Gazprom Neft to Build Hydrogen Unit at Omsk Refinery

25.03.2017

PJSC Gazprom Neft is adding a unit for hydrogen production at the 21.4 million-tonne/year Omsk refinery in Western Siberia as part of the company’s ongoing modernization and upgrading program aimed at reducing environmental impacts as well as improving processing capacities, conversion rates, energy efficiency, and production qualities at its Russian refineries by 2020 (OGJ Online, Dec. 2, 2013).

The standalone 12,300-tpy hydrogen production unit, on which construction began Mar. 17, will provide 99.9% purity hydrogen for new and reconstructed hydrotreating plants at the refinery as well as eliminate dependence of Omsk’s existing hydrotreating processes on byproduct hydrogen currently supplied by catalytic reforming units at the site, Gazprom Neft said.

Alongside increasing the refinery’s stable production of Euro 5-quality motor fuels, the new hydrogen unit also will help boost Omsk’s output of high-octane gasolines and other light petroleum products, the operator said.

Designed and developed by Russian firm Omskneftekhimproject JSC, the hydrogen production plant is scheduled to be commissioned by yearend.

To date, Gazprom Neft said it has invested 3.4 billion rubles in the project.

This latest project joins a series of works under way as part of the second phase of the Omsk refinery’s modernization program, which specifically aims to improve the overall yield of light-end refined products at the manufacturing site.

Source: pennenergy.com

Here Comes the First Hydrogen Filling Station (PHOTO)

25.03.2017

Installed in its new premises, Swiss Hydrogen SA recently inaugurated the first hydrogen station in Freiburg and unveiled the “Hy-Rex 10”, a 100% zero-free of CO2 emission range extender for electric vehicles.

Swiss Hydrogen SA, together with BlueFACTORY Freiburg-Freiburg, gathered nearly 100 regional, political, media and partners to discuss the inauguration of the first hydrogen filling station in Freiburg. Swiss Hydrogen also introduced its first series vehicle equipped with the “Hy-Rex 10” kit, which more than doubles its driving range thanks to its hydrogen tank.

The event generated a great deal of enthusiasm and was particularly welcomed by Mr. Thierry Steiert, City Manager of Friborg.

– We are proud that Swiss Hydrogen has chosen Friborg and especially BlueFACTORY for its launch. This approach fits perfectly into our energy policy and our eco-compatible mobility strategy and, of course, into the “low carbon” orientation of BlueFACTORY – says Thierry Steiert.

– It is an opportunity for us to be based in the heart of Friborg – says Alexandre Closset, CEO of Swiss Hydrogen – We are excited to expand our activities and we hope that this first will generate more and more Demand for hydrogen solutions, especially for fleets of delivery vehicles, trucks and buses!

A technological nugget on the BlueFACTORY innovation site

– Hydrogen is one of the key solutions to the energy transition! – says Philipe Virdis, Vice President of Swiss Hydrogen AG.

– As a high-potential energy carrier, hydrogen has many advantages, including not to emit CO2 and can be produced in a decentralized way from any renewable energy source. Hydrogen can then be used as a clean fuel for mobile and stationary applications. As a result, it can play an important role in the energy transition by allowing surplus renewable energy to be stored during the summer period, such as hydropower or solar, in order to help fill the deficit by restoring this Energy during the winter season.

Director of BlueFACTORY, Philippe Jemmely welcomed the arrival of the start-up.

– Being able to count on a company that represents both the values of innovation and sustainability is an honor for BlueFACTORY, to have been able to develop this project together is an example of successful collaboration and dialogue. They are not only ambassadors of entrepreneurship, but real adventurers.

Sea Ice Falls to Record Lows in Both the Arctic and Antarctic

24.03.2017

The Arctic and Antarctic have experienced record lows in sea ice extent so far in 2017, according to the latest data from the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

At about this time each year, the Antarctic reaches its lowest extent for the year while the Arctic reaches its highest. The new satellite data, released Wednesday, confirms that there is less sea ice globally than at any time in the entire 38-year satellite record.

The NSIDC doesn’t usually release data for both poles simultaneously, but has done so this time because of what scientists have dubbed an “exceptional” year in 2017.

The news comes as the World Meteorological Organization confirmed this week that 2016 “made history” with record high global temperatures and low sea ice. Many of last year’s extreme conditions have continued into 2017, the report noted.

With just 14.42m square kilometers on March 7, this year’s winter maximum in the Arctic ranks as the smallest in the satellite record, for the third year in a row.

This year’s maximum extent is 1.22 million square kilometers below the 1981 to 2010 average maximum of 15.64 million square kilometers, NSIDC confirmed Wednesday.

Record low sea ice extent in February continued a string of records over the winter months, from October through February. A “heatwave” in mid-November caused some parts of the Arctic to be 15ºC warmer than usual, for example.

The Arctic winter maximum has been shrinking by about three percent per decade. The decline is much faster for the summer minimum in September, at more like 13 percent per decade. Recent research shows up to two-thirds of the drop is a direct result of human activity.

Ice lost from the Arctic can have consequences much further afield, as a new WMO report explained: “Scientific research indicates that changes in the Arctic and melting sea ice is leading to a shift in wider oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns. This is affecting weather in other parts of the world because of waves in the jet stream—the fast-moving band of air which helps regulate temperatures.”

As we enter 2017’s summer melt season, Arctic sea ice looks vulnerable. This is especially so, given that the latest sea ice thickness observations from the CryoSat-2 satellite show very thin ice in a number of regions, said Zack Labe, a PhD student studying sea ice at the University of California. That said, it’s too soon to tell if we’ll see a record low minimum come September, he told Carbon Brief: “Weather has a big role in the summer melt season, so speculations are challenging as to whether 2017 will be a new record minimum.”

While the behavior of Arctic sea ice tends to attract the biggest headlines, the continent of Greenland has been experiencing unusual weather this winter, too.

Despite some periods of extreme cold, this winter has been much warmer than average, according to Polar Portal, a website run by Danish researchers. A succession of heavy storms since October dumped more snow than usual on the eastern and southern parts of ice sheet, the scientists explained: “The accumulation season got off to a flying start in October, when a series of large storms hit the east coast of Greenland, dropping 264mm of rain in the main town of Tasiilaq in 25 days, compared to the average for October of 83mm for the whole of October.”

But while some claim this extra snowfall over winter means Greenland ice is at “record high” levels, this ignores a much bigger part of the picture. Icebergs “calving” off the ice sheet and into the ocean account for much bigger losses, explained Dr. Ruth Mottram, a researcher at the Danish Meteorological Institute. She told Carbon Brief: “Over the last decade, Greenland has lost around 200-300bn tonnes (gigatonnes, Gt) of ice each year; the extra snowfall we estimate from our models is about 150Gt. So it’s not at all balancing what is lost by melting and calving in a typical year.”

The summer months—June, July and August—are the most important for the ice sheet, so it’s important not to read too much into heavy snowfall over the winter season, Mottram added.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the planet, Antarctic sea ice has been experiencing its minimum extent for the year.

With 2.11m square kilometers of ice, this year’s low marks an all-time record low for the satellite era. Reached on March 3, the summer minimum caps off an unusually vigorous melt season, with new records set in every month since November.

