

“During the last decade, banks in Latin America and the Caribbean have made significant progress in integrating sustainability criteria in their different areas of work. The study that we present today will also contribute to the timely management of climate risks in their financing portfolios”, said Julián Suárez, Vice President of Sustainable Development at CAF.

“Climate risk assessment is key to the goal of aligning the banking industry with a sustainable and equitable global economy in the 21st century, which becomes even more relevant today as we need to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic”, said Eric Usher, Head of UNEP FI.

The authors call to follow the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and to replicate initiatives like the UNEP FI pilot project with 16 of the world’s leading banks to develop analytical tools and indicators that strengthen the assessment and disclosure of climate risks.

The survey revealed that 53% of the banks utilized the Sustainability Report as a mechanism to disclose risks linked to climate change, while only 16% reported through regulatory financial forms as advocated by the TCFD recommendations.

Due to the lack of knowledge regarding climate-related risks definitions, the authors also recommend the banking sector of Latin America and the Caribbean to prepare a common taxonomy on these issues.

Source: UNEP

Solar Power Plant for Pollution Removal

12.08.2020

Photo: Private archive of Gordana Pucar Milidrag

There is talk in the last few years about more intensive use of solar energy in our country’s energy mix. With the desire that such projects come to life and become part of our everyday lives, various companies appear in the market which offer options for potential customers and future electricity producers. Therefore, it is not unusual that solar power plants are emerging, and their primary purpose and unfortunately, sometimes, their only use, is to produce electricity. Rather than this one, science also offers solutions for generating slightly different results.

At the Faculty of Sciences (PMF) in Novi Sad, at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, a research is underway on the use of solar energy with the aim of eliminating hazardous substances from wastewater. Specifically, in this case, it is about removing synthetic dyes from wastewaters which originate from the textile industry. The research is being conducted as a part of Gordana Pucar Milidrag’s PhD thesis.

The potential of solar energy represents 16.7 per cent of Serbia’s total renewable energy potential. Taking into account that the energy potential of solar radiation is for around 40 per cent higher in Serbia than in Central Europe and that the intensity of solar radiation is among the highest in Europe, we come to conclustion that solar radiation is rather sufficient and that it can be used in many different ways. Gordana Pucar Milidrag states that the data show that the average duration of insulation is 2,071 hours, or about 270 days of sunshine, and more than 70 per cent of insulation is generated between April and September.

“When we take into consideration the average weather conditions, atmospheric pollution and humidity, in these areas the real average radiation is about 3.5 kWh/m2 per day. These are the values that provide a reliable massive and economical use of solar energy. It is logical for us, as environmentalists at the Faculty of Sciences, to examine the possibilities of removing pollution by using this resource. We were most interested in removing pollution by applying so-called photo-Fenton process,” says Gordana and lets us know that the process is part of the group of advanced oxidation processes and it is based on the creation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals in the reaction of iron and hydrogen peroxide.

“Hydroxyl radicals oxidise everything they come across, both organic and inorganic components. By applying this process in the presence of radiation makes the essence of the photo-Fenton process, which is considered to be a good
choice for removing of persistent contaminants (or pollution which is difficult to remove), due to the additional generation of hydroxyl radicals by photoreduction of iron and photolysis of hydrogen peroxide. This makes clear that
solar energy has a concrete implementation in the process,” explains Gordana. In order to test the possibility of applying the photoFenton process, the experiment was performed in a parabolic trough collector (PTC), which is considered to be most appropriate when it comes to wastewater treatment. Such collectors use only direct solar radiation (the higher the amount of radiation is, the greater is the yield). The PTC is small and receives a large amount of energy per unit volume. Gordana says that the main drawbacks are that the collector uses only direct radiation (which means that it is not efficient when it is cloudy), it is expensive dueto a tracking system and it has low optical and quantum efficiency by using this resource. We were most interested in removing pollution by applying so-called photo-Fenton process,” says Gordana and lets us know that the process is part of the group of advanced oxidation processes and it is based on the creation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals in the reaction of iron and hydrogen peroxide.

In order to test the possibility of applying the photoFenton process, the experiment was performed in a parabolic trough collector (PTC), which is considered to be most appropriate when it comes to wastewater treatment. Such collectors use only direct solar radiation (the higher the amount of radiation is, the greater is the yield). The PTC is small and receives a large amount of energy per unit volume. Gordana says that the main drawbacks are that the collector uses only direct radiation (which means that it is not efficient when it is cloudy), it is expensive due to a tracking system and it has low optical and quantum efficiency.

“Through the implementation of these processes in the collector, a research for removing (degradation) of synthetic dyed molecules which is applied during the fabric dyeing process is carried out. Several different compounds have been successfully degraded by this collector: chromium (VI), dichloroacetic acid, phenols, 4-chlorophenol, dichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol, atrazine, industrial wastewater, etc. However, since the dye molecule itself is ‘large’ (that is, it has a large molar mass) and it is hardly degradable, we wanted to get an impression of how effective this process really is”, Gordana states, adding that the results of the experiment showed that the efficiency of discolouration (removal) of colours was high, around 100 per cent.

“Despite this, there is still no complete neutralisation of organic matter to carbon dioxide and water, given to the relatively short duration of the reaction. This is due to the presence of various salts and dicarboxylic acids, as well as additional reactions which involve hydroxyl radicals that interfere with the flow of the process. That is why such processes must be combined with some other processes and applied, for example, in the tertiary treatment of wastewater in the textile industry.”

