IAEA Concludes Safety Review at Armenian Nuclear Power Plant

08.12.2016

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of nuclear safety experts yesterday completed an assessment of long-term operational safety at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP).

The Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation (SALTO) review was requested by the ANPP, located in Metsamor, 36 kilometres west of the capital, Yerevan. The in-depth review, which began on 28 November, focused on aspects essential to the safe long-term operation of the plant.

The plant has applied to the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA) to extend power-generation beyond the end of 2016. The reactor accounts for 35 to 40 per cent of Armenia’s electricity production.

The SALTO team reviewed the plant’s organization and programmes related to its long-term operation, including human resources and knowledge management. The findings of SALTO reviews are based on the IAEA Safety Standards.

The team identified several good practices and performances at the plant that will be shared with the nuclear industry globally, including:

The plant’s seismic qualification programme.

A management and operational succession plan for 27 safety-critical roles at the plant.

The plant’s safety upgrade modification programme.

The team provided a number of recommendations for improvements to long-term operational safety, including:

The plant should develop and implement methodology to ensure all safety-related systems are assessed for long-term operation and fully document the results.

The plant should fully document its preparations for long-term operation to ensure that all safety aspects are covered.

The plant should ensure that relevant mechanical components are periodically re-evaluated during long-term operation.

The Armenian plant management said it was committed to implementing the recommendations and requested that the IAEA schedule a follow-up mission in approximately 18 months.

The team handed a draft of the review report to the plant management. The review, including any comments from the plant and ANRA, will be reviewed at IAEA headquarters. A final report will be submitted to the plant, to the ANRA and the Armenian government within three months.

The review team comprised experts from Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, India, Ukraine and the IAEA.

Source: iaea.org

IKEA Group Announces Fresh €1bn Push to Secure Supplies of Sustainable Materials

08.12.2016

IKEA Group has revealed plans to invest a further €1bn in securing long term supplies of sustainable materials by backing projects in forestry, recycling, renewable energy, and biomaterial development.

The retail giant today published its annual sustainability report for 2016, including plans for what IKEA refers to as a €1bn ‘financial frame’ focused on delivering more sustainable supplies of materials.

The company said the new investment takes total investments earmarked for sustainability programs in recent years to €3bn, including €1.5bn invested in wind and solar projects since 2009 and a further €600m allocated for future renewable energy projects.

The report also confirms IKEA Group brought new wind farms in Poland and US online in the past year, meaning it generated renewable energy equivalent to 71 per cent of its energy use in the past fiscal year. The company said the latest projects meant it had made “strong progress” towards its goal of producing as much energy as it consumes in its operations by 2020.

Peter Agnefjäll, president and CEO at IKEA Group, said there were “many opportunities ahead for forward-thinking businesses to contribute to, and benefit from, the development of the low-carbon economy”.

The report confirms that IKEA completed the switch of its entire lighting range to LEDs during 2016, while also launching home solar offers in three markets and sourcing all cotton and 61 per cent of wood used for IKEA products from more sustainable sources.

Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer at IKEA Group, said the company had made “significant progress” towards its People & Planet targets, but added that “there is still more to do”.

“We want to lead with passion and purpose towards a more sustainable and equal world,” he said.

Source: businessgreen.com

Secretariat Announces Support Measures for Regional Electricity Market Creation in the Western Balkans

07.12.2016

The Work Programme for the provision of technical assistance to Western Balkan 6 Contracting Parties for supporting the creation of a regional electricity market was published today. It is aimed at removing the existing legislative and regulatory barriers and enhancing the institutional structures necessary for the functioning of the market in line with the Energy Community Treaty. The project “Technical Assistance to Connectivity in the Western Balkans – Component 2: Regional Energy Market” is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Energy Community Secretariat.

