The e-Volution of vehicles continues WOULD YOU TRY OUT AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

23.11.2017

When it comes to vehicles of the future, most people will immediately think of electric cars. The reality, however, is different. In fact, electric cars are already part of our present. Nowadays, the interest in EVs is growing on many markets, Serbia included. Besides environmental protection and more economical charging, there are numerous reasons for purchasing EVs, some of which are presented below in further detail:

These vehicles provide quiet operation and do not add to the noise pollution.
There is no tailpipe emission and no air pollution due to smog.
Flexible and easy charging. You can charge your vehicle at work or at home – all it takes is to pass a cord through and connect it to a socket.
Fewer repairs resulting from reduced likelihood of a mechanical failure.
Easier to maintain.
Improved cost‑efficiency in the long run.

Second generation electric Golf cars, now based on the improved existing seven series, can already be seen on the roads in this country. Improvements have been made to a number of features: battery power is declared to the level of 35.8 kW/h while the aggregate power is increased to 100 kW, which can be easily converted to 136 hp. On the basis of these performances, one can very easily determine the realistic driving mileage, charging time, and of course the price of consumption.

e-Golf can now run for over

200 kilometers in the everyday drive

on a single battery charge

With electric energy, everything is strictly defined, and the power of an electric engine in kW equals the product voltage (220 V) and electricity (A). With a 10A charger, it takes a modest 2.2. kW of power, but also almost 18 hours of charging time, to reach the full capacity of 35.8 kW. A more powerful charger will reduce this time proportionally to its power and amperage; thus with a 40kW charger, your e‑Golf may be “ready to go” within 45 minutes.

Users largely drive by day and recharge their vehicles overnight, at reduced rates. The cost‑efficiency of e‑Golf can be demonstrated through the following example: the 10A charger, which comes as a part of an e‑Golf package, takes roughly 10 hours to charge to full battery potential, using up about 25 kW/h of electric energy. A simple calculation shows such charging will end up costing us a total of 125 dinars or 1 EUR. The additional advantage is that daily charging requires only a regular power socket.

As for the annual average, which is relevant for all users, e‑Golf can now run for over 200 kilometers in the everyday drive on a single battery charge, depending on the driving style, use of air conditioning and other parameters. Quality driving enthusiasts will also be interested to learn that e‑Golf can accelerate to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds.

It is particularly interesting that e‑Golf lost none of its driving comfort or the signature design. The LED headlights, characterized by low electric energy consumption, enhance its appearance with a new, technological flair. Blue designer elements and aerodynamic optimization provide it with additional standout features.

Numerous advantages notwithstanding, there are real constraints that continue to slow down the popularization of the concept of electrical mobility. One of them is the price, which remains relatively high at the moment of purchase. Given that cost‑efficiency of e‑vehicles is far higher compared to conventional vehicles, the starting price of e‑models should not be directly compared to the equivalent standard models. The price of e‑Golf models starts at €40,000.

Building a network of public charging points in Serbia is a project well underway and particularly contributed to by the company Porsche SCG, the authorized representative of the Volkswagen brand. Always ready to get involved in a project of this type, they have placed a charging point for EV users on Zrenjaninski put 11, the location of Volkswagen authorized dealership and service center, Porsche Beograd Sever.

The e-Volution of vehicles continues. Get introduced to the details of the process at: www.volkswagen.rs/novi-e-golf

This content was originally published in the eighth issue of the Energy Portal Bulletin, named ECOMOBILITY.

Indian State Earns Nearly $1 Million Selling Excess Wind Power In 14 Days

23.11.2017

The record wind energy generation that India witnessed brought in record revenue (and profit!) for the state of Tamil Nadu, the leading producer of wind power in the country.

According to officials, the state power distribution company sold 11.94 gigawatt-hours of wind power over 14 days in August of this year on the open market. Around 500 megawatts of wind power was sold per day in the market for two to four hours over the 14-day period.

