Technological Breakthrough In the Fight Against Wildfires

22.06.2025

forest_fire_šumski_požar — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Until recently, wildfires were considered seasonal, mostly local phenomena, but over time, they have become a global crisis rapidly spreading under the influence of various changes. In recent decades, especially over the past 15 years, a record number of wildfires with devastating consequences have been recorded, severely impacting forest ecosystems, human lives, and biodiversity.

Human activity is often the cause of wildfires—from unattended campfires or discarded cigarette butts to the intentional burning of vegetation for urban development and agricultural expansion. Natural causes, such as lightning strikes, make up a much smaller share, but can be extremely dangerous when combined with drought, high temperatures, and strong winds, which accelerate the spread of fire. Additionally, due to urbanization and construction, people are increasingly settling and building on the edges of forests, increasing the risk of fires.

The most affected region in terms of wildfires is undoubtedly the western United States, which faces this problem between June and October, with the peak usually in August and September. However, even the beginning of 2025 brought terrifying scenes from Los Angeles. Canada is also among the countries most affected by the scale of wildfires, having lost several million hectares of forest to flames in 2023. The year 2024 fared no better, with hundreds of active fires at the same time. The situation is similar in the Southern Hemisphere, where Australia is most frequently impacted between December and March.

Artificial Intelligence as a Solution

In the search for new solutions, innovative projects are emerging, such as the SensoRy AI platform. This technology was developed by a young man from California, starting as a science fair project. Over time, it evolved into a system based on a combination of sensors for flame, smoke, and heat, along with infrared cameras and machine learning algorithms, which are now entering the testing phase in the field. Its goal is the early detection of natural hazards and fire alerts in high-risk areas. As soon as the sensor detects a potential fire source, it alerts local firefighting services, helping to prevent major wildfires.

IN FOCUS:

In addition, this could be a true ecological technology, as it doesn’t stop at fire detection but could also be used for identifying other types of pollution, including methane leaks or water contamination. Thanks to real-time data processing algorithms, the system could detect a problem even before visible signs appear.

Wildfires are no longer just a local issue; any delay in addressing the problem leads to even more severe consequences. Projects like this one, which are attuned to science and technological advancement, can prevent catastrophic outcomes and help preserve forests, which are vital for life on Earth.

Record Forest Loss by 2023

Statistics published by Global Forest Watch provide a deeper understanding of the scale of the problem. In 2020, the world had 3.68 billion hectares of natural forests, accounting for about 28 percent of total land area. By 2023, a loss of 23.9 million hectares of natural forest was recorded for various reasons.

When analyzing wildfires specifically, the statistics reveal that between 2001 and 2023, 138 million hectares of forest were lost—an area roughly 15 times the size of Serbia. In 2023, the largest recorded forest loss occurred when fire consumed 11.9 million hectares, representing 42 percent of all tree loss that year.

Problems are also reported in Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, where fires are increasingly difficult to control due to heat waves and strong winds. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), between 300,000 and 600,000 hectares burn annually in the European Union, and in 2023, half a million hectares were lost to fires.

Serbia’s Situation Is Less Drastic Than in Other Parts of the World

From 2001 to 2023, Serbia lost an average of 154 hectares of forest annually due to fires, placing it at 94th on the Global Forest Watch ranking. While fires were responsible for just under 5 percent of tree loss in Serbia, experiences from other countries teach us that caution and preventive action are necessary to minimize the risk of fire outbreaks.

Every hectare of forest lost reduces nature’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, regulate temperature, and provide habitats for numerous species. That is why it is essential to recognize the seriousness of this issue and contribute to its resolution—through responsible forest management, fire prevention, and raising awareness of the importance of protecting natural resources. We can only reduce risks and preserve forests for future generations through joint efforts.

Prepared by Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

How to Get More Electric Vehicles on Serbian Roads

21.06.2025

michael-fousert-T_D-vzJu5SU-unsplash — Photo-illustration: Unsplash/Michael Fousert

In 2024, Serbia achieved its best result in new car sales over the past five years, surpassing even the pre-pandemic period. Nevertheless, according to data from the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers, the market is still dominated by used cars, which account for as much as 83 percent of total sales.