How does 2017 compare to previous years? Natural fluctuations play a big role in Antarctic climate, causing swings in sea ice extent from year to year. Dr. Mark Brandon, a polar oceanographer at the Open University, told Carbon Brief: “Just a few years ago the Antarctic sea ice extent was breaking records as being relatively high, but this year it has shown record-breaking lows for several months.”

The Antarctic’s “exceptional year” in 2017 could even be a hangover from the powerful El Niño the world recently experienced, said Brandon: “A pattern of air pressure that determines the wind circulation in the high southern latitudes called the Southern Annular Mode switched from positive to negative in late 2016 and this may be linked to the large El Nino of 2014-16.”

This switch made the ice “more mobile and likely led to the relatively early Antarctic spring,” explained Brandon.

Having passed the summer minimum, sea ice has started growing again. But scientists will be keeping a close eye in coming months to see how the ice fares over the winter freeze up season, explained Prof. John Turner, a climatologist at the British Antarctic Survey. He told Carbon Brief: “The rate of recovery after March 1 has been a little slow, but not too far off what we see normally. It’s just that the amount of ice is about 400,000 square kilometers less than the previous minimum.”

Such low ice cover at this time of year is unusual for recent times. Satellites have, in fact, measured a slight increase in Antarctic sea ice over the past 20 years or so, despite rising global temperature. You can see this in the graph below from NSIDC.

A number of factors could be behind this somewhat counterintuitive trend, said Dr. Jonathan Day, an expert in sea-ice prediction at the University of Reading. He told Carbon Brief: “[The upward trend in Antarctic sea ice] could be a response to human-caused climate changes, such as ozone depletion or freshening of the ocean surface due to melting of land ice, both of which may cause the ice cover to expand.”

Evidence also suggests a change in winds driven by a natural cycle in the tropical Pacific Ocean could be behind recent Antarctic sea ice growth, said Day. Prof. Jerry Meehl, a scientist from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and lead author on that research, told Carbon Brief: “The connection from the tropical Pacific to the Antarctic involves a chain reaction of linked physical processes that ends up with the winds around Antarctica affecting sea ice extent.”

If natural variability has been masking the signal of human-caused climate change in the Antarctic over the satellite period, this pattern will reverse at some stage. In fact, it may already have, said Meehl. He told Carbon Brief there is evidence the Pacific cycle “switched” in 2015, which could mean we’re seeing the start of a declining trend in Antarctic sea ice.

But the message from scientists is that while Antarctic sea ice appears to be bucking the trend this year, they need more than a single year before they can tell if a long-term change is afoot.

Overall, it has been an exceptional year for the world’s ice cover. While Antarctic sea ice has thrown up a few interesting questions for polar scientists, record low levels in the Arctic for this time of year continues the persistent downward trend that characterizes the last three decades.

Source: ecowatch.com

Gigaclear Wires in to Greener Future with Ecotricity Energy Deal

24.03.2017

Households up and down the country will soon be able to surf the web safe in the knowledge their digital playground is being powered by clean energy, thanks to a new deal struck between broadband provider Gigaclear and green energy supplier Ecotricity.

The UK-based broadband provider – which supplies 35,000 properties across the country with high-speed internet – has signed a 100 per cent renewable electricity tariff with Ecotricity, ensuring all the electricity it uses will now come from wind and solar sources.

Ecotricity said it will also be working with Gigaclear in the coming months to install smart meters to track the firm’s energy consumption in real time and help it curb its energy use.

“By switching to green energy, Gigaclear will reduce the environmental impact of their own operations, while supporting Britain’s energy independence and the green economy,” Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said in a statement. “Switching to green energy is the biggest single thing – and the easiest thing – that any business can do to cut the emissions that cause air pollution and climate change.”

The deal is the latest indication of the rising business interest in green energy suppliers.

Earlier this week Juliet Davenport, chief executive of rival green supplier Good Energy, told BusinessGreen corporate demand for clean energy tariffs has been on the rise since the Paris Agreement was struck. Good Energy’s business customer sales volume soared 96 per cent last year compared to 2015, it reported this week.

source: businessgreen.com

Intelligent Energy Clears Fuel Cell Powered Drones for Take-Off

23.03.2017

vetroturbina — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Intelligent Energy has today announced a new deal with US-based logistics and asset management specialist PINC to supply fuel cells for the use in the company’s growing fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

PINC provides a range of services for managing yards and other industrial and supply chain sites, and increasingly makes use of UAVs or drones to track and monitor assets and inventory at a site.

The deal represents the first time UK-based Intelligent Energy has provided its air cooled fuel cells for use in drones, having previously focused on supplying the automotive, onsite generation, and consumer electronics markets.

The company said fuel cells offered drone operators longer flight times, fast refuel capabilities, and flexibility for varying payloads, addressing some of the biggest challenges faced by the nascent sector.

“I am delighted to announce the first sales of our fuel cell systems for UAV application,” said Julian Hughes, senior VP at Intelligent Energy. “PINC is leading the way with the use of hydrogen fuel cell UAVs in the supply chain and we are certain they will be impressed with the benefits our fuel cells will offer over conventional batteries.”

Martin Bloom, Group CEO at Intelligent Energy, said the deal was also part of the company’s international expansion plans. “PINC is based in California, a state that is proactively adopting hydrogen,” he said. “We see this region as a significant market for Intelligent Energy’s range of market-ready fuel cell products.”

The deal is the latest example of a clean tech firm tapping into the growing market for drones, which has seen companies identify a raft of new applications for the unmanned technology that can help cut carbon emissions and improve resource efficiency.

Earlier this month, drone operator Above Surveying announced a new partnership with the University of Essex to accelerate the development of ‘smart drone’ technology capable of monitoring and optimisting the performance of solar farms.

The ‘smart drone’ technology will use intelligent embedded systems and advanced image recognition to measure and identify deterioration of solar PV panels across large-scale solar farms, helping operators to maintain their assets and maximise power output.

Similarly, renewable energy consultancy SgurrEnergy announced this month that it has added UAVs to its inspection service, making it easier to assess the performance of hard to reach renewable energy assets such as wind farms.

Engineering giant Siemens also announced recently that it has teamed up with US drone specialist SkySpecs to bolster the development of a new approach for monitoring wind turbines using UAVs.

Source: businessgreen.com

World Abandoning Coal in Dramatic Style Raises Hope of Avoiding Dangerous Global Warming, Says Report

23.03.2017

As Donald Trump pledges to put coal miners back to work in the United States, the rest of the world appears to have suddenly started moving in the opposite direction, abandoning the dirtiest of fossil fuels after 10 years of expansion, according to a new analysis.

Boom and Bust 2017, compiled by US environmental group the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and research group CoalSwarm, reported a 62 per cent fall in the number of new coal-fired power stations being built worldwide in 2016 and a 48 per cent drop in “pre-construction activity”.

Such a dramatic slowdown, they argued, meant that the world could now hope to keep global warming to within two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the point at which climate change is thought would become particularly dangerous.

And the more ambitious target of 1.5C, agreed at the Paris climate summit, “remains possible but would require much faster retirement” of existing coal plants.

The UK Government has pledged to phase out “unabated” coal power stations by 2025. While this suggests at least some emissions would have to be captured in some way, Ministers have not actually decided what they level they will require.

The coal industry dismissed the report, insisting that renewable energy was not displacing coal in India and that China was not moving away from it – even though the number of coal-fired power stations is being reduced.