This exercise reaped revenue of more than Rs 61 million ($0.95 million). The average per unit cost translates into around Rs 5.16/kWh (7.9¢/kWh). The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company Limited (TANGEDCO) buys wind power at tariffs of Rs 3.00-4.15/kWh (4.6-6.4¢/kWh). The company thus earned a profit of Rs 1.01-2.16 on each kilowatt-hour of electricity sold. The overall profit for the company is around Rs 12 to 26 million ($183,725-$398,071) during this period.

Given that this is the first time that TANGEDCO has actually managed to generate a profit by selling wind power speaks volumes of the opportunity that the company will have every year during the monsoon season of high-speed winds.

Tamil Nadu, and India, witnessed the highest-ever wind energy generation this year. In July, Tamil Nadu witnessed 5 gigawatts of wind energy generation for the first time ever, while in August it recorded the highest-ever single day generation, exceeding 100 gigawatt-hours.

The state had to reduce generation from thermal power plants by 50% in order to accommodate the excess wind power in the grid. However, around 40% of the wind power generated was lost due to inadequate transmission capacity.

In July we reported that for more than 2 hours on July 11th, Tamil Nadu generated a record 5,079 megawatts of wind power. This forced TANGEDCO to shutdown 1,020 megawatts of thermal power capacity and operate several other power plants at half of their capacity.

While the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has directed all states to procure all electricity generated from solar and wind energy projects, even if they have to shutdown thermal power plants, this directive has not been implemented fully. One of the major reasons for this is the lack of adequate transmission capacity and the intermittent nature of these power technologies which puts traditional grid infrastructure at risk.

Source: cleantechnica.com

UK Environment Department Using 1,400 Disposable Coffee Cups a Day

23.11.2017

More than 2.5m disposable cups have been purchased by the UK’s environment department for use in its restaurants and cafes over the past five years – equivalent to nearly 1,400 a day.

The Liberal Democrats’ environment spokesman, Tim Farron, said the revelation, obtained through a freedom of information request, showed Michael Gove “needs to get his own house in order” in light of his public pledges to tackle the growing scourge of plastic pollution.

The Lib Dems revealed that 516,000 disposable cups had been purchased by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) catering contractors in the last year alone, under two separate outsourced contracts for use in catering outlets across its sites. The figure was 589,700 in 2016 and 785,100 the previous year.

The catering contractors did not previously provide any reusable cups, but purchased 200 reusable cups on 31 October 2017.

Separate figures uncovered by the Lib Dems have revealed the House of Commons itself is also failing to get to grips with disposable cup waste, using almost 4m disposable cups in the past five years.

They reveal that 657,000 disposable cups have been purchased by the Commons’ catering service in the last year alone – equivalent to 1,000 per MP – but down from 918,700 in 2013. In addition, 500 reusable or so-called “keep cups” were purchased in 2013, but only four of these have been sold in the last three years.

An estimated 3bn paper cups are thrown away in the UK every year, but it was revealed last year that less than one in 400 is recycled, meaning that millions end up in landfill. The plastic lining in cups means they cannot be recycled in normal depots and have to be put in special bins and sent to one of three dedicated recycling mills.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the introduction of a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups in the budget, following the success of the plastic carrier bag charge which has reduced usage in England by 85 per cent since it was introduced in October 2015.

The chancellor, Philip Hammond, is expected to announce in Wednesday’s budget a “call for evidence” on how taxes or other charges on single-use plastics such as takeaway cartons and packaging could reduce the impact of discarded waste on marine and bird life. Under Defra’s litter strategy launched in April, a working group has been set up drawing together industry and retailers to develop further practical steps to tackle plastic waste.

“It’s astounding that the department which is supposed to be protecting our environment is responsible for such a colossal amount of waste” said Farron. “Millions of plastic cups have been thrown away by the government, some of which will now be polluting our seas, rivers and countryside. Michael Gove needs to get his own house in order. A coffee cup charge should be introduced in the budget to tackle waste and encourage the use of reusable cups, including in the civil service and parliament.”

A spokesperson for Defra said: “We are committed to reducing unnecessary waste within the department and these figures show the number of disposable cups used has fallen by more than half since 2013. We are working with our suppliers to see what more can be done to further cut their use and promote recycling.”

