Vestas Secures 112 MW for Three Projects in France

02.12.2016

Obnovljivi izvori — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

French energy group EDF Énergies Nouvelles has placed firm and unconditional orders for a total of 112 MW for the 72.6 MW Champagne Picardie project, the 19.8 MW La Carnoye wind park and the 20 MW Bois de Belfays project, consisting of V126-3.45 MW, V117-3.45 MW and V90-2.0 MW turbines respectively. The wind parks will be located in the French regions of Picardie, le Pas de Calais and Les Vosges with turbine delivery planned for the second quarter of 2017.

The contract for Bois de Belfays includes a 20-year Active Output Management Agreement (AOM) 4000 service agreement; while Champagne Picardie and La Carnoye include two-year AOM 4000 service agreements to optimise wind turbine performance and leverage the power plant’s production.

Marco Graziano, President of Vestas Mediterranean, said “EDF EN’s new orders show that our partnership is solid and highlight how Vestas’ versatile product portfolio includes wind solutions for sites across all wind classes. We are very pleased that the orders also see EDF EN adding the V126-3.45 MW to their broad turbine portfolio”.

The Master Supply Agreement between Vestas and EDF Énergies Nouvelles includes onshore wind turbine installations in Europe and United States during the period 2016-2019. As of today, Vestas has delivered 3.14 GW globally and 296 MW in France to EDF Énergies Nouvelles.

Source: vestas.com

Renewables Continue to Grow in the EU, but Member States Need to Step up Ambition on Energy Savings

02.12.2016

The EU Member States have lowered their energy consumption in recent years, despite a slight increase in 2015. At the same time, they use more and more renewable energy. Overall, the 28 Member States are collectively well on their way to meeting their 2020 targets on renewables, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. However, continuing current trends will fall short of longer term objectives, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published today.

The day after the European Commission proposed a package to boost clean energy, the EEA presented a new assessment of the progress made by EU Member States in meeting their existing 2020 targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency. This analysis is included in the report ‘Trends and Projections in Europe 2016: Tracking progress towards Europe climate and energy targets’. The EEA report is supported by country profiles on energy and climate, providing detailed data at national level.

‘Our report ‘Trends and projections in Europe 2016’ shows that the EU’s 2020 targets on energy and climate are now well within reach. But certain trends are alarming, in particular for transport. In that sector, renewable energy use remains insufficient and greenhouse gas emissions are rising again,’ said Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director. ‘The way forward is clear: Member States must step up national ambition and efforts to achieve the 2020 and 2030 EU targets, and to keep the EU on a path to a low-carbon, competitive and circular economy by 2050.’

On track for 2020 targets

By 2020, 20 % of the EU’s gross final energy consumption should come from renewable sources. Preliminary estimates for 2015 show that the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption continued to increase, reaching a level of 16.4 %. This is up from 16.0 % in 2014. Twenty two Member States (all except France, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal) are on track to achieve or exceed the levels of renewable energy set in their national action plans.

The EU’s 2020 target on energy efficiency corresponds to a 13 % reduction of primary energy consumption compared with the 2005 level. Preliminary estimates show that the EU’s energy consumption in 2015 was 11 % below 2005, despite a 1 % increase between 2014 and 2015. The EU remains on track to achieve its 2020 energy efficiency target. Except for Estonia, Malta and Sweden, all EU Member States are on course to meet their targets on primary energy consumption. However, Member States show an overall lack of ambition with regard to their 2020 energy efficiency targets.

More work needed for 2030 and 2050 goals

To achieve the more ambitious longer-term energy and decarbonization goals set by the EU for 2050, current efforts will have to be considerably stepped up, according to the EEA report. The EU can achieve its 2030 target on renewables if the current pace across Europe is maintained. However, this will require additional efforts because regulatory changes affect investors’ confidence in renewables, while market barriers persist. Similarly, achieving the 2030 target on energy efficiency will require effective implementation of energy efficiency measures as well as a rapid change in consumer behaviour.