Regarding fuel type, petrol engines had the largest share among new cars sold in 2024, accounting for 46 percent, while hybrids, in all their variants, made up 32 percent of the market. Diesel vehicles comprised 19 percent, with the remaining three percent divided among alternative fuels – two percent for LPG and similar drives, and just one percent for electric vehicles.

“The share of fully electric vehicles stands at around one percent, meaning precisely 283 new passenger cars and 142 new light commercial vehicles were sold. Regarding hybrids, electrified vehicles also include plug-in hybrids, with over 2,000 units sold. Observing trends from 2019 to the present, sales have been consistently growing, but we are still significantly behind compared to the EU market, where fully electric vehicles account for 13.6 percent of total sales,” said Boris Ćorović, Secretary General of the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers.

In contrast, around 135,000 used passenger vehicles were imported into Serbia in 2024, with as many as 58,000 having Euro 3 and Euro 4 engines (produced between 2001 and 2010). This means that new vehicles comprised only 17 percent of total sales, while used vehicles accounted for the remaining 83 percent.

As for used fully electric vehicles, 964 were imported into Serbia in 2024, significantly exceeding the number of new electric cars sold. These figures clearly show that Serbian citizens still predominantly rely on used vehicles, often with older emissions standards. From an environmental perspective, it is concerning that imports are still led by older vehicles, which are among the biggest polluters, while the number of new cars remains considerably lower.

IN FOCUS:

Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure Challenges

One of the main reasons for the low share of electric vehicles, according to Ćorović, is the insufficient number of charging stations. Serbia currently has around 200 public chargers, which amounts to just three chargers per 100,000 inhabitants, while Bulgaria has 24 and Croatia 32 chargers per the same number of residents.

“The so-called ecosystem for electric vehicles is underdeveloped. A key segment of this ecosystem is the network of public chargers. Still, it also includes legal regulations, non-financial incentives, the resolution of battery recycling issues, and technical details such as introducing special registration plates and recording data in vehicle documents,” Ćorović explains.

He adds that the arrival of new brands from Asia onto the Serbian market, the start of production of Fiat’s electric model in Kragujevac, and the gradual decline in electric vehicle prices will all contribute to greater accessibility in the coming years.

Prepared by Jasna Dragojević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

Low Development of E-Mobility in Bosnia and Herzegovina

18.06.2025

20240923_151408 — Association of Authorized Representatives and Car Dealers at the Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

While European countries have long since embarked on the development of e-mobility, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to lag behind the Western region in this process. Nevertheless, despite slower progress, certain advancements are visible. Are these steps sufficient, and in which direction is Bosnia and Herzegovina heading in terms of e-mobility? Anela Karahasan, Secretary of the Association of Authorized Representatives and Car Dealers at the Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shared her insights.

She emphasizes that Bosnia and Herzegovina is significantly behind Europe regarding the number of registered electric vehicles, infrastructure development, available incentives, and legal regulations.

“In BiH, subsidies still exist only at the Federation level, with no concrete strategy or incentive measures for development across most administrative levels. Despite this complex system, some progress has been made in a short time, but not enough. This situation allows us to observe examples of good practices and ways to overcome challenges from EU countries and the region, and to respond quickly by introducing tax relief, incentives, infrastructure development, and improvement of urban transport,” Karahasan stated.

The Association for E-Mobility and the Association of Authorized Representatives and Car Dealers at the FBiH Chamber of Commerce introduced subsidies to motivate individuals and legal entities to purchase environmentally friendly vehicles. They followed good EU practices, so incentives were available for electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hybrid vehicles in the first two years. However, hybrid vehicles were excluded from the incentive program last year, leaving only electric vehicles (an incentive amount of 10,000 BAM) and plug-in hybrids with CO2 emissions below 50 g/km (7,000 BAM).

IN FOCUS:

“There is a clear increase in interest, especially among legal entities, due to the savings they achieve, particularly in electricity consumption compared to fuel costs for internal combustion engine vehicles. Subsidies are necessary and very important, especially in the initial stages of e-mobility development, but they are not sufficient. In addition to subsidies, a range of other incentives is needed, particularly in terms of infrastructure, because the growth in the number of vehicles increases the need for more chargers, high-speed DC chargers, their availability, and the supporting infrastructure,” Karahasan stressed.