However the Boom and Bust report expressed optimism that the tide was finally turning against coal.

“For the first time since the beginning of the global coal boom a decade ago, developments in East and South Asia – in particular China’s wide-reaching restrictions on new coal plants and India’s indication that no new coal power is needed through at least the next decade – appear to have brought global climate goals within feasible reach, raising the prospect that the worst levels of climate change might be avoided,” the report said.

“More progress is needed and the margin for error is tight, but the results of the past year provide good reason for optimism.”

It said the surge in coal power stations over the past 10 years had been “a source of deep concern”.

“The apparent likelihood that coal combustion would continue to grow for decades appeared to undermine any prospects for preventing irreversible climate change,” the report said.

“Beginning in 2013, power generation from coal began falling worldwide and has continued to decline.

“Now the dramatic shrinkage in the coal power pipeline – nearly 50 per cent in a single year – shows that power capacity trends are moving into alignment with declining power generation and that climate goals are indeed within reach without massive asset stranding.”

Greenpeace hailed the report’s findings, saying 2016 had been a “veritable turning point”.

Lauri Myllyvirta, senior global coal and air polliution campaigner at Greenpeace, said: “China all but stopped new coal projects after astonishing clean energy growth has made new coal-fired power plants redundant, with all additional power needs covered from non-fossil sources since 2013.

“Closures of old coal plants drove major emission reductions especially in the US and UK, while Belgium and Ontario became entirely coal-free and three G8 countries announced deadlines for coal phase-outs.”

And Nicole Ghio, of the Sierra Club, said it was clear that renewable energy were becoming cheaper than the cheapest of fossil fuels.

“The staggering uptick in clean energy and reduction in the new coal plant pipeline is even more proof that coal isn’t just bad for public health and the environment – it’s bad for the bottom line,” said.

“Markets are demanding clean energy, and no amount of rhetoric from Donald Trump will be able to stop the fall of coal in the US and across the globe.”

At a rally in Louisville, Kentucky, the US President announced he was going to take action to boost coal production, which was a theme he reiterated throughout his election campaign.

“As we speak we are preparing new executive actions to save our coal industry and to save our wonderful coal miners from continuing to be put out of work,” he said.

Paul Massara was once the chief executive of Big Six energy firm RWE npower, but now has the same role at renewable firm North Star Solar.

He described the decline in new coal plants in Asian countries as “truly dramatic”.

“[It] shows how a perfect storm of factors are simply making coal a bad investment,” Mr Massara said.

“Growing awareness of the air pollution problems coal causes, the impact of policies to tackle climate change, and the rapid growth and cost-competitiveness of renewable sources of energy, along with emerging battery technologies, are making new coal plants redundant before they are even built.

“For us in Britain, there are two clear messages from this report. One is that the Government’s decision to phase out coal power is, far from being a risky move, actually putting us ahead of the pack in moving away from the dirtiest form of energy.

“Secondly, it should challenge Germany and other Western nations who still rely on coal to adopt a faster timescale to close existing plants.

“It also highlights that those claiming that it is pointless, our taking action to tackle climate change because Asian countries are still building coal stations, are increasingly wrong.”

However Benjamin Sporton, who runs the World Coal Association, suggested that anyone who thought the coal industry was on its last legs was mistaken.

“China has been a remarkable example of the role that affordable coal can play in improving access to energy and supporting economic development – the country has achieved universal energy access so has no need for a new coal station being built every week,” he said.

“Yes, China, is reducing the number of coal-stations but not because it’s transitioning away from coal, instead the new dynamics is a signal of a more developed economy.”

He said China’s promises about cutting emissions to date implied coal would “continue to be central to its energy solutions albeit through efficiencies including the use of new coal technologies”.

And, in India’s case, he said it was “simply not true that renewables are displacing coal”.

“For these countries excluding coal from the energy mix is not an option – it is essential for economic growth and critical in securing energy access,” Mr Sporton said.

James Thornton, chief executive of environmental lawyers group ClientEarth, said: “Even with plummeting coal use, emissions from plants currently operating or under development will take us beyond Paris’s 1.5C warming limit.

“In Europe alone, hundreds of plants will need to close between now and 2030 to meet this target.

“Coal’s demise is inevitable – there is no point waiting until the bitter end. We need to phase out coal at speed.

“Countries must get ahead of the game and put their phaseout ambitions into law. Governments should implement strict policies to retire their oldest and dirtiest coal plants first, and ensure appropriate support for workers moving on from the coal industry.”

Source: independent.co.uk

Could Workplace Charge Points Trigger Electric Vehicle Demand?

23.03.2017

Could simply making electric vehicle (EV) charge points available at work provide a major boost to the fledgling market for electric cars and plug-in hybrids?

That is the contention of National Grid and charge point provider eVolt following a pilot project that revealed a significant increase in staff use of plug-in vehicles following the introduction of workplace charging infrastructure.

The grid operator installed six charge points at its Warwick-based operational HQ last April and a year on the company has seen a 334 per cent uplift in the use of the charge points. The company also said the number of plug-in hybrids in the company fleet has nearly doubled since the chargers were installed.

“Since the eVolt charging infrastructure was installed, the number of company car PHEVs has risen from 177 to 375, and we have seen an increase in the number of fully electric vehicles,” said Darren Watson, environmental operations advisor for National Grid’s Sustainability and Climate Change team. “The chargers’ take up has been rapid and exponential, and we are forecasting further rises as the business continues to support the adoption of EVs, and our employees continue to select them as a credible alternative to traditional petrol or diesel engines.”

Richard Lloyd, risk and compliance manager at National Grid, said the company was exploring a wider roll out of charge points at other offices.

“[We] have no reason to doubt installation at further sites would be a success,” he said. “We are working collectively with eVolt to develop a strategy in realising this aim while continuing to increase use of the charge points at National Grid House. The more remote sites with fewer employees have individual challenges, and EV charging services must be provided in a sustainable way, so collaborating to find the best solutions is key.”

Studies have suggested charge points at home and work are likely to prove most popular with EV owners, as people rarely travel far enough in a single day to require additional charging.

Justin Meyer, general manager of eVolt UK, said there was a compelling case for focusing more EV charging infrastructure at workplaces. “The figures show what we consistently see after a business installs charge points; the considerable increase in their use alongside the increasing take up of EVs being used by employees,” he said. “One of the key factors holding back EV sales is drivers’ worry that they will run out of battery power – what the industry calls range anxiety. But with charge points installed at working locations, drivers have convenient charging that fits with their normal driving routine.”

The installation at National Grid’s HQ saw six charge points deployed across 12 parking bays with each unit capable of charging two EVs simultaneously in around three to four hours.

The news came on the same day as the London Taxi Company officially cut the ribbon on its new dedicated £300m electric vehicle factory in Coventry, which is expected to deliver plug-in hybrid taxis from later this year.

The company also announced it is to produce a range extended EV light commercial van targeting the delivery, distribution, and maintenance sectors.

Source: businessgreen.com

EU Agrees end to Confusing A+++ Energy Labels

23.03.2017

refrigerator-1619676_1920 — Photo: Pixabay

After years of criticism the EU looks set to retire the much-maligned A+++ energy labelling scheme and return to a simpler A-G rating system.

The EU originally used an A-G system of labels to inform consumers of the most energy efficient electrical applicances.