In focus:

The goal they were aiming for was mostly met. Gordana says that the implementation of such processes allows the reaction to take place under neutral conditions, which reduces the cost of neutralisation in the first step. In addition, thermal energy collected during the radiation concentration can be used simultaneously for other applications. The fact that a catalyst synthesized from clay bentonite was used as the source of iron, which is a natural, widespread and inexpensive material, and solar radiation, as a renewable and alternative photon source, the results mentioned above should be taken into account when analysing the cost-effectiveness of the process applied. The analysis would include, according to Gordana, the land on which such collectors would be built, the chemicals that would be used during the treatments and the energy savings that would be provided by the use of these collectors, with the fact that the collectors could only be used duringthe sunny days, when radiation intensity is appropriate.

“The construction of these collectors is not cheap, but it would also be possible to use construction materials that are not as expensive as reflective surfaces. On the other hand, the implementation of advanced oxidation processes is considered as a proposal for the best available technique when it comes to the treatment of wastewater in the textile industry, while photo-oxidations are being considered as additional new techniques and the possibility of their implementation in tertiary treatment of wastewaters on semi-industrial systems is being examined”, Gordana presents possible solutions.

An important factor is the willingness of the state or the investor to support the development of such technologies. While the device is not positioned on the market, the information on its cost-effectiveness is not available. There are similar projects in Spain, Italy and the United States, which does not prevent them from continuous development of new processes for implementing such collectors. Gordana believes that the continuation of this research should go towards the improvement of the process, including the collector itself, in order to ensure complete mineralization. “Like any scientist, I want my work to see the light of the day, not to be a stillborn, rather as something tangible, practical and purposeful. Especially because behind all that is such a strong motive to preserve the planet.”

Prepared by: Mladen Rajic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURAL RESOURCES, march – may, 2020

Carbon Dioxide and Water Successfully Converted Into Ethanol

11.08.2020

nebo_oblaci — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Kenrick Mills)

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could do something useful with excess carbon dioxide other than capture it, compress it, and bury it deep in the bottom of the ocean? Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory may have discovered a way to do precisely that. According to a press release from ANL, researchers at the lab, working with partners at Northern Illinois University, have discovered a new electrocatalyst that converts carbon dioxide and water into ethanol with very high energy efficiency, high selectivity for the desired final product, and low cost. Ethanol is a particularly desirable commodity because it is an ingredient in nearly all US gasoline and is widely used as an intermediate product in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.

“The process resulting from our catalyst would contribute to the circular carbon economy, which entails the reuse of carbon dioxide,” says Di-Jia Liu, senior chemist in Argonne’s chemical sciences and engineering division and also a scientist at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. “The process resulting from our catalyst would contribute to the circular carbon economy, which entails the reuse of carbon dioxide,” he says. The new electrochemical process converts carbon dioxide emitted from industrial processes, such as fossil fuel power plants or alcohol fermentation plants, into valuable commodities at reasonable cost.

The catalyst itself is made up of atomically dispersed copper on a carbon-powder support. It breaks down carbon dioxide and water molecules and selectively reassembles them into ethanol using an external electrical field. The electrocatalytic selectivity or Faradaic efficiency of the process is over 90%, which is significantly higher than it is when using any other reported process. The catalyst operates stably over extended operation at low voltage.

“With this research, we’ve discovered a new catalytic mechanism for converting carbon dioxide and water into ethanol,” said Tao Xu, a professor in physical chemistry and nanotechnology from Northern Illinois University. “The mechanism should also provide a foundation for development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide conversion to a vast array of value-added chemicals.”

Because CO2 is a stable molecule, transforming it into a different molecule normally requires large amounts of energy, which makes the conversion process costly. Liu says, “We could couple the electrochemical process of CO2-to-ethanol conversion using our catalyst to the electric grid and take advantage of the low cost electricity available from renewable sources like solar and wind during off-peak hours.” Because the process runs at low temperature and pressure, it can start and stop rapidly in response to the intermittent supply of the renewable electricity.

The research took advantage of two facilities at ANL — the Advanced Photon Source and Center for Nanoscale Materials. It also had access to the lab’s Computing Resource Center. “Thanks to the high photon flux of the X-ray beams at the APS, we have captured the structural changes of the catalyst during the electrochemical reaction,’’ said Tao Li, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Illinois University and an assistant scientist in Argonne’s X-ray Science division.

This results of the research is opening new pathways that could lead to further improvements in catalyst design. “We have prepared several new catalysts using this approach and found that they are all highly efficient in converting CO2 to other hydrocarbons,” says Liu. “We plan to continue this research in collaboration with industry to advance this promising technology.” The research was published recently in the journal Nature Energy.

The Takeaway

The upshot of this new research is the creation of a process that could reuse and recycle carbon dioxide for fuels and chemicals that today are derived from either oil or natural gas. Notice the role that low cost renewable energy plays in this scenario. What we are witnessing is a convergence of technologies that may result in ways to substantially lower the amount of carbon dioxide that gets added to the atmosphere by industry and at far lower cost than previously thought possible.

Ethanol and the other chemicals that could result from this and similar processes are essential building blocks for the plastics industry. If this discovery could be combined with the creation of new recyclable and biodegradable plastics, that would be a major step forward in constructing a circular economy, one that does not destroy the environment in the pursuit of profits.

The Drawdown Project has just published an update of its road map to a sustainable world, which it says can happen today without waiting for new technologies to appear. This latest news from Argonne National Lab could be incorporated with the ideas promoted by this latest Drawdown Review to help create a business environment built on the notion that the Earth’s resources are finite and should be used as wisely as possible.

Author: Steve Hanley

Source: Clean Technica

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