The technical assistance to connectivity in the Western Balkans facilitates the implementation of a set of measures that the Contracting Parties committed to at the Western Balkan Summit in Vienna in 2015. The overriding focus of the project is on spot-market development, cross-border balancing and regional capacity allocation, as well as cross-cutting measures. The project was initiated in July 2016 and will last for two years. The Work Programme published today outlines the list of technical assistance services that will be provided to support the implementation of the priority measures both on a regional and a national basis.

The Secretariat’s next monitoring report, which takes stock of the progress made in creating the regional electricity market in the Western Balkans, will be published in mid-December.

To support the project’s activities, the Energy Community Secretariat has published a call for expression of interest in order to create a roster of short-term experts.

Source: energy-community.org

UNIDO Lecture Explores Integrated Energy Solutions

07.12.2016

“Energy is a key enabler of industrial development, and sustainable energy is a cross-cutting solution for social, economic and environmental sustainability,” said Pradeep Monga, Director of the Energy Department at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Monga was speaking at a lecture held on the sidelines of a training programme called Sustainable Energy Solutions 2016, which was organized by UNIDO in collaboration with the Energy Academy Europe (EAE) in Groningen, the Netherlands.

The lecture focused on exploring integrated energy solutions for a sustainable energy future in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and actions to address the threat of climate change.

Addressing around 60 students from the University of Groningen and Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Monga said: “Well-designed integrated energy solutions can simultaneously address the multiple sustainability challenges of our time. Therefore the modus operated should be ‘business unusual’, where focus is given to leveraging the mutually reinforcing nexus between energy, climate change, poverty reduction, social inclusion, and economic development.”

“UNIDO works to maximize the co-benefits of integrated energy solutions in achieving sustainable development through innovation, integration and partnerships,” he added.

Source: unido.org

Five West African Countries Ban ‘Dirty Diesel’ From Europe

07.12.2016

Five west African countries have announced measures to end the practice of European oil companies and traders exporting “African quality” diesel – highly polluting fuels that could never be sold in Europe.

Swiss commodity traders were accused in a report published in September by Swiss NGO Public Eye of exporting fuels to west Africa with sulphur levels that are sometimes hundreds of times higher than European levels.

The report accused oil companies of “regulatory arbitrage”, allowing traders and companies to exploit weak standards to export cheap, dirty fuels in a process that Public Eye said was maximising profits at the expense of African’s health. High-sulphur fuels are major contributors to respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma.

Last week Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast agreed to ban imports of high-sulphur diesel fuels as part of an initiative organised by the UN Environment Programme. Permitted levels of sulphur in imported diesel will fall from as high as 3,000 parts per million (ppm) in some of the countries to 50 ppm. In Europe the maximum has been 10 ppm since 2009.

There is nothing illegal about the practice exposed by Public Eye’s report, and the blending of fuels to achieve particular specifications before export is standard industry practice. Companies identified in the report said they comply with the fuel standards imposed by the governments they ship to, and support efforts, including those by the African Refiners Association, to improve fuel standards.

Erik Solheim, the head of UN Environment, said: “West Africa is sending a strong message that it is no longer accepting dirty fuels from Europe. Their decision to set strict new standards for cleaner, safer fuels and advanced vehicle emission standards shows they are placing the health of their people first.”

He said the decision set an example for others to follow, adding: “Air pollution is killing millions of people every year, and we need to ensure that all countries urgently introduce cleaner fuels and vehicles to help reduce the shocking statistics.”

Nigeria’s environment minister, Amina Mohammed, said the decision would lead to major improvements in air quality. “For 20 years Nigeria has not been able to address the vehicle pollution crisis due to the poor fuels we have been importing. Today we are taking a huge leap forward… this will result in major air quality benefits in our cities and will allow us to set modern vehicle standards.”

The five countries also agreed to upgrade their national refineries to bring locally produced diesel up to the same quality by 2020.

Oliver Classen, spokesman for Public Eye, said the decision to raise fuel standards following the report and campaign was encouraging. “The improvement of air quality in African cities and the protection of people’s health is possible. It needs neither rocket science, countless measures, or lengthy negotiations. But governments need to act and the time to act is now,” he said.

