GIZ in Germany Is Climate Nutral

16.01.2017

For the first time, the greenhouse gas emissions of the company’s operations in Germany have been offset through a GIZ self-initiated climate change mitigation project.

As a federally-owned enterprise and service provider for sustainable development, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH plays a pioneering role in climate change mitigation. Among other goals, the company aims to become climate-neutral. This includes avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions: in the past five years, GIZ has been able to reduce the annual emissions per staff member in Germany by 25 per cent. The remaining emissions were previously offset by purchasing certificates from various climate change mitigation projects.

But now, for the first time, we have been able to offset all emissions from operations in Germany through a GIZ self-initiated climate change mitigation project. In Thailand, GIZ is supporting the company Chumporn Palm Oil Industry in using wastewater from palm oil production in biogas plants, thereby capturing methane, which not only smells bad but is also harmful to the climate. The biogas replaces fossil fuels and helps reduce emissions. And the local population also benefits through the improved quality of the local water and air.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) certified the project with 34,893 certificates which can be used to offset GIZ’s own emissions. The certificates also meet strict international criteria. The Gold Standard and the United Nations’ clean development mechanism document the environmental and social sustainability of projects and review their development policy impact. The emissions from GIZ operations in Germany in 2014 were offset at the end of October 2016 with 20,441 certificates.

Source: giz.de

New Green Buses

16.01.2017

The delivery of 15 new buses to Pristina few days ago marked the beginning of a new era of public transport in Pristina. The buses will offer a more comfortable and environmentally friendly service.

In June 2016 the EBRD signed an agreement for a loan of up to €10 million to the municipal transport company Trafiku Urban to finance the purchase of 51 diesel buses that comply with Euro 6 emissions standards. The loan was fully guaranteed by the government, represented by the Ministry of Finance.

The new fleet of diesel buses will significantly reduce levels of air pollution and noise in the city. They will also improve the reliability, safety and quality of public transport as well as boost operational efficiency. The old buses will be phased out as the new ones enter into service.

The EBRD’s strategy in Kosovo focuses on strengthening private sector competitiveness and reinforcing the investment climate as well as upgrading public infrastructure and addressing shortcomings in the energy sector. These goals are embedded in Kosovo’s integration process with the EU.

Source: ebrd.com

Secretariat Questions Legality of Serbia-Russia Intergovernmental Agreement on Natural Gas Supply

13.01.2017

On 12 January 2017, the Secretariat sent an Opening Letter to Serbia in Case ECS-18/16. In its Letter, the Secretariat addressed a 2012 Agreement between the Serbian and Russian governments on the supply of natural gas to Serbia. The Agreement is implemented via a contract between Gazprom Export and Yugorosgaz. In particular, the Secretariat expressed concerns about Article 4(3) of the Agreement, which stipulates that the natural gas supplied on its basis is intended for use in the Serbian market. This constitutes a destination clause, which according to settled case law, infringes the competition acquis under the Energy Community Treaty.

The Secretariat came to the preliminary conclusion that by ratifying an agreement requiring undertakings to adopt a contract contrary to Article 18(1)(a) of the Treaty, Serbia deprived Article 18(1)(a) of its effectiveness and thereby infringed its obligations under the Energy Community Treaty.

Article 18(1)(a) prohibits all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition.

By sending the Opening Letter, the Secretariat initiated a preliminary procedure, the purpose of which is to give Serbia the opportunity to react to the allegation of non-compliance with Energy Community law within two months and to enable the Secretariat to establish the full background of the case.

According to Articles 7 and 17 of the Rules of Procedure for Dispute Settlement, interested parties may be granted access to the case file and may submit written observations on the present case to the Secretariat during the preliminary procedure. All requests for information on this case should be addressed to the Deputy Director and Legal Counsel at dirk.buschle@energy-community.org

Source: energy-community.org

Siemens Employees Can Charge Electric Vehicles for Free

13.01.2017

Beginning in 2017, Siemens employees at as many as 100 of the company’s locations in Germany can “fill up” their electric vehicles free of charge. This will apply not only to all-electric vehicles but also to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. For this service, Siemens will use its existing network of charging stations, which it is expanding with normal and high-speed charging stations.