Source: businessgreen.com

France Won’t Achieve Goal Of Reducing Nuclear Share Of Power Mix To 50% Until 2030–2035, Environment Minister Reveals

22.11.2017

France won’t achieve its goals of reducing the share of its power mix held by nuclear energy to 50%, down from 75%, until the 2030–2035 timeframe (rather than by the 2025 target), the country’s environment minister Nicolas Hulot has revealed.

That means that the country’s goal to reduce reliance upon nuclear energy to a notable degree will be running at least 5–10 years late — and possibly even longer than that. The original 2025 goal was dropped because it was “not realistic” and would increase carbon dioxide emissions, according to Hulot.

As a reminder, the 2025 goal was set by the previous administration, not by the current one, so it shouldn’t be too surprising to see it dropped.

“We will probably have to delay until 2030 or 2035, we will see, at the latest 2035, but don’t ask me to be more precise as that would mean everything has already been decided,” stated Hulot while being interviewed on BFM Television.

“He added that in the coming year, the government would hold public consultations and talks with unions and the energy sector to come up with a new deadline and a program for closing nuclear reactors,” Reuters reports.

“On Tuesday, Hulot said that reaching the 50% target by 2025 would mean closing 17 to 25 nuclear reactors. France is the world’s most nuclear-reliant country. State-controlled utility EDF generates about three-quarters of French power with 58 nuclear reactors in 19 nuclear plants.

“EDF argues that it makes no economic sense to close well-functioning nuclear plants and instead wants to extend the lifespan of its nuclear reactors from 40 to 50 years and longer.”

Critics responded to EDF’s stated desire by noting that it would be cheaper to invest in renewables such as solar and wind energy than it would be to safely maintain the country’s current nuclear reactor fleet for such a long time.

Source: cleantechnica.com

200 Megawatts To Be Re-Tendered At India’s Largest Solar Power Park

22.11.2017

photovoltaic-system solar — Foto: Pixabay

India’s largest solar power park, in Karnataka, will witness a re-tendering of 200 megawatts of capacity shortly.

The tender was first issued in July 2017 but was withdrawn the following month. The tender was floated to auction 200 megawatts of capacity in blocks of 50 megawatts each. The solar power park at Pavagada was planned by the Solar Energy Corporation of India in partnership with the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited.

Karnataka will procure electricity generated from the solar power park through long-term power purchase agreements of 25 years. The solar power park will have an eventual installed capacity of 2,700 megawatts.

Some of the leading solar power developers are already working on projects allocated to them in earlier auctions. Adani Power and Tata Power Solar each are developing 150 megawatts, Acme Solar and Fortum are working on 100 megawatts each while Arrow Solar and ReNew Power are working on 50 megawatts of capacity each. The total of 600 megawatts of capacity is expected to be operational by December of this year.

The power generated from these solar power projects will be bundled with thermal power generated from coal-fired power plants owned by NTPC Limited. So, while these six developers placed bids of around Rs 4.80/kWh (7.3¢/kWh), the power distribution companies that will purchase the electricity will pay Rs 3.30/kWh (5.51¢/kWh) for the bundled electricity.

The region that hosts this solar power park has been facing drought for several years now. The government is looking to support the local population through economic development. For this, Rs 200 million ($3 million) will be collected from the project developers. The fund will be used to establish schools, health centers, roads and other basic infrastructure in the region.

Source: cleantechnica.com

China Aims To Plug Renewable Energy Losses By 2020

22.11.2017

China may be the largest renewable energy generator in the world, but it still has to sort issues related to integration of wind and solar power in the existing transmission grid.

According to the National Energy Administration (NEA), curtailment of hydro, wind, and solar power projects is expected to drop this year, with the government planning to reduce it to zero by 2020. Curtailment of hydro power in Yunnan and Sichuan province is expected to decline to 10% this year.

Wind energy curtailment in Gansu and Xinjiang provinces is expected to decline to 30% while that in Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia is expected to fall to 20%. Solar power curtailment is expected to fall to 20% in Gansu and Xinjiang provinces and to 10% in Shaanxi and Qinghai provinces this year.