He called on the government of Switzerland, where most of the major commodity trading companies are headquartered, to impose “mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence standards”, adding: “It should cover the entire supply chain and including potentially damaging products.”

Many of the fuel exports revealed by Public Eye are shipped from Dutch ports, and the decision was praised by the Dutch foreign trade and development cooperation minister, Lilianne Ploumen.

“The recent report from the NGO Public Eye made abundantly clear that coordinated action is needed to stop the practice of exporting dirty fuels to west Africa,” said Ploumen. “I am very pleased west African governments quickly decided to introduce standards that will help accessing European standard quality fuels. Their people deserve cleaner air, better health and a cleaner environment.”

Source: theguardian.com

London Mayor To Double Funding To Tackle Air Pollution

07.12.2016

Campaigners, health charities and neighbourhood groups have welcomed plans by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, to more than double funding to clean up the capital’s dirty air.

London is one of the most polluted of dozens of cities in the UK that breach EU standards on nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas caused by diesel vehicles. Air pollution has been linked to nearly 9,500 premature deaths in the city each year.

Funding for air quality measures over the next five years will be more than doubled to £875m, under plans announced on Wednesday, up from the £425m committed under the former mayor Boris Johnson.

If approved at a Transport for London board meeting next week, most of the money – £312m – will be spent on cleaning up TfL’s 9,300-strong bus fleet. A further £65m will be used to compensate and encourage taxi drivers to switch from the oldest black cabs – those more than 10 years old – to new ones capable of zero emissions, meaning they will either run on batteries or hydrogen.

Local neighbourhood schemes will receive £14m for tackling some of the worst pollution hotspots outside the city centre. Plans will also be published next year to cut the number of buses running along Oxford Street, which researchers have said has the worst NO2 pollution in the world.

Khan said: “With nearly 10,000 Londoners dying early every year due to air pollution, tackling poor air quality is a public health emergency that requires bold action. I want London to be a world leader in how we respond to the challenge of cleaning up our air, and today I’m announcing that TfL will be doubling spending on improving London’s air over the next five years.”

The new money comes days after the mayors of four major world cities – Paris, Madrid, Athens and Mexico City – pledged to ban diesel cars by 2025.

Khan’s plans stops short of that, though the mayor is bringing in an “ultra low emissions zone” a year earlier than planned and has more than doubled its size. Owners of older diesel cars will have to pay £12.50 on top of the existing congestion charge to enter the zone.

The extra funding was welcomed by campaigners, though some called on the mayor to go further and ban diesel vehicles.

“Good job Sadiq,” said Simon Birkett, founder and director of Clean Air in London, but added: “We won’t be happy though till you ban diesel in London by 2020.”

Friends of the Earth London campaigner Sophie Neuburg said: “This cash injection from the mayor is great news for Londoners forced to suffer the impacts of the capital’s filthy air.” But she also called for Khan to follow the other cities and ban diesel vehicles.

Dr Samantha Walker, Asthma UK’s director of research and policy, said: “It is clear that action is needed and we welcome the extra investment to help clean up the air we breathe.”

The mayor also repeated his call on the government to do more to improve air quality, including introducing a scrappage scheme for the most polluting cars, a measure that officials have ruled out. On Tuesday, children and the British Lung Foundation delivered a petition signed by more than 20,000 people to 10 Downing Street urging more action on dirty air.

Source: theguardian.com

IAEA Mission Says Italy Committed to Nuclear Oversight; Needs to Further Develop Policies on Decommissioning and Waste Management

07.12.2016

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of safety experts said Italy is committed to effective nuclear regulatory oversight but faces challenges related to resources and needs to further develop policies for nuclear safety, decommissioning and managing radioactive waste.

The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team today concluded a 12-day mission to assess Italy’s regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety. The mission was hosted by the Government and the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), which is responsible for nuclear and radiation safety regulation in the country.