However, as the efficiency of washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and other products improved some manufacturers lobbied intensively for the A-G system to be augmented by new labels running for A+ to A+++.

Green groups have argued for years that the new approach confuses consumers and means products that are a long way short of best in class are able to retain an A or A+ label.

Now the EU has recognised these concerns with negotiators from the European Parliament and Council agreeing yesterday to revise the labelling system and relevant regulations in order to replace the A+++ to G ratings with “clear and easier to use A to G labels”.

The proposals also include plans for a new public database of products that will make it easier for consumers to compare the energy efficiency of household appliances.

The news was also welcomed by the European Commission, fuelling hopes an upcoming ‘trilogue’ negotiation between the three branches can deliver the promised reforms.

The European Commission said energy efficiency labels had proven successful, with polls showing 85 per cent of consumers look at the labels when making purchases. Experts have also credited the scheme with driving significant improvements in energy efficiency as manufacturers have sought to achieve the more impressive labels.

However, the Commission acknowledged the system of A+ labels had become “misleading and hid potential substantial differences in energy performance”.

Vice President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said it was important the labeling system kept pace with technical improvements across the industry.

“Technological innovations allow European citizens to enjoy the most advanced products on the market; it was therefore high time to bring our labelling scale up to date,” he said. “The new labels will be empowering consumers to take energy efficiency into account when choosing their next electric products.”

Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, said the deal was “good news for Europe’s consumers and businesses, our energy bills and the climate”.

He added that the new labeling scheme, together with eco-design standards that require products to reach a minimum level of energy efficiency, could save households close to €500 a year, while also increasing manufacturers and retailers’ annual revenues by over €65bn, and saving annual energy consumption equivalent to that of Italy and all the Baltic countries combined.

Significantly, the Commission said the new proposals would ‘future-proof’ the legislation by allowing for software updates to appliances, incorporating new smart devices, and explicitly banning the use of so-called ‘defeat devices’ similar to those used by Volkswagen in the ‘dieselgate’ scandal to undermine EU standards.

Source: businessgreen.com

Xcel Energy Plans Multi-State 3,380 MW Wind Energy Investment

22.03.2017

Xcel Energy plans to make the largest multi-state investment in wind power capacity in the country. The company has proposed 11 new wind farms in seven states, which would add a total of 3,380 MW of new wind generation to its system.

The proposed plan increases the amount of wind energy in the company’s energy mix by 2021, with wind fueling nearly 35 percent of its total energy mix.

“We’re investing big in wind because of the tremendous economic value it brings to our customers. With wind energy at historic low prices, we can secure savings that will benefit customers now and for decades to come,” said Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy. “Our plan delivers on both economic and environmental fronts, as we provide customers the cleaner, renewable resources they want, while continuing to deliver the reliable and low-cost energy they need.”

Xcel Energy has proposed a combination of owned wind farms and power purchase agreements. The company anticipates investing a significant amount in wind generation over the next five years to build company-owned wind projects. Xcel Energy is using federal production tax credits to secure low wind energy prices as part of the company’s ‘steel for fuel’ strategy.

Xcel Energy’s multi-state investment in wind expanded today as the company submitted a proposal to add 1,230 MW of new wind energy in Texas and New Mexico, with the majority owned by the company. It plans to build two wind farms and buy wind energy from another facility through a long-term contract. The projects are expected to save the region’s customers about $2.8 billion over a 30-year period.

Last week the company launched its largest-ever wind expansion in the Upper Midwest, with a proposal to add seven new wind farms in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. The plan brings an additional 1,550 MW of new wind energy to its Upper Midwest system, with most of the projects being company owned. The proposed farms are expected to save more than $4 billion over the life of the projects.

In Colorado, construction is set to begin this spring on the Rush Creek Wind Farm, which is the largest wind farm of its kind in the state. The project is expected to save Colorado customers about $1.1 billion over the life of the project.

Xcel Energy expects to see at least a 45 percent reduction companywide in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2021, if it is able to fully implement approved and proposed renewable energy plans.

“Our plans allow us to harness the wind-rich resources we have in the states we serve and deliver outstanding economic value to our customers while delivering emissions-free energy that will reduce our carbon footprint,” said Fowke.

Xcel Energy’s plans across its service territory are projected to generate nearly $400 million in property taxes over the life of the projects, and bring more than 2,000 construction or full-time jobs to the communities it serves.

Source: elp.com

Thailand-Based B.Grimm Group Developing Hydropower Projects in Laos

22.03.2017

hidro-akumulacija — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

B.Grimm Power Co., a unit of Bangkok, Thailand-based B.Grimm Group, in conjunction with its partners, plans to continue developing hydropower plants in Laos, according to an announcement on March 17.

Preeyanart Soontornwata, president at Amata B.Grimm Power Ltd., made the announcement during her visit to the 6.7-MW Xe Namnoy 2 and 13.1-MW Xe Katam 1 hydro plants the company is developing in Paksong, Champasak province, Laos.

Xe Namnoy and Xe Katam Hydropower Co., a joint venture between B.Grimm Power Ltd. and Laos-based SV Group Ltd., will operate the project.

According to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, the project is located in southwestern Laos on the Xe Namnoy River and XeKatam River, in Champasak, near Laos’ borders with Thailand and Cambodia.

Soontorwata said the plant will begin operations in June and it is the company’s first hydropower plant in Laos. The cost of the project is not immediately available.

According to the Bangkok Post, Soontornwata said the company will open another hydropower plant in 2018 for an estimated cost of 1.7 billion baht (US$49 million.). The facility is at Nam Che, in the Xaisomboun province and will have a capacity of 15 MW.

The company also plans to develop a 67.5 MW five-plant project in Laos that includes: 15-MW Nam Khao 1; 15-MW Nam Khao 2; 15-MW Nam Khao 3; 15-MW Nam Khao 4; and 7.5-MW Nam Khao 5.

Published reports indicate B.Grimm signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Electricite du Laos (EDL) to supply the power generated by hydropower plants to Laos’ state utilities.

In September 2016, HydroWorld.com reported EDL and General Electric signed a memorandum of understanding to launch joint research and training programs designed to support the development of Laos’ hydroelectric power sector and electric grid.

With GE assistance, EDL hopes to make Laos a key source of energy generation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region by building a workforce capable of exploiting the country’s hydropower potential.

Soontornwata said the company plans to increase the renewable energy portion of its holdings from its current 10% to 30% within the next five years by investing in several high-potential projects in ASEAN countries including Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The B.Grimm Power portfolio currently stands at 1,626 MW using fossil fuel, solar power and two hydropower plants.

Source: hydroworld.com

Photo: governing.com

First Utility-Scale Project on Tribal Lands to Power 100,000 Homes

22.03.2017

First Solar held a commissioning event last week on a 250-megawatt solar facility on the Moapa River Indian Reservation. This is the first utility-scale solar project on tribal lands.

Morgan Stanley put together this cool video on the project as part of their series on sustainable solutions called Capital Creates Change and we wanted to share it with you. It highlights the economic opportunity, the jobs and the clean power that utility scale developers are bringing to Indian Country and to Southern Nevada.

Late last year, I was lucky enough to attend a ribbon cutting at NextEra Energy’s Silver State South project, a 250-megawatt project developed and built by First Solar at the southern tip of Nevada, on the California border line. Eight years ago, when developers began surveying the Silver State South site, they couldn’t have known what the world or even that little corner of the Nevada and California border would look like in terms of solar adoption. But they did know major change was afoot.