The northwestern provinces are blessed with immense renewable energy potential but are the farthest from big energy consuming centers in southeastern provinces. Due to the intermittent nature of wind and solar power and the lack of adequate transmission infrastructure in the north-western provinces, a huge amount of electricity is wasted.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance also issued a map highlighting the provinces that have the greatest risk of curtailment. Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia were noted to have the greatest curtailment risk. Last year, 56.2 terawatt-hours of electricity was curtailed.

China has taken measures to reduce this curtailment. Last year, the National Development and Reform Commission mandated grid companies to purchase electricity from wind and solar power projects so as to let them function a set minimum hours in a year.

The NRDC has ordered that enough power from wind energy projects be procured so as to allow them to function for at least 1,800 hours in a year. The figure for solar power projects is at least 1,300 hours. The mandatory procurement will be applicable across 11 provinces including Xianjing and Gansu.

Source: cleantechnica.com

California To Meet 2030 Renewable Energy Targets By 2020

22.11.2017

Obnovljivi izvori energije — Foto: Pixabay

A new report from the California Public Utilities Commission has concluded that the state’s major utilities have already met or will all soon exceed the state’s 2020 renewable energy target of 33%, and will likely meet the 2030 target of 50% by 2020.

California is well-known as a world leader in clean energy technology deployment, but the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) annual Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) report published earlier this month shows that the state’s utilities are well ahead of the RPS targets — specifically, to source 33% of retail sales per year from eligible renewable energy sources by 2020 and 50% by 2030.

As can be seen below, California’s investor-owned utilities have already surpassed their interim targets and, according to the CPUC, “have sufficient resources under development to exceed the 33% by 2020 RPS requirement.”

On top of the fast pace of renewable energy deployment, California’s RPS program has similarly helped reduce the cost of renewable electricity, with the price of utility solar contracts between 2008 and 2016 falling by 77%, while the price of wind contracts between 2007 and 2015 fell by 47%.

Further, the CPUC predicts that, on aggregate, California’s utilities will meet its 2030 RPS requirements of 50% by 2020.

“There is no greater time than now to fight climate change, and California is leading the way,” said CPUC Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen, who is assigned to oversee the CPUC’s RPS proceeding. “Our utilities are exceeding the goals we put in place for them. Costs have continued to decline, and reliability has not been compromised in any way. California’s successful program offers lessons for other states interested in advancing clean energy policies.”

The smaller Community Choice Aggregators (CA) and the small and multi-jurisdictional utilities (SMJU) all report compliance with current RPS requirements and are on track to meet their 2020 targets, but more work will need to be done to meet post-2020 targets.

Source: cleantechnica.com

India’s Wind Energy Generation Up 35% In Q3 2017

22.11.2017

wind-power-plant — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Good monsoon winds and a sharp jump in installed capacity helped India generate record wind energy in the July-September 2017 quarter.

According to data released by the Indian government, wind energy generation in the country jumped 35% in Q2 2017 compared to the preceding quarter. The generation was up 25% compared to Q3 2016. This quarter-on-quarter increase was likely the result of high wind speeds thanks to a good monsoon season this year. The year-on-year jump was the result of a 14% increase in installed capacity between October 2016 and September 2017.

Total wind energy generation in India increased from 15.8 gigawatt-hours in Q2 2017 to 21.3 gigawatt-hours in Q3 2017. The share of wind energy in the total power generation or imported in India on quarterly basis touched a high of 6.4% in Q3 2017, up from previous high of 5.4% in Q3 2016.

Within renewable energy generation, the share of wind energy increased to its second-highest level. The share of wind energy within renewable energy generated in India during Q3 2017 touched 67.9%, compared to 62.2% in Q2 2017 and 61.8% in Q3 2016.

In July of 2017, the share of wind energy in India’s total power generation and import touched an all-time high of 8.9%, surpassing the previous high of 6.7% in July 2016. Wind energy’s share within the renewable energy generated in that month was also at an all-time high of 76.2%. The absolute wind energy generation in July 2017 also touched an all-time high of 9.8 gigawatt-hours. India can be expected to see more than 10 gigawatt-hours of wind energy generation in June or July next year.