To reduce their carbon footprint, the charging points will supply electricity only from renewable energy sources. The electricity and the use of the charging stations will be free in 2017. Thereafter, Siemens will decide on future electricity pricing from year to year – enabling the company to react flexibly to cost developments and other factors such as government subsidies. “Free charging” will first be available only at Siemens locations in Germany – for example, Nuremberg-Erlangen, the greater Munich area, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Braunschweig and Mülheim an der Ruhr.

A Siemens ID card is all that is needed to use the charging stations. However, only vehicles registered in the name of Siemens employees or their family members may be charged. For the future, the company is aiming to link the charging stations via an international network so that using a company ID card to charge car batteries will be just as easy at Siemens locations outside Germany as it is within the country’s borders. The charging stations are equipped with smart charging technology and software from Siemens that integrate an electricity meter, billing and user identification.

Source: siemens.com

Global Biogas Market to Reach $50 Billion by 2026

13.01.2017

Global biogas revenues are expected to grow at a steady 6.5% CAGR from nearly $24.5 Billion in 2015 to around $48.8 billion in 2026, according to a new report from Future Market Insights.

Due to mounting concerns over depleting fossil reserves and the environmental impact of conventional fuels, global biogas revenues are expected to grow at a steady 6.5% CAGR from nearly $24.5 Billion in 2015 to around $48.8 billion in 2026, according to a new report from Future Market Insights.

During the forecast period 2016-2026, the authors stated that between 2016 and 2026, the global biogas revenues will double, with Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Latin America among key regions fuelling demand.

The APAC biogas market is predicted to grow relatively fast at 9.2% CAGR, while Latin America will account for over 50% of the global biogas revenues.

In North America, adoption of biogas plants was forecast to drop considerably, owing to rising preference for solar power in the US. By 2026-end, North America’s biogas plant was predicted to be valued over $9.6 billion.

On the other hand, regions such as Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Eastern Europe are forecast to exhibit a comparatively nascent growth in terms of biogas revenues, through 2026.

Source: waste-management-world.com

EPA Accuses Fiat Chrysler of Using Software to Cheat on Vehicle Emissions

13.01.2017

The EPA accused Fiat Chrysler of cheating emissions standards in over 100,000 of their vehicles, echoing the scandal that has been rocking Volkswagen. According to the EPA, the company installed software on SUVs and trucks made in 2014, 2015 and 2016 that allowed them to evade standards, allowing poisonous nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. While the current administration has shown it is willing to pursue Clean Air Act violators, the incoming administration could choose not to continue the investigation.

The Italian automaker is accused of installing 8 different programs aimed at giving a false emissions picture. If those programs qualify as “defeat devices,” Fiat Chrysler could face a fine of up to $44,539 per vehicle if found guilty of violations of the Clean Air Act.

Fiat Chrysler stated that it had offered to develop software fixes to help ease the problem and that they intend to plead their case to the incoming Trump administration. The company did not disclose the issue, rather, the EPA discovered during testing that the vehicles appeared to be within standards at a moderate speed, but at higher speeds or on longer trips, the emissions violated air quality standards.

“FCA US is disappointed that the EPA has chosen to issue a notice of violation with respect to the emissions control technology employed in the company’s 2014-16 model year light duty 3.0-liter diesel engines. FCA US intends to work with the incoming administration to present its case and resolve this matter fairly and equitably and to assure the EPA and FCA US customers that the company’s diesel-powered vehicles meet all applicable regulatory requirements,” Fiat Chrysler said in a statement.