Back then, solar accounted for one hundredth of one percent of the nation’s power generation and it was considered by some to be the costliest form of electricity.

In hindsight, the project goes a long way toward explaining the phenomena we are seeing in solar energy today. First off, the region now boasts 1,200 megawatts of solar electricity, which is the size of two big coal plants and no emissions, a fact that helps explain why our greenhouse gas emissions as a nation are lower than they have been in more than two decades.

The Moapa Southern Paiute Solar project continues a trend in Nevada that has seen utility scale grow by leaps and bounds and with it has come thousands of jobs. Economies of scale evident from solar adoption help explain why the cost of solar has dropped by about 70 percent in the last eight years.

And while the utility scale revolution is taking hold in the West, policies governing rooftop solar in Nevada have crippled that segment of our industry and the many benefits that a healthy distributed generation market can provide for our electrical grid. The model is in place for many thousands of megawatts of clean electricity in the West and the hundreds and thousands of jobs that come with it.

The key is making sure there is a welcoming policy environment for continued growth of large scale solar, with triggers that can help distributed solar take pressure off the grid.

Source: ecowatch.com

Radmila Šerović: Waste Materials of One Industry Will Become Raw Materials of Another

22.03.2017

The Chief of the Department for Waste Management at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection is Ms Radmila Šerović who has been working in the state administration since 2002. More precisely, she has been engaged in waste management in relevant ministries since 2007. She has received certificates as coach educator in the field of project management and the jobs of European Union Sertificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, Centre for European Studies in Strasbourg, the College of Europe Bruges and the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade. She has obtained the most significant certificate from Japan International Cooperation Agency – JICA. It is a certificate for additional professional training in the field of ‘Management of Municipal Waste and Other Types of Waste’ in the period from 12th January to 22nd February 2009.

We have talked to Ms. Šerović about all the Amendments and Supplements to the Laws concerning waste management in Serbia.

EP: Can you tell us in a nutshell something about the Law on Waste Management and its development from 2009 to the present, to be more precise, to the Supplements that were adopted in March this year? What would be the weakest point of the Law in Serbia? Are the Laws obeyed enough?

Radmila Šerović: One of the reasons for proposing Amendments and Supplements to this Law is to ensure the compliance of legislative and legal solutions in the field of waste management. These Amendments and Supplements were related to the system for financing of waste management after the Law on Fund had come into force on 29th September 2012 and so far financing was implemented through the Fund. Namely, after the Law had entered into force, the Fund for Environmental Protection stopped working. In order to establish the continuous functioning of the system for financing of environmental protection and the need for the appropriate use of funds for environmental protection, changes have been proposed in the Law even in this part that are in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Budget System.

The focus of environmental protection of developed countries, including the EU countries, represents a high level of environmental protection and its foundation on economic principles (‘polluter pays’). Solving the problem of environmental pollution due to inadequate waste management and the appropriate use of benefits takes into account the application of the principle ‘polluter pays’ in accordance with the Council Recommendation 75/436 Euratom, ECSC, EEC on the determination of costs and actions of pubic authorities in the field of environmental protection – the principle ‘polluter pays’.

Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Waste Management achieve the general objectives established by the Law, in reference to the application of principle ‘polluter pays’ established by the Law on Environmental Protection on equal terms for all legal entities engaged in economic activity on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. It lays down the financing of waste management in accordance with the solutions provided in the proposed Amendments and Supplements to the Law of the Environmental Protection, and thus establishing the Green Fund of the Republic of Serbia.

The proposed legislative solutions have no negative effect on economic operators, because they are related to the filling of legal gaps, specifying of provisions, ensuring continuity in the operation of the new power plants which are subjected to integrated permit, and they are in connection with the Environmental Protection Fund’s ceasing to work. These proposed legislative solutions also represent the harmonisation with the solutions proposed in the Law on Environmental Protection and at the same time they enable the continuity in the functioning of the system for financing environmental protection, including the management of specific waste streams.

During the implementation of the Law, legislative, administrative, supervisory, institutional, technical organisational, economic measures as well as the measures for raising public awareness will be taken.

Legislative, administrative and supervisory administrative measures:

• Revision and adaptation of the Waste Management Strategy with the National Plan and program for the prevention of waste generation
• Harmonisation of regional and local plans for waste management with the National Plan
• Adaptation of executive regulations based on this Law
• Establishing the framework for the application of technical requirements for by-products and for certain types of waste which, in accordance with the regulations of European Union, cease to be waste
• Revision of the system for authorising organisations for waste testing
• The introduction and application of the system of super analysis in case of doubt in the report of the waste testing
• Improving the system for issuing, modification and revocation of licenses for waste management, and especially for waste management plants that are subjected to integrated permit
• Establishing the registration of intermediaries, that is waste retailers,
• Revision of the regulations on medical and pharmaceutical waste

Technical and technological measures:

• Solving the problem of hazardous waste storage
• Development of the system for the waste treatment, including hazardous waste
• Ensuring the disposal of household waste in containers or some other way;
• Ensuring and equipping of the centre for collecting of household waste that cannot be disposed in the municipal waste containers (bulky or other waste) including hazardous household waste
• Greater use of ash from thermal power plants as secondary raw materials (cement factories, construction systems)
• Replacement of the devices with PCB oil, decontamination of the equipment, destruction of all hazardous waste materials with PCB
Institutional and organisational measures:
• Establishment of the cooperation between the authorities for issuing licenses and operators that are subjected to integrated permit
• Strengthening of the control mechanisms for monitoring of the hazardous waste movement and the improvement of the reporting system in the filed of waste management

Development of public awareness:

• Development and implementation of the program for constant communication with all the participants of waste management that are subjected to the integrated permit

In the domain of amendments related to funding, it is not necessary to undertake measures for the implementation of suggested solutions.

EP: Development of the National Plan for the management of construction waste is planned with the financial support of the EU. Tell us more about the plan.

Radmila Šerović: The EU finances IPA 2013 project ‘Improvement of hazardous waste management in the Republic of Serbia’ which is ongoing. Within this project, we have been working on the development of the Plan for construction and demolition waste management in cooperation with the Austrian Agency for Envionmental Protection as well as with German Federal Ministry. The first workshop was held in December last year and the next was held on 17th June 2016 on which the experts presented the Draft of the Plan. The plan is mostly related to the sorting of waste at the construction site, as well as the way of disposal of hazardous construction waste.

Construction waste is by its volume and weight one of the most extensive waste flows in the European Union, and also the field in the Republic of Serbia which needs to be regulated. Article 38 of the Law on Waste Management stipulates the reuse and reutilization, (which sates that the construction and demolition waste can be reused and reutilized). With the amendments to the Law which are planned in the future we will have a legal framework for the adoption of the Rulebook on the treatment of construction and demolition waste.

EP: Recently, you have pointed out at the meeting at Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia theat only 5 to 15 percent of the total waste is recycled in Serbia. What would be the EU standards to which we strive for? How can we increase the volume of recycling in industry and public sector?