However, the rise in generation next year may not be as high as it is this year. Wind energy capacity addition has taken a massive hit this year. Project developers are no longer being allowed to add projects under the feed-in tariff scheme and are required to set up projects through competitive auctions. This will significantly impact the capacity addition.

Source: cleantechnica.com

First Wind Turbine Stands Tall at Mount Emerald Wind Farm

21.11.2017

Energija vetra, trubina, vetro, vetar — Photo: Pixabay

The first wind turbine at the Mount Emerald Wind Farm near Walkamin has been sucessfully erected, marking a significant milestone for the biggest wind farm in Queensland.

The turbine consists of three 16 tonne blades, each 57m long, that were positioned in place atop the 90-metre tower after the project’s first towers were raised last week.

Each tower is made up of four separate sections and is anchored to an 800-tonne concrete and steel foundation using 168, 36mm bolts.

The turbine’s 120-tonne nacelle (the box that houses all of the generating components in a wind turbine) is as big as a shipping container and was craned into place.

Ratch Australia Corporation construction director Rene Kuypers said the significant milestone capped a huge team effort.

“Reaching this construction point has involved careful planning over many months and a lot of work from a lot of people and I’d like to thank them all,” he said.

“From unloading the cargo at Cairns Port to carefully trucking the components up to Walkamin and now the crane crews erecting the components, it’s teamwork at its best.”

Mr Kuypers said more than 400 construction crew had been inducted to work on the project to date, including 130 locals and more than 20 suppliers contracted from the wider Cairns region.

Over the project’s construction phase more than 450 components will be delivered to the site. A total of 53 wind turbines will be erected, each with a capacity exceeding 3 megawatts (MW) for a total capacity of around 180MW.

Once fully operational in September 2018, Mount Emerald will be the biggest wind farm in Queensland.

The wind farm will deliver 540,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy, which is predicted to meet the annual needs of about 75,000 north Queensland homes over a 20-year period.

Powerlink’s construction of a dedicated 275kV substation to connect the wind farm to its transmission network is also underway.

Source: dailytelegraph.com.au

World’s Cheapest Solar Power to be Generated in Mexico

21.11.2017

solarka-iran — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Mexico is on track to generate the world’s cheapest solar power — with prices as low as 1.77¢/kWh, according to Mexico’s Centro Nacional de Control de Energía (Cenace). Mexico’s Department of Energy recently announced the companies selected to complete new renewable power projects, and the rates at which this electricity will be sold. The lowest price for solar in Mexico has been set just below that of Saudi Arabia at 1.77¢/kWh, and is expected to continue to decrease to 1¢/kWh in 2019 or sooner. In this most recent bidding round, 15 bids from eight solar and wind energy companies, including Canadian Solar, ENEL Green Power, and Mitsui, were approved in a sign that Mexico’s renewable surge is not slowing down.

The clean energy projects recently approved by Mexico will be online and selling power by 2020. These projects and others are important steps towards meeting Mexico’s goals under the Paris agreement as well as regional goals established by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. In 2016, all three countries pledged to source 50 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2025. Canada is on track to meet this goal while Mexico continues to build up its renewable portfolio. As it was when the regional pledge was made, the United States still lags behind in its transition to clean energy.

Mexico’s achievement of cheap solar energy exceeds the expectations of skeptics who believed that such a price in a country like Mexico, rather than one like wealthy Saudi Arabia, would be highly unlikely. Despite its economic challenges, Mexico is proving that affordable renewable energy is possible around the world, brightening the prospects of the Paris agreement even as the United States refuses to participate. If current trends continue, the world may soon be faced with the prospect of plentiful, clean, affordable energy, the possibilities for which are endless.

Source: inhabitat.com

Soil Management: Key to Fighting Climate Change?

21.11.2017

An important tool for mitigating climate change may lie beneath our feet—soil management could increase our ability to keep carbon out of the atmosphere, a new study shows.

A paper published last week in the journal Scientific Reports estimates that by altering land use practices, the top layer of soil around the globe could increase the amount of carbon stored anywhere from 0.9 to 1.85 billion metric tons per year—an amount that equals the transportation sector’s carbon emissions.