Source: inhabitat.com

Climate Change Will Lead to Annual Coral Bleaching, UN-Supported Study Predicts

13.01.2017

If current trends continue and the world fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nearly all of the world’s coral reefs will suffer severe bleaching – the gravest threat to one of the Earth’s most important ecosystems – on annual basis, the United Nations environment agency today reported.

The finding is part of a study funded by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners, which reviewed new climate change projections to predict which corals will be affected first and at what rate. The report is published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports .

Researchers found that the reefs in Taiwan and the Turks and Caicos archipelago will be among the first to experience annual bleaching, followed by reefs off the coast of Bahrain, in Chile and in French Polynesia.

Calling the predictions “a treasure trove” for environmentalists, the head of the UN agency, Erik Solheim said the projects allow conservationists and governments to prioritize the protection reef protection.

“The projections show us where we still have time to act before it’s too late,” Mr. Solheim said.

On average, the reefs will start to undergo annual bleaching starting in 2014, according to the study. Without the required minimum of five years to regenerate, the annual occurrences will have a deadly effect on the corals and disrupt the ecosystems which they support.

However, if Governments act on emission reduction pledges made in the Paris Agreement, which calls on countries to combat climate change and limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius, the corals would have another 11 years to adapt to the warming seas.

Between 2014 and 2016, the world witnessed the longest global bleaching event recorded. Among the casualties was the Great Barrier Reef, with 90 per cent of it bleached and 20 per cent of the reef’s coral killed.

Source: un.org

IRENA Convenes Legislators Forum to Engage Key Actors in Renewable Energy Policy

13.01.2017

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., 13 January 2017 — Lawmakers from around the world are meeting today in Abu Dhabi to discuss the policies needed to support the transformation of the global energy system. Held the day before the opening of the seventh Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the 2017 Legislators Forum, “Renewable Energy – the Role of Legislators in Catalyzing Action”, is the second meeting of its kind hosted by the Agency.

The Forum facilitates dialogue between lawmakers on the deployment of renewables and critical challenges facing the energy transformation underway in countries around the world, covering areas of policy, legislation, and tools to support legislators.

“Lawmakers have a rich history of creating the policy and legal frameworks that can drive renewable energy deployment. Their role is even more critical as governments look to transform their energy infrastructure and markets,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “By bringing together lawmakers from around the world concerned about energy issues, IRENA can better support their efforts to accelerate the energy transition.”

“The next step for renewables is accelerating its deployment and that’s going to require an environment that policies can help foster,” said HE Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change & Environment. “Legislators have the unique responsibility in bringing about that renewable friendly environment and it’s only fitting that IRENA plays a guiding role in this effort through gatherings like the Legislators Forum.”

The meeting will allow participants to exchange best practices and learn from each other’s experiences in creating effective renewable energy policy. It will focus on policy and legislative tools as well as financing mechanisms available to raise the level of ambition towards an accelerated energy transition, using available databases, analytical reports, and direct legislative assistance.

On 12 January, participants of the Legislators Forum were invited by the UAE’s Federal National Council to visit the country’s parliament and meet with a group of its members.

“With the right set of legislation and policies in place, countries can set the stage for renewable energy to flourish, and put the world on a path for a more sustainable future,” said the Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates HE Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi. “We have to think holistically and develop an end-to-end strategy that balances a number of interrelated considerations: R&D and innovation, standards, cost of implementation, impact on existing jobs and companies, education and reskilling, and new employment and economic growth opportunities.”

The Legislators Forum is taking place in the context of the seventh IRENA Assembly, which gathers global energy leaders from more than 150 countries. During the Assembly delegates will discuss IRENA’s strategic and programmatic direction to help countries accelerate deployment of renewable energy, and in doing so, meet climate goals, boost the economy, and increase energy access and security. Outcomes from today’s Legislators Forum will be presented at the Assembly’s discussions.