Source: eea.europa.eu

Four major cities move to ban diesel vehicles by 2025

02.12.2016

The leaders of four major global cities say they will stop the use of all diesel-powered cars and trucks by the middle of the next decade. The mayors of Paris, Mexico City, Madrid and Athens say they are implementing the ban to improve air quality. They say they will give incentives for alternative vehicle use and promote walking and cycling. The commitments were made in Mexico at a biennial meeting of city leaders.

The use of diesel in transport has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, as concerns about its impact on air quality have grown. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that around three million deaths every year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution.

Diesel engines contribute to the problem in two key ways – through the production of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Very fine soot PM can penetrate the lungs and can contribute to cardiovascular illness and death. Nitrogen oxides can help form ground level ozone and this can exacerbate breathing difficulties, even for people without a history of respiratory problems.

As the evidence has mounted, environmental groups have used the courts to try and enforce clear air standards and regulations. In the UK, campaigners have recently had success in forcing the government to act more quickly.

Now, mayors from a number of major cities with well known air quality problems have decided to use their authority to clamp down on the use of diesel.

Source: bbc.com

Renewable Energy in US Gained 24 Percent Through First Nine Months of 2016

01.12.2016

The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) on Nov. 29 released electric generation statistics through the end of September 2016. Generation from geothermal, solar, and wind energy increased by 24 percent compared with the first nine months of 2015. Non-hydro renewable energy, including biomass, has made up 8.5 percent of U.S. electric generation thus far in 2016.

Overall, renewable energy sources, including hydro-electric power, made up 15.1 percent of total U.S. electric generation through the first nine months of 2016. This is down from 16.9 percent during the first half of 2016 (with 9.2 percent from non-hydro renewables), but still far ahead of 2015. Non-hydro renewable energy is still expected to be over 9 percent of total generation by the end of the year, up from 7.6 percent in 2015.

Through the first nine months of 2016, total power generation in the U.S. is down by roughly one half percent, while consumption is down by about 1 percent, most significantly from the industrial sector. This has enabled renewables to gain a significant market share.

Coal generation had been floundering through the first half of 2016, down by over 20 percent compared with the first half of 2015. Coal has since made up some ground, but is still down over 13 percent compared with the first nine months of 2015. Even though the new administration has promised to revive the coal industry in the years ahead, the numbers don’t paint a positive picture.

Source: renewableenergyworld.com

India Just Fired Up The World’s Largest Solar Plant To Power 150,000 Homes

01.12.2016

Things are heating up in India, where one of the world’s top polluting countries has unveiled the world’s largest solar power plant. The 648-megawatt project in Kamuthi, Tamil Nadu stole the title from California’s 550MW Topaz Solar Farm, making it the largest solar power plant located on a single site. India’s newest solar plant, which was built on a speedy timeline of just eight months, is largely self-maintaining, with a host of solar-powered robots that clean the solar panels, keeping efficiency rates high and human effort to a minimum.

India has been working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and install more renewable energy projects to help slash air pollution. The Kamuthi Solar Power Project, funded by Adani Power and running since September 21, contributes to that aim in a significant way. Once the plant is fully operational, it is expected to generate enough energy to power 150,000 households. The $679-million solar power facility contains 2.5 million individual solar cells and spans across 1,270 acres in southern India. Al Jazeera posted a short video (embedded above) that appears to contain drone footage of the expansive solar power project from various angles.

Opening the world’s largest solar power plant is part of India’s broader plan to power 60 million homes with solar power by 2022. These efforts support the government’s energy goals, which target increasing clean energy production to 40 percent of the nation’s power needs by 2030. The new solar power plant is a big leap forward, as it makes India’s total installed solar capacity exceed 10 GW for the first time – but many more solar projects will need to come online in order for the country to meet its renewable energy goals.

Source: inhabitat.com

Sun Setting on Japan’s Solar Energy Boom

01.12.2016

The sun is setting on Japan’s clean-energy boom, despite projects like a massive floating solar farm near Tokyo, as the government cuts subsidies and bets on nuclear and coal-fired power, critics say.