Radmila Šerović: In 2010 the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Strategy for Waste Management for the period from 2010 to 2019, which included the management of the specific waste flows. It lays down the guidelines and measures to reduce the pressure on the environment caused by generation and waste management. The system is organised integrally, with all the participants in the system at the national, provincial and local level. The strategy emphasizes the importance of prevention, that is reduction of waste, reuse and the recycling of all types of waste. It is aimed at reducing the impact of waste as well as the products that will become waste, whereby this impact should be reduced during all stages of products lifecycle in order to be more efficiently and fully implemented. Waste materials should not be regarded solely as a source of waste and pollution, but also as a substitute for increasingly scarce natural resources (metallic, non-metallic, vegetable and animal raw materials as well as energy generating products) and they must be better utilized.

The Law on Waste Management and the Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste were adopted in 2009 together with a package of bylaws which arise from these two laws and which have become the basis for establishing and improving of waste management in the Repubilic of Serbia and also for the establishment of the recycling industry.

In Serbia, waste materials that are reused or treated for reuse and that belong to the category of non-hazardous waste are: paper, cardboard, plastic, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, waste tires, but also organic materials, wood and textiles. As far as hazardous waste is concerned, in Serbia we recycle waste oils, waste from electrical and electronic equipment, fluorescent tubes containing mercury, waste batteries and to a lesser extent, waste vehicles. Waste batteries (particulary those used in households) are almost not recycled at all. Waste from chemical industry (organic and inorganic waste) is treated only in few plants with neutralization and solidification process. Packaging contaminated with hazardous waste is treated either with liquid nitrogen and dry ice process or washing process.

Most of these materials is the part of regional (compost, wood), national (glass) or international (paper, plastic, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and textiles) market. In the past, the stocks, which were the most accessible and the easiest for reuse and selling (metal scraps, non-ferrous metals, paper) were first targeted.
Recycling capacities in the Republic of Serbia are increasing under current conditions. It is estimated that 10-15 percent of waste is recycled in Sebia. There has been a sudden increase of companies engaged in recycling waste in Serbia since 2003 until today. Waste Management Strategy within long-term goals that RS must fulfill, outlines the objective that it is necessary to raise the rate of recovery and recycling of packaging waste (glass, paper, cardboard, metal and plastics) to 25% of its volumes in the period from 2015 to 2019.

The total number of licenses issued to the operators for the collection, transportation, storage and waste treatment by all the institutions (Ministry, provincial authorities, and local self-government) exceeds 2000. On the official web site of the Agency for the Environmental Protection, www.sepa.gov.rs, one can see the Register of issued permits on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The number of issued permits confirms the fact that the system of waste recycling (recycling industry) in Serbia is rapidly being established, in addition significant collecting network is being created which represents very important, necessary element for establishment and improvement of that system. The issued licences represent only the first step in the creation of a comprehensive system of environmental protection, since the process is not closed; it is the process that requires serious reconsideration and newly improved content.

Over the last few years, the state has seriously stipulated green and recycling industry by issuing permits and subsidies and enabled equal opportunities for all those who are interested. Investments in technology, professional staff and integrated system for control and monitoring of waste flow are necessary for quality waste recycling management. In accordance with the examples of good practice in developed countries, it is necessary to reconsider the procedures for issuing permits, because non-transparent and uncontrolled circulation of recycled waste, that is secondary raw materials, is the incentive for the crime which is unfortunately present especially in specific flow of waste oils and vehicles. Therefore, much better control of tax administration and environmental protection inspection is necessary. Through amandments and supplements to the Law on Waste Management, which are now in the procedure, the new framework in this are is sought and everything is in accordance with the EU legislation which needs to be entirely transferred into the legislation of RS.

It should clearly define and prescribe the necessary incentive economic instruments as a basis for the improvement of existing system for recycling waste management that is specific waste flows. Scientific and professional public in the environmental protection absolutely agree on the necessity for establishment and functioning of the new model for financing of ‘green’ fund (after the adaptation of the Law on Amendments and Supplement of Waste Management which came into force on 1st March, 2016) as a budgetary fund. This will provide indispensable financial independence of environmental protection and thus more reliable development of recycling industry.

EP: Circular economy is the future of world and European economy. What branches of economy and industry in Serbia need to udergo the biggest change and adaptation? Is it possible to be adequately prepared for the EU, so we would not experience the faith of Greece or Croatia which pay for numerous penalties?

Radmila Šerović: The European Commission adopted a new legal framework for the introduction of the circular economy model in 2015 in order to strengthen the economy and ensure sustainable economy growth through sustainable use of resources. The proposed measures, such as the increase of reuse and waste recycling instead of its disposal at the landfill, ‘close the circle’, precisely that brings out the most possible benefit from all raw materials, products and waste with the increase of energy savings and reduction of air, water and soil pollution.

Circular economy represents different economic model which tends to longevity of the products and returning of all waste materials in the production processes, implying the efficient use of resources and reduced pollution of the environment with achieving financial savings and creating new business possibilities. Solutions which this concept offers are based on the processes that take place every day in the nature, whereby the waste of one industry represents the raw material for the other industry.

Taking into the account the recommendations of the European Commision on circular economy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection has suggested the amendments and supplements for the three laws in the field of environmental protection including the Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Waste Management which the National Assembly adopted this year. Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Environmental Protection envisages the establishment of Green fund of the Republic of Serbia, as well as Budgetary fund which will, among other things, enable sustainable financing of the system for waste management.

New legal soultions enable:

• Support for the concept of sustainable development and circular economy
• Opening of ‘green’ workplaces
Two new legal institutions are introduced:
• ‘The end of waste status’ – certain types of waste stop being one after the treatment and fulfilment of stipulated standards
• ’By-product’ – the use of produced residue from the production process, after being written down in the register of by-products

New legal soultions strengthen the principle of waste management hierarchy:

1. Prevention of waste production – it forsees the adaptation of program for the prevention of waste production and establishment of preventive measures that effect the general terms of waste production, design, production, distribution, consumption and the phase of product’s usage
2. Preparation for the reuse – is the precondition for further arrangement and development of the system for the reparation of the products
3. Recycling – the obligation of taking measures which enable the high quality of the recycling is envisaged – the establishment of separate waste collection
4. Other operations of waste reuse
5. Waste disposal

Legal soultions related to local self-governments:

• Selection and separate collection of waste in order to recycle
• Centres for household waste collection
• Record of illegal dumps
• Record and designs of sanation and re-cultivation of existing non-sanitary dumps/landfills
• The Agreement with one or more local self-governments on the location for the construction and operation of the plant for treatment, storage, reuse and disposal of waste on their territory

The policy of the Ministry is being developed with the aim of giving support and promoting the system of waste recycling, in order to strengthen the socio-economic business in the field of waste management as one of the basic conditions for successful operation of the industry, economy and society as a whole, which is the basic pillar of sustainable development to which all developed countries of the EU aspire.

Implementation and development od the waste management in Serbia must be based on the legal framework, and this is one one the necessary conditions for achieving the concrete results with mandatory provisions of finanacial instruments necessary for the implementation of the programs and projects in the field of waste management.