Source: irena.org

Solar Power to Rise from Chernobyl’s Nuclear Ashes

13.01.2017

Solarni paneli — Photo-ilustration: Pixabay

It was the worst nuclear accident in history, directly causing the deaths of 50 people, with at least an additional 4,000 fatalities believed to be caused by exposure to radiation.

The 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine also resulted in vast areas of land being contaminated by nuclear fallout, with a 30-kilometre exclusion zone, which encompassed the town of Pripyat, being declared in the area round the facility.

Now two companies from China plan to build a one-gigawatt solar power plant on 2,500 hectares of land in the exclusion zone to the south of the Chernobyl plant.

Ukrainian officials say the companies estimate they will spend up to $1bn on the project over the next two years.

A subsidiary of Golden Concord Holdings (GLC), one of China’s biggest renewable energy concerns, will supply and install solar panels at the site, while a subsidiary of the state-owned China National Machinery Corporation (Sinomach) will build and run the plant.

“It is cheap land, and abundant sunlight constitutes a solid foundation for the project,” says Ostap Semerak, Ukraine’s minister of environment and natural resources.

“In addition, the remaining electric transmission facilities are ready for reuse.”

In a press release, GLC state work on the solar plant will probably start this year and talk of the advantages of building the facility.

“There will be remarkable social benefits and economical ones as we try to renovate the once-damaged area with green and renewable energy,” says Shu Hua, chairman of the GLC subsidiary.

“We are glad that we are making joint efforts with Ukraine to rebuild the community for the local people.”

Radiation that escaped as a result of the explosion at Chernobyl reached as far away as the mountains and hills of Wales in the UK, and a substantial portion of the radioactive dust released fell on farmlands in Belarus, north of Ukraine.

Until now, the exclusion zone, including the town of Pripyat, has been out of bounds for most people, with only limited farming activity permitted on lands that are still regarded as contaminated.

Many former residents of the area are allowed back only once or twice a year for visits – to their old homes or to tend their relatives’ graves. However, a growing number of tourists have been visiting the Chernobyl area recently.

There has also been renewed interest in Chernobyl due to recent major engineering work at the plant, with a new steel-clad sarcophagus – described as the largest movable land-based structure ever built – being wheeled into position over much of the structure, to prevent any further leaks of radiation.

As yet, neither the Ukrainians nor the Chinese have disclosed the safety measures that will be adopted during the construction of the solar plant.

Ecologists who have visited the exclusion zone around Chernobyl say that there is an abundance of wildlife in the area, with substantial populations of elk, deer, wild boar and wolves.

Other researchers say there is still evidence of contamination, with limited insect activity, and disease in many smaller mammals.

Source: theguardian.com

Blustery Weather Topples Wind Power Records Across Northern Europe

13.01.2017

Wet and windy weather across Northern Europe this week may have loosened a few roof tiles, but it also delivered an impressive flurry of new wind power records, according to new data.

In the UK, wind turbines delivered 26 per cent of the UK’s electricity demand on Wednesday, with new records set for daily generation and half hourly output, trade body RenewableUK confirmed.

Generation peaked at 11.1GW, and averaged a record 10.3GW for the day, the industry group said, beating the previous records of 10.8GW and 9.8GW, which were set on December 23 2016.

Meanwhile Ireland’s power grid – which covers the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland – saw 60 per cent of its electricity come from wind on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, an all-time high for the island. Generation hit s peak of 2.8GW at 7.15am on Wednesday morning, beating the previous record of 2.7GW which was set in January last year.

On the other side of the North Sea, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Estonia generated a combined total of 256GWh of wind power, breaking the previous record of 236GWh ste late last year, according to analysts Elstatistik.

The flurry of New Year records follow a series of output records over the Christmas and New Year period, including data released earlier this week revealing Scotland generated power equivalent to the country’s entire electricity demand on four consecutive days late last year.