Among other incentives, she highlights the suspension of customs duties on importing electric vehicles and the reduction to five percent for hybrid vehicles. These incentives have been active for several years at the BiH level, while subsidies, unfortunately, have only existed in the Federation.

When it comes to the infrastructure needed to support the number of electric vehicles, the main obstacles are the complex administration in most cantons in FBiH and the connection cost, which often serve as a discouraging factor.

“We can say that there is a significant number of private, semi-public, and public AC charging stations in BiH. What is lacking is a network of DC chargers along highways and busy main roads. For example, so far on the partially completed international Corridor Vc highway, there is only one DC charger,” she explained.

While almost half of all new urban buses in the EU in 2024 were zero-emission, BiH is only taking its first steps in this direction.

The Association for Electromobility, along with its member organizations and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, initiated the suspension of customs duties on importing electric buses. They emphasize the need for parallel infrastructure development, which requires financial incentives.

The Association includes over 50 entities from both public and private sectors, spanning the automotive industry, energy, electrical engineering, transportation, environmental protection, oil and fuel distribution, as well as other industries. According to Karahasan, this sectoral diversity and expertise make the Association strong and unique compared to similar organizations. The Association’s key topics include customs suspension, subsidies, infrastructure, and promotion, each with numerous subtopics.

“In addition to bringing together a large number of members from different branches of the economy, the greatest success of the E-Mobility Association is undoubtedly the initiation of legal and incentive frameworks for e-mobility in BiH. Notably, we highlight the adoption of customs suspension on electric vehicle imports at the national level, the introduction of subsidies for the purchase of EVs in the Federation, achievements in individual cantons in easing charger installation procedures—based on the Association’s proposals,” Karahasan concluded.

Prepared by Jasna Dragojević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

Serbia Adopts New Air Protection Law – Stricter Penalties for Polluters

17.06.2025

Zeleni krediti_Erste Banka Srbija — Photo: Erste Bank

The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia has adopted the Law on Air Protection, a key legislative framework introducing significant changes aimed at more effective air quality management, according to a statement from the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

Sara Pavkov, Minister of Environmental Protection, noted that this legislation had not been amended since 2009, and that the new solutions are aligned with European Union regulations.

With the adoption of this law, Serbia has made a major step forward after recognizing the need to harmonize with EU legislation.

“Some of the changes include professionalizing the process of special-purpose measurements, establishing a clear distinction between data and information, and enhancing transparency through more comprehensive consultations and greater public involvement in the drafting of short-term air quality action plans,” Pavkov stated.

The new law broadens the scope of penalties, sets clear deadlines for authorities to inform the public about pollutant measurement results, and defines the responsibilities of inspectors in more detail, which will enable more effective implementation of the law.

The Minister emphasized that the law creates a normative basis for the practical implementation of air protection measures.

“A positive outcome is that the new provisions enable the responsible implementation of Serbia’s international commitments in the field of air and ozone layer protection. It is also important that this regulation was adopted through a months-long transparent public debate process, including the current session of the Serbian Parliament. During the drafting phase, the academic, expert, and civil sectors were all involved,” Pavkov said.

She highlighted that over 500 proposals for improving the draft law were received and that all relevant suggestions were accepted.

However, several civil society organizations in Serbia have expressed concerns about the new Air Protection Law, stating that it fails to address core issues in the field of air quality protection and that the drafting process should have been more transparent.

The key unresolved problems, according to these organizations, include lack of mandatory and continuous air quality monitoring, inadequate provisions for emergency environmental incidents, absence of a national plan to reduce emissions from thermal power plants and ineffective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

Energy portal

While One-Fifth of Steel Scrap Is Exported from the EU, the Automotive Industry Uses Only Six Percent

17.06.2025

automobil — Photo-illustration: Pixabay (alba1970 )

The European automotive industry, the second-largest steel consumer in the EU, faces a familiar challenge — how to transition from traditional, high-emission production to a circular model. Although steel is almost entirely recyclable, recycled steel currently makes up only six percent of the material used in car manufacturing.

The reason lies in the way vehicles are recycled. At the end of their life cycle, cars are shredded in recycling facilities along with various other materials, including copper from wiring. Such steel is unsuitable for reuse in the automotive industry, as even a minimal copper content affects the structure of the material, according to a report by the organization Transport & Environment.