Workers at the floating power station, one of the world’s biggest, have just finished laying about 50,000 interconnected panels on a vast dam reservoir.

Taking up space equivalent to several Tokyo Dome-sized baseball stadiums, the vast carpet of panels will supply power to about 5,000 homes from early 2018.

The project is the centerpiece of a solar-dominated wave of renewable energy investments that followed the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The accident forced the shutdown of reactors that had supplied about one-quarter of resource-poor Japan’s energy.

To plug the gap, electricity providers have been obliged since 2012 to buy power generated from green suppliers, including solar, at above-market rates -known as feed-in tariffs – fixed by the government each year.

But renewable energy investments have plateaued and are set to fall in the coming years as Tokyo cuts back subsidies while commodities including coal, oil and natural gas remain cheap.

Japan is also facing a shortage of land for new solar installations. Kyocera, which is behind the floating farm south of Tokyo, is building a solar plant on an abandoned golf course.

“Several dynamics in the Japanese power sector have shifted since (2012) – such as weakening government support, cheaper fuel alternatives and electricity sector reform – which have all contributed to the slowdown in growth,” BMI Research said in a report.

Source: solardaily.com

OMV Group Report January – September and Q3 2016

01.12.2016

“OMV continues to deliver on its strategic targets. We further optimized our portfolio by selling a 49% stake in Gas Connect Austria, the gas transportation business. This will bring us sales proceeds of EUR 601 mn at closing in Q4/16. We also continued to optimize our North Sea portfolio. OMV signed an agreement for the sale of 100% of the shares in its wholly owned Upstream subsidiary, OMV UK, to Siccar Point Energy Limited for up to USD 1 bn.

In the third quarter, OMV also continued to stringently implement its cost reduction program. OMV will achieve cost reductions of EUR 100 mn in 2016 and EUR 150 mn in 2017. In Upstream, we continue to focus our investments on projects delivering profitable barrels. This enabled OMV to reduce its CAPEX program from the initially targeted EUR 2.4 bn to EUR 2.0 bn in 2016. In 2017, we now plan to invest EUR 2.2 bn, a decrease of EUR 200 mn.

All our efforts are reflected in OMV’s resilient earnings development despite the continuously challenging market environment. OMV delivered a robust clean CCS EBIT of EUR 415 mn in Q3/16. Moreover, OMV generated a positive cash flow, with an operating cash flow of EUR 652 mn and a free cash flow of EUR 239 mn.”- said Rainer Seele, CEO of OMV.

These are results:

Q3/16: Clean CCS EBIT at EUR 415 mn; clean CCS net income attributable to stockholders at EUR 447 mn

Positive free cash flow after dividends at EUR 239 mn in Q3/16

Upstream production of 301 kboe/d

Robust clean CCS EBIT contribution from Downstream Oil and Downstream Gas

Sale agreement for 49% stake in Gas Connect Austria signed

OMV divests its wholly owned Upstream subsidiary in the UK for up to USD 1 bn

Source: omv.com

Car Giants Team Up To Build Ultra-Fast EV Charge Network Across Europe

01.12.2016

Elektromobil, Punjač — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Several of the biggest names in the global car industry have clubbed together to launch plans for an extensive new ultra-fast charging network across Europe, in a bid to encourage the mass-market take-up of electric vehicles.

BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group – which also includes Audi and Porsche – have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to start developing a high-powered DC charging network for battery electric vehicles from next year covering long distance travel routes.

The joint venture is expected to cost around €1bn in total, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The companies described the agreement as “an important step towards facilitating mass-market battery electric vehicle adoption”.

Announced yesterday, the “unprecedented” joint industry venture aims to roll out an initial 400 charging stations across Europe, but the companies said expansion would continue so customers would be able to access thousands of charging points by 2020.

The aim, they said, is to enable long-distance travel for EV drivers through open-network charging stations along highways and major thoroughfares, which until now has not been possible.

The network is also expected to evolve to “be as convenient as refuelling at conventional gas stations”, according to BMW Group.