Source: businessgreen.com

Four US Cities Urge Carmakers to Boost Electric Vehicle Production

12.01.2017

los-angeles-1840764_1920 — Photo: Pixabay

City mayors from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle have released a joint request for US carmakers to step up EV production in order to meet growing demand for electric vehicles in municipal fleets.

The four West Coast cities have said they are interested in buying or leasing up to 24,000 electric vehicles for their fleets, and have therefore sent a joint Request for Information – the first step in a formal bidding process – inviting automotive manufacturers to describe how they might meet the “record-breaking” order.

Released on Monday, the joint request came from San Francisco mayor Edwin M. Lee alongside mayors Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, Ted Wheeler of Portland, and Ed Murray of Seattle.

It is aimed at improving pricing and expanding offerings of EV models beyond sedans – such as police pursuit vehicles, SUVs, and small trucks – and medium or heavy duty equipment including delivery vans, waste trucks and transit buses, the mayors said.

The effort is the first multi-city request of its kind in the US and demonstrates the purchasing power of local governments joining together on electric vehicles, according to the mayors.

They said moving to electric vehicles could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease reliance on fossil fuels, and improve air quality while also reducing fuel and maintenance costs by an average of 37 per cent.

“Our cities know we can’t fight climate change alone, and by banding together we can do our part to accelerate marketplace transformation and bring greater efficiencies that will benefit our taxpayers and impacted neighborhoods,” said San Francisco’s Mayor Lee.

All four mayors are member of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA), which represents 51 mayor of cities home to 35 million US citizens.

Other cities in the group have also been invited to participate in the joint request for information, with additional fleet numbers and demand from these cities to be added as an appendix to the request next month.

Murray, the mayor of Seattle, added that the “urgency” of climate change required a rapid transition in the transport sector from fossil fuels to electricity and that public fleets had a responsibility to lead by example.

“Seattle, and our partner cities along the West Coast, are ready to lead with the next generation of electric vehicles,” he said. “The information we receive from the Electric Vehicle Request for Information will help us meet the goals of the new Drive Clean Seattle Fleet Executive Order, demonstrating our continued commitment to fleet electrification.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Director-General of UNESCO Receives WWF’s Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Award

12.01.2017

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, last month presented the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) 2016 Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Award, for her contribution to conservation. The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace in London.

Yolanda Kakabadse, President of WWF, said that “Irina leads the way and shows us that protecting natural areas and ecosystems is not anti-development and that it’s long-term, robust and sustainable development that benefits people and natural systems. We are not going to develop a just and prosperous future, nor defeat poverty and improve health, in a weakened or destroyed natural environment.”

As she accepted the Award, Ms Bokova spoke of UNESCO’s “internationally-designated areas for safeguarding and conservation, which include 203 natural World Heritage sites, 35 mixed World Heritage natural and cultural sites, and 98 World Heritage cultural landscapes, 669 Biosphere Reserves in 120 countries, and 120 Global Geoparks, on every continent. These sites cover every major ecosystem. They include forests, mountains, deserts, wetlands, coastal zones, freshwater and marine areas – total UNESCO protected areas reach some 9.7 million km2, almost the size of Europe.

“This is a map of a living planet,” Ms Bokova added. “This is a map of humanity and nature seeking to live in harmony. We must act locally – but our focus must also be global. When I say ‘local action’ I mean the strength of UNESCO’s work lies in bolstering the capacities of local communities, to safeguard, to conserve, to craft new paths for sustainable development.”

Ms Bokova has been the Director-General of UNESCO since 2009. She is the first woman and the first Eastern European to lead the Organization. Earlier in her career she held several positions in the Government of Bulgaria. As Member of Parliament in the 1990s and early 2000s, she advocated for Bulgaria’s membership in EU and NATO and participated in the drafting of Bulgaria’s new Constitution. As Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Bokova is actively engaged in international efforts to advance quality education for all, gender equality, protection of cultural heritage and scientific cooperation for sustainable development. Throughout her mandate she has been a consistent and steadfast champion of environment conservation, ocean protection, indigenous rights and climate action.

The Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Award was created in 1970 and is presented annually by WWF International for outstanding service to the environment. This year’s award was presented by the Duke of Edinburgh during a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London.

Source: en.unesco.org

China’s Budget and Plans for Renewable Energy

12.01.2017

Despite a recent downturn, the Chinese government is moving full-speed ahead to invest heavily in renewable energy.

The country’s national regulators have already promoted renewable energy as a possible cure for the country’s notoriously-bad air pollution. But China has placed more emphasis on renewable power in its latest five-year economic plan.

One of the provisions of that plan calls for spending $360 billion on renewable energy by 2020, according to The New York Times. China’s National Energy Administration said last week that the investment would create 13 million jobs in the renewable-energy sector, as well as reduce greenhouses-gas emissions and smog.

China is currently the world’s largest source of greenhouse gases, emitting around twice as much as the U.S., according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates.The move may also be an attempt by the Chinese government to catapult Chinese industry to a dominant position in the manufacturing of products like solar panels.

Aggressive promotion of renewable energy by the Chinese government has already contributed to a global plunge in photovoltaic solar-cell prices over the past few years. And it’s possible that the new Chinese policy could put the incoming Trump administration in a somewhat awkward position.

While China is doubling down on renewable energy, the U.S. may head in the opposite direction under a new administration. During his campaign, Trump espoused support for the coal and oil industries, and he has picked Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA.

Pruitt is a climate-science denier who has sued the agency he is intended to lead multiple times. Yet Trump has also promised to boost job growth in the U.S. and prevent jobs from being outsourced to other countries—including China. However, the Chinese investment along with a possible U.S. pivot away from renewable energy could see jobs in the sector go to Chinese workers, notes The New York Times.

China’s relationship with Trump is already somewhat uneasy. Chinese state media recently warned him that he’ll be met with “big sticks” if he tries to start a trade war or otherwise antagonize the country, according to Bloomberg.

Source: greencarreports.com

Manchester Goes Green – Airport Significantly Reduces Energy Usage & City Centre Properties Follow Suit

12.01.2017

Photo: Pixabay
Manchester airport becomes first carbon neutral airport in the UK
From 1^st April 2018 it is unlawful to rent a property with poor energy efficiency rating
Mason Street uses low-carbon tech to be one of the city’s most energy-efficient properties (Surrenden Invest)

After a decade of striving to significantly reduce its energy usage and investing more than £7.5 million in efficiency projects, Manchester airport has become the first carbon neutral airport in the UK.

By installing more than 25,000 low energy LED lights throughout the airport, including the first on any UK runway, and saving the same amount of energy as used by 10,000 homes each year, Manchester airport has been awarded carbon neutral status (Level 3+), certified by the independent carbon management programme Airport Carbon Accreditation.

Ken O’Toole, CEO of Manchester Airport commented, “At Manchester Airport we are committed to being one of the leading European airports when it comes to environmental management. As an organisation we recognise that climate change is an important global challenge. This achievement demonstrates the lengths we go to ensuring we balance our role as economic generator, alongside caring for the environment.”

And now this sentiment of protecting the local environment through energy efficiency is emerging as essential within the UK property market, and more importantly to its investors. New legislation, due to take effect from 1^st April 2018, will make it unlawful to rent a property with a poor energy efficiency rating.

With properties currently graded from A to G, any property rented out in the private rental sector will require a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). However, there are opportunities arising within Manchester city centre that provide energy efficient solutions to investors, making the impending legislation a redundant worry.

Property consultancy Surrenden Invest’s most recent development in the heart of Manchester, Mason Street, uses modern low-carbon technology to ensure the building is one of the city’s most energy-efficient.

Source: abpropertymarketing.co.uk

National Grid Invests $100m in US Solar Partnership with Sunrun

12.01.2017

National Grid has invested $100m in a partnership venture with US solar firm Sunrun aimed at boosting the growth of the household solar rooftop market in the US.