Italy’s four nuclear power reactors are in the process of being decommissioned. Italy also has five research reactors and utilizes radioactive sources in medical, industrial and research applications. The government has a plan to construct a facility for disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive waste and long term storage of high level waste.

“During our IRRS mission, strong leadership in safety and a very committed staff was evident,” said team leader Ingemar Lund, Senior Adviser of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. “We hope our recommendations can contribute to further development of the Italian system for the regulation of protection and safety”

IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each State to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

The IRRS team said Italy has a regulatory framework for safety in place and identified several good practices while also making recommendations and suggestions aimed at improving regulatory functions. A new regulatory body, the Inspectorate for Radiation Safety and Radiation Protection, will be in place in the near future.

The experts said the major challenges for Italy are insufficient resources for the regulatory body to perform its functions and the need to implement strategies and plans for decommissioning and building a disposal facility for radioactive waste.

The IRRS mission comprised 14 experts from Sweden, France, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Slovenia, Cuba, Luxembourg, Spain, Hungary and four IAEA staff members.

Meetings were organised with the State Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection. The activities of the team included observations of regulatory activities, interviews and discussions with staff from ISPRA, the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health, the Prefecture of Rome, of the National Civil Protection Department of Piemonte Region. The experts visited a radioactive waste management facility, a research reactor, a medical facility and a nuclear power plant under decommissioning. They observed inspection activities and held discussions with licensee personnel and management.

Stefano Laporta, Director General of ISPRA, said: “The effort made by ISPRA staff to conduct the self-assessment and to host the IRRS mission as well as the commendable work done by the IRRS team will provide very useful bases for further improving our national regulatory system for nuclear safety and radiation protection.”

The IRRS team identified a number of good practices, including:

– The use of the “state of the art” standards in the field of decommissioning and waste management.

– The development and use of a comprehensive data base and related tools for analysing transport safety issues.

– The Italian system for education and training of qualified experts which is of high quality in radiation protection.

The mission provided recommendations and suggestions for improvements, including:

– The Government should continue to develop national policies and strategies for safety, decommissioning and radioactive waste management;

– Complete the legal framework in regards to approval of technical services, establishment of national data bases related to safety and improvements in aspects of the authorisation process;

– Provide the regulatory body with sufficient competent staff to carry out its responsibilities and duties.

– The regulatory body should develop an integrated management system;

– Strengthen the regulatory framework for review and assessment, authorization, inspection, emergency preparedness and response, and occupational and public exposure control;

– Improve communication strategies.

The final mission report will be provided to the Government about three months. Italian authorities told the IAEA they plan to make the report’s executive summary public.

Source: iaea.org

Albania Disposes of 160 Tonnes of Napalm Components as Part of OSCE Project

07.12.2016

The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Ministry of Defence held a ceremony on 6 December 2016, marking the completion of a joint project to destroy hazardous military chemicals. The Head of Presence, Ambassador Bernd Borchardt, Defence Minister Mimi Kodheli and representatives of OSCE participating States that have funded the project attended the event that took place at the Port of Durrës.

In the final phase of the project, some 160 tonnes of two napalm components – aluminium oxide and xylenol – that are already at the port premises in secure new packaging will be shipped to France for final disposal.

The OSCE Presence has been assisting Albania in its efforts to safely destroy surplus conventional ammunition and dangerous toxic chemicals since 2008. In May 2015, the Presence helped destroy 116 tonnes of hazardous chemicals. Before that, the Presence helped to dispose of 60 tonnes of a toxic rocket fuel component known as mélange and 120 tonnes of dichloromethane, and provided equipment for the destruction of surplus ammunition.

In his address, Ambassador Borchardt thanked the OSCE participating States that have financially supported the demilitarization process in Albania, namely Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Turkey. He also congratulated the members of the Albanian Armed Forces Chemical Unit for their highly professional work throughout the years.