“This high-power charging network provides motorists with another strong argument to move towards electric mobility,” Harald Krüger, chairman of the board of management of BMW, said in a statement. “The BMW Group has initiated numerous public charging infrastructure projects over the last years. The joint project is another major milestone clearly demonstrating that competitors are combining forces to ramp-up e-mobility.”

The network is to be based on combined charging system (CCS) standard technology, which delivers “signifcantly faster” charging than current AC and DC standards.
Electric cars capable of accepting the CCS’ 350kW full power charging will be able to recharge – regardless of the car brand – at all of the planned charge stations “in a fraction of the time” compared to today’s EVs, the companies explained.

The CCS standard is compatible with all current and future EVs from the joint venture firms, alongside Fiat-Chrysler and Hyundai.

In the UK, carmaker Nissan has said it expects EV charge points to outnumber petrol stations in the UK by the 2020s, while the government last week announced an additional £390m funding to help build the UK’s position as a ‘leader’ in the adoption of EVs.

Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, said reliable, ultra-fast charging infrastructure was important for mass consumer adoption and “has the potential to transform the possibilities for electric driving”.

“Ford is committed to developing vehicles and technologies that make people’s lives better, and this charging network will make it easier and more practical for customers across Europe to own electrified vehicles,” added Fields.

As equal partners in the joint venture, the carmakers plan to make “substantial” investments to create the network, although other car manufacturers outside the agreement are also being encouraged to participate in the network to help benefit EV customers.

Commenting on the agreement, chairman of Audi AG’s board of management, Rupert Stadler, said: “With this cooperation we want to boost a broader market adoption of e-mobility and speed up the shift towards emission-free driving.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Clean Energy for All Europeans – unlocking Europe’s growth potential

30.11.2016

The European Commission today presents a package of measures to keep the European Union competitive as the clean energy transition is changing the global energy markets.

The Commission wants the EU to lead the clean energy transition, not only adapt to it. For this reason the EU has committed to cut CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 while modernising the EU’s economy and delivering on jobs and growth for all European citizens. Today’s proposals have three main goals: putting energy efficiency first, achieving global leadership in renewable energies and providing a fair deal for consumers.

The Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said: “Today’s package will boost the clean energy transition by modernising our economy. Having led the global climate action in recent years, Europe is now showing example by creating the conditions for sustainable jobs, growth and investment. Today’s proposals touch upon all clean energy related sectors: research and innovation, skills, buildings, industry, transport, digital, finance to name but a few. These measures will equip all European citizens and businesses with the means to make the most of the clean energy transition.”

Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “Our proposals provide a strong market pull for new technologies, set the right conditions for investors, empower consumers, make energy markets work better and help us meet our climate targets. I’m particularly proud of the binding 30% energy efficiency target, as it will reduce our dependency on energy imports, create jobs and cut more emissions. Europe is on the brink of a clean energy revolution. And just as we did in Paris, we can only get this right if we work together. With these proposals, the Commission has cleared the way to a more competitive, modern and cleaner energy system. Now we count on European Parliament and our Member States to make it a reality.”

The Commission’s “Clean Energy for All Europeans” proposals are designed to showt hat the clean energy transition is the growth sector of the future – that’s where the smart money is. Clean energies in 2015 attracted global investment of over 300 billion euros. The EU is well placed to use our research, development and innovation policies to turn this transition into a concrete industrial opportunity. By mobilising up to 177 billion euros of public and private investment per year from 2021, this package can generate up to 1% increase in GDP over the next decade and create 900,000 new jobs.

The Clean Energy for All Europeans legislative proposals cover energy efficiency, renewable energy, the design of the electricity market, security of electricity supply and governance rules for the Energy Union. In addition the Commission proposes a new way forward for Ecodesign as well as a strategy for connected and automated mobility.

The package also includes actions to accelerate clean energy innovation and to renovate Europe’s buildings. It provides measures to encourage public and private investment, promote EU industrial competitiveness and mitigate the societal impact of the clean energy transition. We are also exploring ways in which the EU can show further leadership in clean energy technology and services to help third countries achieve their policy goals.