“Analyses like this help us understand the importance of soil management for reaching climate goals. The question now is: how can we unlock this potential?” Deborah Bossio, one of the study’s authors said in a statement.

Worldwide, scientists estimate that the earth’s soil contains about 2.5 trillion tons of carbon in its top three-foot layer. Agricultural activity, depending on the type, could release large amounts of carbon by disturbing the soil. Almost 50 percent of all potentially vegetated land surface has been converted to croplands, pastures and rangelands. This in turn has contributed approximately 136 peta grams of carbon to the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. For comparison, fossil fuel combustion has pumped an estimated 270 peta grams of carbon into the atmosphere, according to the study.

The good news is this study shows how land management practices are an opportunity to reverse that trend. Rotating crops, composting, zero tillage, cover cropping and agroforestry can increase soil’s potential to keep carbon out of the atmosphere.

On a per hectare basis, South Asia and North Africa hold the greatest potential for land carbon storage, while areas with the greatest opportunity for implementation now are places that already have extensive soil management, such as the U.S.

“Regenerating soil organic carbon is a foundational strategy for conservation, through which we can provide food and water sustainably and help tackle climate change,” Bassio said.

Despite this, soil management as a climate mitigation tool did not make it onto the official Bonn climate conference agenda, although it has been discussed in side events run by environmental groups.

“It’s just not a high priority in terms of all the issues faced globally by agriculture,” Jonathan Sanderman, a soil expert at the Woods Hole Research Center, told the Scientific American.

Improving food security, increasing crop yields and increasing the resilience of agriculture to the effects of climate change are the main discussion points among policy makers. However they tend to ignore the importance of land use management and what it can do to mitigate climate change.

“The beauty of carbon sequestration is if you improve your resource bases—your soil health, your soil fertility—it almost automatically comes with sequestration of carbon,” said Rolf Sommer, one of the study’s authors.

Source: ecowatch.com

EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH COMPANY And on Foot or by Bike is the Healthiest

21.11.2017

Bogdan-Spasojevic — Foto: Bogdan Spasojević

Although this issue of our bulletin is largely concerned with electric vehicles, the real supporters of green traffic and ecological mobility are actually cyclists and pedestrians. “Fat cyclists”, “Just not by car”, “Streets for Cyclists” and “Critical Mass” – these are just some of many actions that citizens from urban areas have, who spontaneously gather together and spread the idea of environmental protection, healthy life and need for cleaner air in cities. And, of course, they enjoy cycling and hiking. We are using this opportunity to present them to you.

FAT CYCLISTS

It comes as no surprise that not everyone is born to have athletic build throughout his life and to fit the standards of a classical athlete who brags with his slender body in tight latex Bermuda and even tighter top. However, the fact that we often enjoy doing nothing as well as having a good bite, should not prevent us from enjoying a light ride on a bicycle out of pure hedonism.

An example of this way of life is an informal group that presents itself as Fat cyclists. It brings together the lovers of culture, art, food, and drinks, who fight, with all their heart, with numerous actions for “green” streets and clear air.

Ivan Tobić, one of the founders of Fat cyclists, popular Smederevo and Belgrade musician, revealed why their rides and actions are real treats for those who love cycling, ecological activism and art, but also delicious food.

– We crossed more than a thousand kilometers on bicycles in order to play concerts, we grilled, and shared with friends, “cyclesauge”- a sausage in the shape of a bicycle, worthy of the Guinness World Records. We built recycled parking for fat cyclists, led the ban on the use of cars at Zemun Kej and each Easter traditionally organized a knightly tournament in egg cracking on bicycles.

– The trip to Florence, within the Ciklomotiva project, which motivates people to recycle cans or other materials, was one of the most inspiring efforts of the members of this small renaissance circle. All those who follow our travelogues, sort of picaresque novels, enjoy in our adventures as well. They inspired many to use bicycles as the most ecological and the healthiest way of moving – explains Ivan.

JUST NOT BY CAR

The campaign ”Just not by car” is being conducted in Belgrade as a one-day challenge for companies and public institutions. On the day of the competition, participants register their teams that will come to work on foot or by bicycle on that day (just not by car).