Preconditions for the implementation of necessary investments in the social and public sector in the field of waste management and especially in the field of the construction of the plant for municipal waste treatment, plant for treatment and management of hazardous waste treatment and others are:

1. Ensuring stable and sustainable system of financing of environmental protection, on the republic, provincial and also on local level in terms of financial preparation of project design documentation for large infrastructural projects as well as co-financing of the implementation of the same projects, which means providing secure financial resources for co-financing of infrastructural projects which are financed from the EU funds;

2. The preparation of infrastructural projects in the field of environmental protection and waste management on the republic, provincial and local level in terms of the preparation of project design documentation for the construction, with which one can apply at the EU funds (IPA and others) or at the other international funds for funding or cofounding of the project’s implementation.

When we speak about special waste flows, especially on packaging and packaging of waste, the national goals which are related to reuse and recycling of packaging waste for the period from 2015 to 2019 are defined in this new Regulation on establishing of the Plan for the reduction of packaging waste, which was adopted at the end of 2014 by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and which is harmonised with the EU Directives.

In order to achieve national targets for the following period, it is necessary to continue working on rising of public awareness and capacities of legal persons, even with more intensive involvement of the system for management of packaging and packaging waste, as well as intensifying inspection of the companies.

Harmonisation of legal regulations with the EU regulatives is the process which is constantly ongoing. In the next period, we will face harmonization with the Law on Waste Management with the new WU directive on waste (Directive 2008/98 EZ) and the other regulations which are derived from the stated directive, the revision of the Law on packaging and packaging waste and by-laws which are derived from the stated Laws.

The construction of regional centres for the management of solid municipal waste is a strategic goal of the Republic of Serbia, which includes the construction of the entire infrastructure for the efficient and effective waste management. The infrastructure includes the construction of transfer stations for the collection and separation of the recyclable components from waste, but also the construction of recycling yards and the plants for the waste utilization with the aim of obtaining energy. Only the waste types that cannot be reused and recycled or cannot be used for obtaining energy, can be disposed in the landfills, in accordance with the Regulation on Waste Disposal in the Landfill which the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted in 2010.

All local self-governments have the obligation to develop regional and local plans for waste management in the short term. Further construction of regional sanitary landfills and transfer stations, plants for the separation of the recyclable waste, expansion of the scope for waste management, composement plants and more is expected. It is necessary to work intensively on the preparation of planning and technical documentation for the construction of regional centres for waste management. There is an obligation for signing inter-municipal agreements on joint waste management. It is necessary to establish regional companies for waste management. In case of disagreement between local self governments in terms of determining the location for the waste management plant, the Government will make the decision on the location on the proposal of the Ministry, which is competent authority of autonous province.

In the long run, it is necessary to focus on achievement of the objectives in recycling packaging waste (2025), recycling of the material from municipal waste (2030) and in completition of the construction of the regional centres for municipal waste management in all the regions, in order to dispose the waste in the landfills in accordance with the requirements of the EU Directive on Landfill (2028). It is necessary to be focused on reaching the targets for the reduction of biodegradable waste disposal on the landfills (2022, 2026 and 2030) with the construction of the plant for composting, anaerobic digestion or MBT/ utilisation of energy from waste. Sanitation of the existing landfills, that represent the greatest risk for the environment, will be carried out. The construction of the plant for the utilisation of the energy from municipal waste, as well as the construction of the central plant for iniceration of hazardous and medical waste is also planned.
The development of the necessary infrastructure is planned in two phases.

The first construction phase of the infrastructure includes the following:

• Expanding the coverage of waste collection to 100 percent of the population;
• Primary selection, separate collection of recyclable waste – paper, plastic, glass and metal;
• Plant for secondary separation of recyclable waste – a “clean” line to separate pre-sorted waste;
• Centres for separate collection of recyclable waste (recycling centres, bulky waste, waste from electrical and electronic equipment, hazardous waste from households);
• Sanitary landfill;
• Composting of separately collected bio-waste (green waste from parks and public spaces to the least extent);
• Closure of the existing landfill dumps.

Infrastructure construction in the second phase in this case means the introduction of more modern and expensive technologies for the treatment of municipal waste, such as anaerobic digestion, energy recovery from waste. The second phase of infrastructure construction (facilities for energy recovery from waste, mechanical-biological treatment of waste) will be implemented later, except in cases of cities with the largest number of inhabitants in Serbia (Beograd, Nis and Novi Sad), where the construction of the first and second phase will take place simultaneously.

• Utilization of waste to generate electricity and district heating and 100 percent utilization of biodegradable waste;
• The mechanical-biological treatment of waste for composting, fuel production from waste for combustion or other methods.

The national system of environmental financing requires political support in order to establish appropriate facilities for the financing and implementation of projects and programs. It is necessary to provide institutional and human resources and financial capacities for simultaneous planning and implementation of national and donor (primarily IPA) funds. Taking into consideration estimated resources that will be on disposal after joining the EU, it is essential to start intensive preparation of investment projects by using resources (national and international) as soon as possible.

When we talk about the establishment and improvement of the financing system in the field of environmental protection as well as waste management, the priority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection is certainly providing conditions for regular filling the budget. It is not a problem to provide programs and projects, but if we fail to provide enough money in the budget to realize those programs and projects, we cannot ensure the sustainability of the waste management system. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection believes that filling the budget lies in a more efficient process of collecting eco-taxes and better functioning of the Green Fund in the function of sustainability of environmental protection and waste management. Fees must be charged regularly and in full amount, and the proposed model is that all importers of products that become special waste flows after use, pay a fee for the customs and that all manufacturers of those products pay the same fee when placing these products on the market of the Republic of Serbia.

Interview by: Vesna Vukajlović

World Water Day: One in Four Children will Live with Water Scarcity by 2040

22.03.2017

One in four of the world’s children will be living in areas with extremely limited water resources by 2040 as a result of climate change, the UN has warned.

Within two decades, 600 million children will be in regions enduring extreme water stress, with a great deal of competition for the available supply. The poorest and most disadvantaged will suffer most, according to research published by the children’s agency, Unicef, to mark World Water Day on Wednesday.

Drought conditions and conflict are driving deadly water scarcity in parts of Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. Unicef anticipates that more than 9 million people will be without safe drinking water this year in Ethiopia alone. Nearly 1.4 million children face imminent risk of death from acute malnutrition in South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen.

The report, Thirsting for a Future: Water and Children in a Changing Climate, looked at the threats to children’s lives and wellbeing caused by depleted sources of safe water and the ways in which climate change will intensify these risks.

As industrialisation and demographic shifts increase consumption, areas of south Asia and the Middle East will be particularly affected, according to one of the report’s authors, Nicholas Rees. “Where demand is extremely high then water stress will increase. It will go up in areas of rapid urbanisation, and we are already seeing that throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Asia,” he said.

Another report published on Wednesday warned that Iran is grappling with an unprecedented water crisis, and faces a greater threat from its environmental challenges than those arising from regional political issues or terrorism. The study, from London-based NGO Small Media, said that shortages could transform vast swaths of the country into near-uninhabitable areas in the coming decades.

“Iran is facing a water crisis that is unparallelled in its modern history. Lakes and rivers are dying, droughts are increasing in frequency, and even Iran’s deepest groundwater reserves are being sucked dry by Iran’s growing population and its thirsty agricultural sector,” the report said.

“Resultant soil erosion is accelerating the destruction of forest ranges across the country, and contributing to a sharp increase in dust storms and air pollution.”

It warned that ecosystems were collapsing, with some species of wildlife on the brink of extinction. Lake Urmia, the country’s largest lake, is a biosphere reserve recognised by Unesco: the report says it has shrunk to 12% of its size since the 1970s, “owing to frequent droughts, and aggressive, poorly implemented water management policies upstream”.