Source: europa.eu

EBRD and EIB provide €46.5 million loan each for power transmission in Tunisia

30.11.2016

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) – the EU Bank – are supporting vital developments required for a reliable and efficient operation of the electricity transmission grid in Tunisia.

Both EBRD and EIB will be providing a sovereign-guaranteed loan of up to €46.5 million each to Société Tunisienne de L’électricité et du Gaz (STEG), a state-owned utility company.

The company is the backbone of the Tunisian energy sector, which is in urgent need of investment to improve the security of supply.

The sovereign-guaranteed financing will be used to reinforce and strengthen the electricity transmission network, in order to enhance its efficiency and reliability and prepare the grid for additional generation capacity including renewables.

The investment in the new electricity transmission network will alleviate Tunisia’s acute energy shortages. Higher efficiency will lead to an increase in energy savings, estimated to be around 170,000MWh, and expected carbon savings of around 85,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The EIB has first invested alongside STEG in 1995 and has invested to date €1.5 billion in the electricity and gas sectors in Tunisia. “The sector of energy is a key priority for the EU Bank EIB”, said Vice-President Roman Escolano. “Tunisia’s electricity transmission provisions need to be reinforced and extended for today and in anticipation of increased demand. While virtually all of Tunisia’s residents are connected to the national grid, this project will improve transmission efficiency, cater for the connection of new generating capacity from renewable sources and increase the possibilities for regional interconnections. Further environmental benefits will be brought to the table through reduced losses and improved reliability and quality of supply.”

Tunisia became a member of the EBRD in 2012 and to date the Bank has invested more than €350 million across 25 projects in various sectors of the economy. The EBRD’s strategic plan for the period 2016-18 has three priorities: strengthening economic resilience, addressing global challenges and supporting regional integration.

Source: ebrd.com

Reports: China To Spend $174bn On Wind And Hydro By 2020

30.11.2016

China has unveiled plans to spend at least 1.2tr yuan ($174bn) on wind and hydro power over the next five years as it doubles down on efforts to green its energy system.

Documents released by the National Energy Administration (NEA) on Tuesday and reported by Reuters set out a blueprint for scaling the two clean energy industries.

Some 700bn yuan ($101bn) of this will be spend on new wind power, creating around 300,000 jobs in the country and cutting more than 380 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by the end of the decade, according to the NEA.

China is already the world’s leading installer of wind power, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggesting in September the country is building wind turbines at a rate of two every hour – double that of the United States.

In its draft 13th Five-Year Plan released earlier this year China said it plans to boost wind capacity from 145GW in 2015 to 250GW by the end of the decade, alongside vast increases in nuclear and solar energy generation.
However, pressure is mounting on the government to do more to address the oversupply of energy in the country, which is contributing to high levels of curtailment of clean energy.

Source: businessgreen.com

French nuclear power in ‘worst situation ever’, says former EDF director

30.11.2016

nuclear-power-plant — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

In the week Britain exports electricity to France for first time in four years, Gérard Magnin says renewable power will match Hinkley Point C on cost.

Gérard Magnin, who called Hinkley “very risky” when he resigned as a board member over the project in July, told the Guardian that with more than a dozen French reactors closed over safety checks and routine maintenance, circumstances for the state-owned EDF had deteriorated since he stepped down.

The closures have seen Britain this week exporting electricity to France for the first time in four years. An industry report on Tuesday also warned that the offline reactors could lead to a “tense situation” for energy supply in France, in the event of a cold snap this winter.

The situation is likely to be exacerbated by damage during Storm Angus to the main cable that carries electricity back and forth between the UK and France. It is believed a boat dropping anchor during the storm may have been responsible but National Grid is investigating the cause and working to repair the Interconnexion France-Angleterre, which is buried in the seabed and heavily armoured.

The operator said that four of the eight cables in the interconnector had been damaged, reducing its capacity from 2,000MW to 1,000MW until February next year. It added that due to the French reactor closures, it had already factored in a reduction in energy supplies from France this winter.