In the first year, 425 individuals from 36 companies and public institutions took part in the competition. Participants of “Just not by car” cycled or walked just over 4,000 km. In the second year of the competition, on the day of the challenge, 18th May 2017, 611 competitors from over 60 companies took part and crossed a total of more than 9,000 kilometers.

– The campaign aims to encourage companies and public institutions to think about urban mobility and motivate their employees to use alternative modes of transport. At the same time, the campaign affects the visibility of cyclists in Belgrade and shows us what Belgrade could look like if everyone would come to work “just not by car” – said Danilo Ćurčić, one of the organizers of this campaign.

The next action within the campaign “Just not by car” is planned for the European Mobility Week, in September 2017.

STREETS FOR CYCLISTS AND THEIR “CRITICAL MASS”

The Citizens Association “Streets for cyclists” is engaged in the promotion and public advocacy of bicycles as a daily means of transport in Belgrade.

– We are in favor of greener traffic because it is healthier for all of us. The idea of our association is to urge drivers of motor vehicles to look after cyclists in the streets on one hand, and on the other hand to encourage the construction of as many cycling tracks as possible so that we can pedal Photos: Bogdan Spasojević safely everywhere – said Zoran Bukvić from the association “Streets for bicycles”.

“Critical Mass” is an event organized around the world, and the idea is to draw attention to the problems of cyclists and as well as to promote bicycles as a mode of transport. Recently, 75th action “Critical mass” was held in Belgrade and the end of the ride there was a traditional picnic, which was held this time at Kalemegdan, below the Nebojša Tower.

– We gather every last Saturday in the month, no matter what the weather conditions are. Come! In addition to the fact it is fun to ride a bicycle with a company, “Critical Mass” is always an action for itself, as each carries a unique message and aims to draw attention to a specific, current problem that cyclists and other citizens face at the given moment – said Zoran.

Prepared by: Vera Rakić

This content was originally published in the eighth issue of the Energy Portal Bulletin, named ECOMOBILITY.

Yingli Solar Begins Construction Of 100 Megawatt Top Runner Project In Inner Mongolia

21.11.2017

solar-panel-1393880__340 — Photo: Pixabay

Chinese solar manufacturer Yingli Solar has announced it has begun construction on its second Chinese Top Runner solar project, a 100 megawatt solar project in Wuhai City, in Inner Mongolia.

The Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, better known as Yingli Solar, or simply Yingli, announced the construction groundbreaking of a 100 MW (megawatt) solar project in Wuhai City, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The project is Yingli Solar’s second solar project that is categorized under China’s Top Runner program — a program intended to improve energy efficiency measures by improving the quality of solar manufacturing in which China allocates a certain number of projects to be restricted to high-efficiency solar components.

Yingli Solar’s first Top Runner solar project was the 50 MW Datong solar project in the Shanxi province. This second project to be developed in Inner Mongolia will make use of Yingli’s patented PANDA Bifacial panels, which are able to generate solar energy from both the front and rear. The 100 MW project is expected to be completed and grid operational by June 2018.

“We are glad to participate in “Top Runner” program again with our reliable and high efficient products,” explained Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli. “Data shows that, since the grid-connection of the Datong 50 MW ‘Top Runner‘ project, which utilized PANDA Bifacial panels, its monthly energy yield is up to approximately 17% higher than typical multi-crystalline solar plants. We believe that this project will be another sample of Yingli’s efforts in technological innovations to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power generation.”

Source: cleantechnica.com

Coffee-Fuelled Commute? London Buses to Run on Fuel Made from Used Coffee Ground

21.11.2017

Oil giant Shell and UK start-up bio-bean have teamed up on a project to provide a low carbon biofuel for London buses that contains waste coffee grounds collected from high-street retailers.

The B20 biofuel, which uses a 20 per cent bio-component containing coffee oil, is to be added to the London bus fuel supply chain, the two firms said.

The fuel can be used without any modifications to the bus fleet and promises to deliver sizeable carbon savings.

Founded in 2013, clean tech firm bio-bean produces alternative fuels and ‘coffee logs’ for wood burning stoves made from recycled coffee grounds. It has established partnerships to secure supplies of used coffee grounds from high street chains such as Costa and Caffé Nero.