Across the world, the UN’s report says that 36 countries are facing extremely high levels of water stress, which occurs when demand far exceeds the renewable supply available. Warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, increased floods, droughts and melting ice affect the quality and availability of water, as do sanitation systems.

The impact of climate change on water sources is not inevitable, according to the report, which made a series of recommendations designed to help curb the impact of climate change on the lives of children. These include calls for governments to prioritise access to safe water for the most vulnerable children above other water needs, and for communities to diversify water sources.

“We want to reduce child deaths. That is the goal. But we are not going to end child deaths without addressing environmental threats that they face,” said Rees.

“We focus on their susceptibility to disease but if we don’t also address the broad environmental risks we are going to fall short. Climate change is often felt through a change in the water – whether it’s a flood, rising sea levels or something else – and the effect of a changing climate is often felt by children through water first.”

The NGO WaterAid published findings on Tuesday of how vulnerable rural communities’ struggles to access clean water were being compounded by extreme weather events and climate change.

India, one of the fastest growing economies and home to almost a fifth of the world’s population, was ranked in an annual WaterAid survey as having the greatest number of people living rurally without access to clean water: 63 million.

In terms of those making progress, the report said, Paraguay has achieved the biggest improvements in getting water to rural dwellers. More than 94% of its rural population now has access to safe water, compared with 51.6% in 2000.

Papua New Guinea, Madagascar and Mozambique were among the worst performing countries for rural access to clean water.

WaterAid’s chief executive, Barbara Frost, said many of the countries featured in the report were already being hit regularly by severe cyclones, floods and drought. “Rural communities – which are marginalised by their remote location and a continued lack of funding for basic services – often bear the greatest burden of these events,” she said.

WaterAid is calling on international and national leaders to deliver on promises to meet the sustainable development goals, including a goal to ensure access to safe water and sanitation.

Source: theguardian.com

US Hotel Giants Launch Flurry of Food Waste Trials

22.03.2017

Some of the world’s most iconic hotels are to trial new approaches to tackling food waste, as part of a major new initiative launched today by WWF, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA).

Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels, and Marriott International are amongst the high profile brands to sign up to the 12 week pilot program, which aims to test a range of different technological and behaviour change approaches to curbing food waste levels.

The program is part of The Rockefeller Foundation’s YieldWise Initiative, which aims to reduce post-harvest food loss and halve the world’s food waste by 2030. According to the group, currently around 40 per cent of US food waste occurs throughout the supply chain, with the hospitality and food services industry being a prime culprit.

“With its substantial food service volume and broad reach with consumers, the hospitality industry is an ideal catalyst for accelerating change,” said Pete Pearson, director of food waste at WWF. “Imagine every hotel breakfast buffet or conference luncheon eliminating food waste. While businesses should make food donation and landfill diversion a priority, these pilot projects will focus on food waste prevention, which is ultimately better for business and the environment.”

Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of AHL, said the aim of the new initiative was to identify effective policies that could be deployed across the global hospitality sector. “The industry has a unique opportunity to raise awareness and design the guidelines, tools and resources needed to make a difference – the participation of some of America’s largest brands in these pilot programs underscores the industry’s long-term sustainability commitments,” she said. “Through these programs… we look forward to being a part of a worldwide solution to food waste.”

Devon Klatell, associate director at The Rockefeller Foundation, said there were reasons to be optimistic that relatively simple changes could deliver significant reductions in food waste.

“We’ve already seen that hotel guests are more than willing to conserve water and energy, simply by placing a card on their pillows or hanging their towels,” she said. “Our hunch is that they’ll also take action to be part of the fight to cut food waste. Our support of WWF – part of our $130m, seven-year YieldWise initiative – seeks to find the simple steps they can take to be part of the solution, one breakfast buffet plate and one room service tray at a time. And once we’ve succeeded in cutting hospitality food waste, we can take those learnings to other sectors like restaurants and retail.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Pakistan To Finally Embrace Solar Power Auctions

21.03.2017

Perhaps motivated by the massive crash in the solar power tariff bids across the world, Pakistan is set to shift from feed-in tariff mechanism to competitive auctions in the solar power sector.

Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is reported to have approved the implementation of competitive auctions for solar power projects. The move could bring solar power tariffs in the country crashing, as has been the case all across the world.

Even with a 25% reduction in feed-in tariff in late 2015 the solar power prices in Pakistan remain significantly higher than those in developing markets. Beginning January 1, 2016, NEPRA had reduced feed-in tariffs from 14.15-15.02¢/kWh to 11.35-11.53¢/kWh in the northern part of the country and 10.72-10.89¢/kWh in the southern part of the country.

Several project developers had expressed concerns regarding this correction in tariffs claiming that the move would hamper future investments in the country’s renewable energy sector. The latest move has seen a similar response from project developers. In their comments submitted to NEPRA’s proposal, developers claimed that the market is not ready to make the transition to competitive auctions.

Pakistan does not have to look very far to see the benefits of competitive auctions over feed-in tariff mechanism. The lowest solar power tariff bids in neighboring India currently stand at around 5.00¢/kWh. A project currently under construction in the Indian side of Thar Desert, an arid region shared by the two countries, was secured at a tariff bid of 6.50¢/kWh. The lowest solar tariff bid in the world stands at 2.42¢/kWh.

Solar power has immense potential and a major role to play in Pakistan’s power market. Pakistan currently faces a shortfall of around 6,000 megawatts. It has been forced to import electricity from neighboring Iran. The volume of import from Iran stands at 100 megawatts, but Pakistan plans to increase it to 3,000 megawatts.

Source: cleantechnica.com

Greenpeace Praises Dubai Over Solar Energy Park Milestone

21.03.2017

Campaign group Greenpeace has praised Dubai on the completion of the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

Julien Jreissati, Arab World campaigner at Greenpeace Mediterranean, said the solar energy park helped bring about the realisation the era of oil and other dirty energies will be ended soon, even in fossil-fuel producing countries.

He said: “The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park constitutes a renewable energy landmark just like Noor Ouarzazate in Morocco and will contribute in fulfilling Dubai’s ambition to become a green technology hub.

“We expect even more from Dubai as it has the potential to be the first city in the Arab world to commit to 100 per cent renewable energy and to completely break free from fossil fuels in the near future.”

The solar park will power 50,000 homes thanks to 2.3 million panels spread across 4.5 square kilometres of desert.

It will also be the largest single-site solar power plant in the world, with a total capacity of 5,000 megawatts when it is completed in 2030.

Source: thenational.ae

1...337338339...417 Page 338 of 417

Newsletter

Calendar of events

2025 November

Events for 30 November

Events for 1 December

Events for 2 December

Events for 3 December

Events for 4 December

Events for 5 December

Events for 6 December

Events for 7 December

Events for 8 December

Events for 9 December

Events for 10 December

Events for 11 December

Events for 12 December

Events for 13 December

Events for 14 December

Events for 15 December

Events for 16 December

Events for 17 December

Events for 18 December

Events for 19 December

Events for 20 December

Events for 21 December

Events for 22 December

Events for 23 December

Events for 24 December

Events for 25 December

Events for 26 December

Events for 27 December

Events for 28 December

Events for 29 December

Events for 30 December

WRITE US