Magnin said that instead of backing new nuclear, the UK and France should capitalise on falling wind and solar power costs and help individuals and communities to build and run their own renewable energy projects. He founded an association of cities switching to green energy, joined the EDF board in 2014, and is now director of a renewable energy co-op in France.

“The most surprising [thing] for me is the attitude of the UK government which accepts the higher cost of electricity … in a time where the costs of renewables is decreasing dramatically,” he said. “In 10 years [when Hinkley Point C is due to be completed], the cost of renewables will have fallen again a lot.”

Of the Hinkley C design, known as the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR), Magnin said: “A lot of people in EDF have known for a long time the EPR has no future – too sophisticated, too expensive – but they assume their commitments and try to save the face of France.”

The UK’s business department conceded in September that by the time Hinkley is operational the price of electricity guaranteed to EDF will be above the comparable costs for large-scale solar and onshore windfarms. Officials argued that using renewables instead would cost more in grid upgrades and balancing the intermittent nature of wind and solar.

“Identifying the problems facing France and the UK this winter only goes to highlight the importance of investing in new capacity. Events across the Channel have shown that relying on old capacity is risky, with France’s nuclear plants proving as unreliable as our coal-fired ones,” said Dr Jonathan Marshall, an energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a UK-based thinktank.

“At home, turning to old and dirty coal plants is not a long-term solution, so encouraging investment in new lower-carbon kit – solar, wind and a small amount of new gas capacity – should be at the top of the government’s list of priorities.”

Source: theguardian.com

Researchers Retract Study Suggesting Pro-Nuclear Countries Lag On Clean Energy

30.11.2016

Researchers from the University of Sussex and the Vienna School of International Studies have retracted a controversial study published this summer which suggested pro-nuclear countries have been slower to embrace renewable energy than their nuclear-free counterparts.

The study, which was conducted by two researchers from the University of Sussex and one from the Vienna School of International Studies, was published by the journal Climate Policy in July 2016.

The researchers issued a formal retraction of the paper late last week after “two serious errors” were discovered which invalidate the researchers’ conclusions. “Together, the errors have the effect of invalidating this particular analysis concerning the relative performance of nuclear-committed European countries in wider climate change,” the retraction notice reads.

The original paper looked at the progress of European countries towards cutting carbon emissions and increasing their share of renewable energy under the EU’s 2020 Strategy. It suggested nuclear-free countries such as Denmark and Norway have made the most progress towards their climate targets, while pro-nuclear countries such as France and the UK have been slower to tackle emissions and roll out clean energy sources.

Although the researchers cautioned against assuming a causal link, they claimed at the time the results “cast significant doubts” on the role of nuclear energy in decarbonising the energy mix.

The University of Sussex has conducted an enquiry into the papers’ erroneous findings, and said it is “confident” the errors were “the result of failure of process and not academic dishonesty”. “The authors are very clear that these were honest mistakes and have acted quickly to clarify these errors and mitigate their effects,” it added in a statement. “While corrections and retractions are a common part of academic life, we would like to apologise to any readers of the original paper or press release for these mistakes.”

The authors of the study are now working to submit the reanalysed data to a journal at a later date, the University said.

Source: businessgreen.com

Unique Engineering Feat Concluded as Chernobyl Arch Has Reached Resting Place

29.11.2016

A ceremony in Chernobyl today marked the successful conclusion of the sliding operation, a key milestone before the finalization of the international programme to transform Chernobyl into an environmentally safe and secure state by November 2017. Thirty years after the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, the radioactive remains of the power plant’s destroyed reactor 4 have been safely enclosed following one of the world’s most ambitious engineering projects.

Chernobyl’s giant New Safe Confinement (NSC) was moved over a distance of 327 metres from its assembly point to its final resting place, completely enclosing a previous makeshift shelter that was hastily assembled immediately after the 1986 accident.

The equipment in the New Safe Confinement will now be connected to the new technological building which will serve as a control room for future operations inside the arch. The New Safe Confinement will be sealed off from the environment hermetically. Finally, after intensive testing of all equipment and commissioning, handover of the New Safe Confinement to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant administration is expected in November 2017.