To change this, the European Parliament is considering amendments to the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, which could introduce mandatory targets for the use of recycled steel in new vehicles. The proposal is to increase this share to 30 percent by 2030, which would provide a strong incentive for the recycling industry to invest in advanced material separation and processing technologies.

A key obstacle lies in the additional costs: recycling high-quality steel requires copper to be removed before shredding, along with further waste treatment. Without clear demand, recycling centers are unwilling to bear these costs. Only through regulatory targets can the EU create a market that justifies such investments.

The Transport & Environment report also emphasizes the need for qualitative standards. For steel to be suitable for automotive production, the copper content in scrap must be below 0.1 percent. Currently, without special treatment, this level can be up to four times higher. However, even simple actions — such as removing the main wiring harness before shredding — can significantly reduce contamination.

Another key recommendation is the introduction of local content requirements. At present, one-fifth of the EU’s steel scrap is exported, even though recycled steel is significantly cheaper than primary steel. If the EU were to mandate the use of locally recycled material, it would further strengthen the European recycling industry and reduce dependency on raw material imports.

Energy portal

Global Support for Nuclear Energy Remains Strong

16.06.2025

nuclear-power-nuklearna-energija — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (distelAPPArath)

According to the latest public opinion survey conducted by the research firm Savanta and the energy consultancy Radiant Energy Group, global support for nuclear energy remains robust. The survey included 31,831 respondents across 31 countries, representing nearly two-thirds of the world’s population. It was carried out as part of the Powering Attitudes for Clean Energy (PACE) Index.

The results show that 46 percent of respondents support the use of nuclear energy, while 23 percent oppose it—meaning that there are twice as many supporters of nuclear power as there are opponents. Compared to last year, opposition has declined (from 28 percent to 23 percent), while the level of support has remained stable.

In 22 of the 31 countries surveyed, support exceeds opposition. The highest support was recorded in China, Poland, and Russia, where it is three times higher than the number of opponents. Globally, three times more people favor the continued use of nuclear energy than those who support its phase-out. In most countries, over 40 percent of respondents support the construction of new nuclear power plants, according to World Nuclear News.

Interestingly, in countries such as Russia, Poland, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and France, support for subsidizing new nuclear power plants is on par with subsidies for solar and wind power.

Despite broad support, public concerns remain. As many as 86 percent of respondents expressed worries about the health and safety risks associated with nuclear energy. Additionally, 42 percent believe that nuclear power has low or zero CO₂ emissions, while 48 percent think the emissions are moderate or high. Nevertheless, in countries that previously decided to phase out nuclear power—such as Germany, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Sweden—nuclear technology is still perceived as the most effective way to reduce energy costs.

Concerns about nuclear waste are present in nearly all countries, but are less pronounced where robust storage systems are in place. For example, Finland, with its underground Onkalo repository, and the Netherlands, which uses the above-ground COVRA facility, report significantly lower levels of concern. Egypt and Turkey, which plan to return spent fuel to Russia, also show less negative sentiment on this issue.

A map published in the report clearly shows the divide between countries that use nuclear energy and those that do not. Nuclear-powered countries include the USA, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the UAE, and South Africa. On the other hand, countries without nuclear power plants include Italy, Spain, Norway, Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia.

The survey included all G7 and BRICS nations, as well as the 15 largest nuclear energy producers as of 2023, along with additional countries considering nuclear expansion. Participants came from nations that together account for 85 percent of global nuclear energy consumption, making this one of the most representative studies conducted to date.

Energy portal

Slovenian E-Mobility Solutions Conquering the World

15.06.2025

michael-fousert-tgpvjZ-Yw6Q-unsplash — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michael Fousert)

The Slovenian Metron Institute is one of Europe’s leaders in electric vehicle innovation, actively shaping the future of e-mobility. Their commitment to research and development has produced a range of advanced solutions for sustainable mobility and secured their place among key players in the global EV market.

Metron further strengthened its leading position in 2015 during the world’s largest EV rally, the Wave Trophy, when its electrified Mazda 5 Photographs: Metron broke a record by covering 824 kilometers on a single charge.