“As we continue to recognize the work being done by so many in the region to safely dispose of outdated military ordinance, we also encourage the regional development of Albania’s demilitarization model, to not only make the region safer but to also make best use of the existing infrastructure and the experienced workforce,” Borchardt said.

Quoting the words of the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier at a similar event in Qafë-Mollë, Albania, in May 2015, Borchardt said that the project demonstrated the mutual trust and effective co-operation between the Ministry of Defence and the OSCE Presence.

Source: osce.org

Commission Launches New Database on the Energy Performance of Buildings

07.12.2016

The European Commission has launched a new database on the EU’s building stock to monitor the energy performance of buildings across Europe. The database – called the EU Building Stock Observatory – provides information on buildings’ characteristics including their construction period, energy use, onsite renewable energy and renovation rates.

The Observatory tracks energy performance levels in buildings in individual EU countries and the EU as a whole; different energy certification schemes and how they are implemented; and energy poverty levels across the EU.

The new Observatory has been launched alongside a package of measures designed to speed-up the EU’s clean energy transition. The package, launched on 30 November, contained a proposal for a new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

The move aims to encourage the use of innovative and smart technologies to ensure that buildings operate efficiently and aims to boost renovation rates – which currently stand at just 1% of the total building stock.

The buildings sector accounts for 40% of Europe’s energy consumption, and some two-thirds of European buildings were built before energy performance standards even existed.

Source: ec.europa.eu

Why one Finnish City Thinks it’s Ideal for Next Tesla Gigafactory

07.12.2016

The Tesla “gigafactory” near Reno, Nevada, is already billed as the largest lithium-ion battery cell plant in the world. But Tesla has discussed plans for at least one additional gigafactory, presumably to meet demand for battery cells related to large-scale electric-car production outside the U.S.

One Finnish city is now making an official bid for that factory. The City of Vaasa, located on the country’s western coast, announced in a blog post Monday that it is preparing a proposal for the Tesla gigafactory.

“This is a good opportunity for the whole of Finland,” Mika Lintilä, Finland’s incoming Minister of Economic Affairs, said of the project, adding that he would support it “as much as possible.”

Vaasa officials believe the city has a good shot at landing the gigafactory because it is located near Kaustinen, location of the largest lithium deposits in Europe. The so-called “Vaasa energy cluster” will also provide Tesla with the necessary expertise to support its operations.

Vaasa is gathering a group of experts in relevant fields, such as engineering, logistics, and project management, to refine its proposal to Tesla. A more specific plan for the gigafactory project will be released by the city in the first quarter of 2017. Tesla has been mulling large-scale production in Europe for some time, and Vaasa isn’t the only location hoping to work with the automaker.

Earlier this year, French Energy Minister Segolene Royal offered the site of a decommissioned nuclear power plant to Tesla CEO Elon Musk has a possible site for an assembly plant. If Tesla follows through on plans for large-scale European car production, it may well need both an assembly plant and a gigafactory. As with the U.S. gigafactory, a European one would provide the economies of scale necessary to sell the 215-mile Model 3 sedan at mainstream prices.

Musk wants Tesla to be producing 500,000 electric cars per year by 2018, and large-scale European sales of the Model 3 would likely be a big help in meeting that goal.

Source: greencarreports.com

Google Hails ‘Business Sense’ of Going 100 Per Cent Renewable Powered in 2017

07.12.2016

Every Google search or Youtube video will soon be run entirely on renewable power, after the tech giant today announced it is on track to secure 100 per cent renewable energy for all its global operations next year.

In a blog post, Urs Hölzle, senior vice president for technical infrastructure at the company, confirmed all Google data centres and offices would be run using renewable power by the end of next year, with the company purchasing “enough wind and solar electricity annually to account for every unit of electricity our operations consume, globally”.

The move underlines Google’s position as both the largest corporate purchaser of renewable power in the world and a major investor in new clean energy capacity.

The company signed its first renewable energy purchasing agreement with in a 114MW wind farm in Iowa in 2010, and has since emerged as one of the world’s largest corporate investors in wind and solar projects – a trend Hölzle said would continue.