Sir Suma Chakrabarti, EBRD President, commented: “We welcome this milestone in the process of the transformation of Chernobyl as a symbol of what we can achieve jointly with strong, determined and long-term commitment. We applaud our Ukrainian partners and the contractor and we thank all donors to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund whose contributions have made today’s success possible. The spirit of cooperation gives us confidence that the project will be completed on time and within budget a year from now.”

Igor Gramotkin, Director-General of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, said: “We were not building this arch for ourselves. We were building it for our children, for our grandchildren and for our great-grandchildren. This is our contribution to the future, in line with our responsibility for those who will come after us.”

The Chernobyl arch is the largest moveable land-based structure ever built, with a span of 257 metres, a length of 162 metres, a height of 108 metres and a total weight of 36,000 tonnes equipped. It will make the accident site safe and with a lifetime of 100 years allow for the eventual dismantling of the ageing makeshift shelter from 1986 and the management of the radioactive waste.

The structure was built by Novarka, a consortium of the French construction firms VINCI Construction and Bouygues Construction. Works started in 2010. With a cost of €1.5 billion the giant structure is the most prominent element of the Shelter Implementation Plan for Chernobyl, which involved more than 300 projects and activities. The €2.1 billion programme is financed by the Chernobyl Shelter Fund. Established in 1997, the Fund has received more than € 1.5 billion from 45 donors to date. The EBRD manages the Fund and is the largest contributor to the New Safe Confinement project.

Source: ebrd.com

Participants Endorse ‘Ashgabat Statement’ as First-Ever UN Conference on Sustainable Transport Ends

29.11.2016

The first-ever United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference concluded few days ago in the Turkmen capital, with more than 50 countries endorsing the ‘Ashgabat Statement on Commitments and Policy Recommendations,’ with a view to supporting cleaner, greener transportation – from local transit systems to worldwide multimodal networks.

“The Conference has reinforced the importance of sustainable transport and has shown it is a shared global task,” said Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, at the closing ceremony.

“Sustainable transport solutions are key to leaving no one behind, securing prosperity, enabling access to services and protecting the environment,” concluded Mr. Wu, noting that “without sustainable transport, there will be no lasting progress on climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

The Conference, which opened yesterday, brought together key stakeholders from Governments, the UN system and other international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to engage in a dialogue that emphasizes the integrated and cross-cutting nature of sustainable transport and its multiple roles in supporting the achievement of the SDGs. All modes of transport – road, rail, aviation, ferry and maritime – were addressed.

Source: un.org

Japan Fukushima Nuclear Plant ‘Clean-Up Costs Double’

29.11.2016

Japan’s government estimates the cost of cleaning up radioactive contamination and compensating victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster has more than doubled, reports say.

The latest estimate from the trade ministry put the expected cost at some 20 trillion yen ($180bn, £142bn).The original estimate was for $50bn, which was increased to $100bn three years later. The nuclear meltdown at Fukushima was triggered by an earthquake and tsunami. The powerful quake and waves that followed left more than 18,000 people dead, tens of thousands more displaced and well over a million buildings destroyed or damaged. Almost 4,000 roads, 78 bridges and 29 railways were also affected.

Aftershock

The majority of the money will go towards compensation, with decontamination taking the next biggest slice. Storing the contaminated soil and decommissioning are the two next greatest costs.The compensation pot has been increased by about 50% and decontamination estimates have been almost doubled. The BBC’s Japan correspondent, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, says it is still unclear who is going to pay for the clean up. Japan’s government has long promised that Tokyo Electric Power, the company that owns the plant, will eventually pay the money back.

But on Monday it admitted that electricity consumers would be forced to pay a portion of the clean up costs through higher electricity bills. Critics say this is effectively a tax on the public to pay the debt of a private electricity utility. The fault that caused the earthquake and tsunami is still causing trouble. Last week, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. Japan’s scientists said this was a strong aftershock of the massive 2011 quake. This time, Japan escaped with only a few reports of minor injuries, and tsunami waves of over 1m.

Source: bbc.com

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