The coffee grounds are dried and processed before coffee oil is extracted, with bio-bean working with its fuel partner Argent Energy to process the oil into the blended B20 biofuel.

So far, 6,000 litres of coffee oil has been produced, which, if used as a pure-blend for the bio component and mixed with mineral diesel to form a B20, could help power the equivalent of one London bus for one year.

Bio-bean founder Arthur Kay said the latest project was a “great example of what can be done when we start to reimagine waste as an untapped resource”, highlighting statistics that Londoners produce more than 200,000 tonnes of waste coffee a year.

“Our Coffee Logs have already become the fuel of choice for households looking for a high-performance, sustainable way to heat their homes – and now, with the support of Shell, bio-bean and Argent Energy have created thousands of litres of coffee-derived B20 biodiesel which will help power London buses for the first time,” he said.

The collaboration with Shell is part of the oil giant’s #makethefuture energy initiative, which supports entrepreneurs working on low carbon innovations.

Sinead Lynch, Shell’s UK country chair, said: “We’re pleased to be able to support bio-bean to trial this innovative new energy solution which can help to power buses, keeping Londoners moving around the city – powered in part by their waste coffee grounds.”

Source: businessgreen.com

China on Pace for Record Solar-Power Installations

20.11.2017

China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter, is poised to install a record amount of solar-power capacity this year, prompting researchers to boost forecasts as much as 80 percent.

About 54 gigawatts will be put in place this year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said Monday, raising a forecast of more than 30 gigawatts made in July. That amount of additional capacity would likely surpass all the solar energy generated in Japan in 2017.

“The amount of rooftop solar plants and projects aimed at easing poverty were more than expected and developers rushed to build some ground-mounted solar projects before they have been allocated subsidies,” said Yvonne Liu, a BNEF analyst in Beijing.

The growth of the market has benefited top panel producers, including JinkoSolar Holding Co. and Trina Solar Ltd. China installed 43 gigawatts of solar power in the first nine months of 2017, already above the 34.5 gigawatts for all of last year.

China has been the world’s biggest solar market since 2013. It surpassed Germany as the country with the most installed photovoltaic power capacity two years ago.

CCB International Securities Ltd. raised its forecast for China’s solar power capacity to 55 gigawatts from 40 gigawatts for 2018, according to a Nov. 17 note.

“We have a bright outlook for the entire supply chain of China’s solar sector as new policies are introduced to liberalize direct power sales for distributed power generation and based on our assumption of tariff hikes and a higher renewable surcharge in 2018,” CCB said.

Source: bloomberg.com

Missouri City Opens Largest Solar Farm in the State

20.11.2017

A city in southwest Missouri has opened the largest solar farm in the state.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that the new Nixa Solar Energy Farm started providing power this month. City officials predict that the array’s 33,000 panels will be able to provide about 9 percent of the city’s power needs.

The city will get 20 percent of its energy from renewable resources once the facility hits its production capacity, said Doug Colvin, the city’s public works director.

“It’s a great start, and we too will probably grow from there at some point in the future,” Colvin said. “Our outcome of this is basically moving toward a stewardship of our environment. This has all been said before today, and we’re very proud to be a part of that.”

City officials believe the solar farm will save the city $2.5 million by producing power it would’ve had to buy from City Utilities and the Southwestern Power Administration.

Gardner Capital is the project’s current developer and will likely be the longtime owner of the project.

There are two major changes in attitude that are contributing to an increase in solar power, said Mark Gardner, the owner of Gardner Capital.

One change is the growing belief that burning the Earth’s finite resources is bad for the environment, he said.

“Coal is dead. It just is,” Gardner said. “It’s gonna take a while. It’s gonna die a bit of a slow death because there has to be a transition.”

A changing culture in the U.S. business community is also contributing to the change, he said.

“Shareholders are demanding that corporations represent the interests of shareholders — not just their financial interests, but the interests they hold on a personal level,” Gardner said. “They are demanding that corporations have a social conscience.”

Source: stltoday.com

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