“One of our greatest achievements was converting the Mazda 5 into a fully electric vehicle. This car set two world records – in 2014 it traveled 745 kilometers without charging, on the route from Bled to Dubrovnik, and a year later it reached a range of 824 kilometers in Germany at an average speed of 72 km/h,” proudly states Andrej Pečjak, director of the Metron Institute.

In addition to developing innovative technologies for electric vehicles, Metron experts are also focused on energy-sustainable solutions. One of their most significant projects includes smart chargers and advanced Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems, which allow not only vehicle charging but also the return of surplus energy to the grid when needed. This concept marks an essential step toward more efficient renewable energy management and greater power system stability.

IN FOCUS:

One of the main challenges of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, is their instability. While energy storage systems are expensive, Metron offers an innovative solution – microgrid cells that can operate independently or as part of a wider power network.

Electric vehicles play a crucial role in this process, as they can serve as mobile energy storage units, optimizing consumption and reducing battery costs. Recreational electric vehicles, such as the Renault Twizy, golf carts, and scooters, which are primarily used in summer and could contribute to storage capacity in winter without additional investment, have exceptional potential.

Currently, Metron is working on a revolutionary product – a smart portable charger that looks like a regular charging cable but enables intelligent energy management and optimized charging. This innovation opens the door to even more efficient and practical use of electric vehicles.

Prepared by Milena Maglovski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

Global Wind Day 2025 – The Contribution of Wind to the Economy and Communities

15.06.2025

vetar — Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

How much has been achieved so far, how much potential is yet to be unlocked, what role can wind play in transforming the energy system, and what is its contribution to the energy transition, economic growth, and job creation – these are the topics being discussed around the world today, on Global Wind Day, June 15.

Initiated by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), now known as WindEurope, Global Wind Day was first celebrated in 2007. After the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) joined the initiative, the event became global in 2009.

This year, in addition to the importance of wind energy itself, the focus is also on the people who make up the wind industry. In Europe, this industry currently employs 370,000 people, and if the European Union meets its targets for capacity expansion, that number could grow to 600,000 by 2030.

According to data published on the official Global Wind Day website, the installation of each new turbine contributes an average of 16 million euros to the European economy.

Although it began as an onshore energy source, the wind industry is increasingly expanding offshore. All previous efforts led to the milestone of 1 terawatt (TW) being reached in 2023, while an additional 127 gigawatts (GW) were added in 2024 alone – making it the most successful year to date in terms of new wind power installations.

Currently, wind accounts for 20percent of Europe’s electricity consumption. The targets for the coming years include an increase to 35percent by 2030 and more than 50 percent by 2050.

While wind energy has made significant progress, the goals set for the future remain highly ambitious. Achieving them will require coordinated support and collaboration among various stakeholders – from policymakers and industry to educational institutions and local communities. One of the key challenges will be training 200,000 new professionals who will contribute their knowledge and skills to the continued growth of this sector.

Global Wind Day is an opportunity not only to reflect on past achievements but also to open a dialogue on the steps needed to ensure that wind energy continues to develop toward a sustainable and just energy future.

Energy portal

1 234...408 Page 3 of 408

More:

Artificial Intelligence as a Solution

IN FOCUS:

Record Forest Loss by 2023

Serbia’s Situation Is Less Drastic Than in Other Parts of the World

IN FOCUS:

Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure Challenges

More:

More:

A (Not So) Bright Future?

IN FOCUS:

More:

More:

More:

More:

IN FOCUS:

More:

IN FOCUS:

More:

More:

Newsletter

Calendar of events

2025 June

Events for 30 June

Events for 1 July

Events for 2 July

Events for 3 July

Events for 4 July

Events for 5 July

Events for 6 July

Events for 7 July

Events for 8 July

Events for 9 July

Events for 10 July

Events for 11 July

Events for 12 July

Events for 13 July

Events for 14 July

Events for 15 July

Events for 16 July

Events for 17 July

Events for 18 July

Events for 19 July

Events for 20 July

Events for 21 July

Events for 22 July

Events for 23 July

Events for 24 July

Events for 25 July

Events for 26 July

Events for 27 July

Events for 28 July

Events for 29 July

Events for 30 July

WRITE US