Announced yesterday, the partnership includes a joint marketing agreement, a collaborative grid services pilot, and a direct $100m equity investment from National Grid in approximately 200MW of Sunrun’s existing residential solar installations.

As well as operating electricity networks in the UK, National Grid also serves customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but the joint venture with Sunrun – the largest dedicated residential solar company in the US – represents the British utility firm’s first foray into the American solar power market.

The joint venture is initially targeting approximately 100,000 single family homes in National Grid’s downstate New York service area for solar rooftop installations, but the firm also plans to work with Sunrun to explore better distribution, balance and optimisation of the energy grid in view of the increasing prominence of renewables generation.

John Flynn, SVP of strategy and business development at National Grid, said the partnership would provide an opportunity to increase the UK firm’s capability in the distributed energy space “and enhance our ability to meet the changing energy needs of our customers and communities”.

Sunrun said National Grid’s $100m investment highlighted the attractiveness of the residential solar sector and “emphasises the various sources of capital Sunrun can leverage to support continued growth”, including through its BrightBox solar-plus-energy-storage systems.

The move follows a deal struck last year between Sunrun and LG Chem – one of the world’s largest battery makers – to sell domestic energy storage products alongside solar panels in the US market.

“We are excited to partner with National Grid, a utility focused on truly creating a clean energy future, and to promote the growth of rooftop solar in the United States,” said Lynn Jurich, Sunrun’s CEO. “This partnership demonstrates Sunrun’s ability to develop new strategic and financial relationships with partners to increase consumer access to rooftop solar while further unlocking value for customers.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Essen is Europe’s 2017 Green Capital

12.01.2017

The German city of Essen is Europe’s “Green Capital” in 2017, a title awarded by the European Commission, for its success in transitioning from a heavily polluting mining center to a clean and green economy.

The award helps to highlight the crucial importance of city climate action in the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn in November (COP23), hosted by the the UN and presided over by Fiji, with the support of the German government.

Both Essen and Bonn are located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state. Commenting on the award, the Lord Mayor of Essen Thomas Kufen, said:

“This is powerful recognition that Essen and North Rhine-Westphalia are a hub for environmental and climate protection. We hope that both the UN Climate Change Conference and our role as Europe’s Green Capital can send positive impulses for change across Europe and the world.”

The greening of cities is essential to achieve the key goal of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, which is to limit the global average temperature rise to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The role of cities is particularly important given that most of the world’s energy is produced in urban areas, along with the most greenhouse gas emissions.

Successful Transition from Mining Industry to a Services-Based Economy

Essen used to be one of Germany’s most important coal centers, and is the first mining city to win the title of European Green Capital.

In order to protect nature and biodiversity, Essen has built “green corridors” and is renaturalizing the river Emscher. In the area known as the Krupp Belt, former site of the Krupp cast steel factory, a leisure area has been built, full of trees and criss-crossed with bicycle paths.

Essen began large-scale coal production in the early 19th century. The decline of the coal and steel industries in the region led to the closing of the last colliery in 1986. The city then successfully restructured into a services and financial center.

The city of Essen intends to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% by 2020 over 1990 levels. Emissions already dropped by 29,5 per cent in 2011 in relation to 1990, exceeding the German national average reduction.

This happened through a combination of national, state and local measures, prompting a reduction in the use of fuels such as heating oil, lignite and black coal and by ramping up district heating and renewable energy deployment.

Since 2010, the city has been buying certified green electricity, and since 2012 it has been helping all relevant stakeholders go green via a dedicated municipal agency. The Essen Climate Agency offers advisory services and works as a hub for consumers, companies, associations and other entities. It is also responsible organizing environmental projects and campaigns.

The European Green Capital award will be celebrated in Essen with over 300 activities throughout this year, including many activities involving local citizens.

Source: newsroom.unfccc.int

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