“We’re on track to match our global energy consumption on an annual basis by next year. But this is just the first step,” he wrote. “As we look to the immediate future, we’ll continue to pursue these direct contracts as we grow, with an even greater focus on regional renewable energy purchases in places where we have data centres and significant operations. Since the wind doesn’t blow 24 hours a day, we’ll also broaden our purchases to a variety of energy sources that can enable renewable power, every hour of every day. Our ultimate goal is to create a world where everyone – not just Google – has access to clean energy.”

Hölzle also stressed that the company’s investment in renewable energy was driven as much by “business sense” as environmental pressures.

“We began purchasing renewable energy to reduce our carbon footprint and address climate change — but it also makes business sense,” he wrote.

“Over the last six years, the cost of wind and solar came down 60 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively, proving that renewables are increasingly becoming the lowest cost option,” he added. “Electricity costs are one of the largest components of our operating expenses at our data centres, and having a long-term stable cost of renewable power provides protection against price swings in energy.”

Source: businessgreen.com

European Support for Cheaper and Cleaner Heat and Power in Lithuania

06.12.2016

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 190 million loan agreement with Lietuvos Energija for the greenfield construction of new combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant in Vilnius. The project is expected to lower municipal waste landfilling, decrease energy prices as well as cut emissions and improve the security of energy supply in the country. The EIB loan is guaranteed under the “Investment plan for Europe” of the Juncker Commission.

“Lithuania has a growing economy and an increased need for cleaner environment and efficient use of energy resources. I am glad that through the “Investment plan for Europe” the EIB can support Lietuvos Energija and the Lithuanian people in financing a key stepping stone to an improved security of supply, as well as more cleanly generated energy. The mission of the EIB is to improve the quality of life for citizens, for example by helping to reduce energy bills while also cutting pollution. Here I think we are doing just that”, said EIB’s Vice President Jan Vapaavuori.

The project consists of a biomass-fired and a waste-to-energy-fired CHP plant with total capacity of 88 MWe and 227 MWth supplying electricity to the national grid and heat to the district heating system in Vilnius. The plant will provide electricity to the national grid (413 GWh/y) and useful heat (1180 GWh/y) to the district heating system in Vilnius, thus ensuring a reliable heat supply at lower than current costs.

The CEO of Lietuvos Energija, Dr. Dalius Misiūnas, added: “EIB loan agreement is a crucial milestone in Vilnius CHP project. It will ensure that construction of the plant is going to be financed in accordance with the best terms. The fact that “Lietuvos Energija” is the first project to receive funding guaranteed under the Juncker Commission’s Investment Plan for Europe of shows the strategic importance of Vilnius CHP plant”.

The use of modern CHP technology the project will result in more environmentally friendly waste management and efficient generation of electricity and heat as well as lower CO2-emissions than fossil fuel plants. The project will increase the generation of electricity of local fuels in Lithuania, improving the security of supply and making the country less dependent on energy imports. The Project will be completed by 2018.

Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, responsible for Energy Union, said: “We encourage Lithuania to take advantage of the funding opportunities provided by the European Fund for Strategic Investments to finance projects which address its main challenges in the energy sector. In particular, we believe investments aimed at improving energy efficiency and fostering the competition in the local market hold the greatest long-term value for Lithuania’s economy. This project perfectly helps to achieve these twin objectives.”

Another expected outcome of the project is that less waste will go into landfills, as the waste remaining after sorting and treatment will be incinerated to generate heat and electricity. During the construction phase of the CHP plants around 750 person-years of employment will be created, while a further 75 permanent jobs will be needed for the running of the facilities.

Source: eib.org

KfW IPEX-Bank Finances new BMW Group Production Facility in Mexico

06.12.2016

Together with DZ BANK and BayernLB, KfW IPEX-Bank has closed the syndicated financing for the BMW Group’s new plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Each of the three banks is contributing an equal share to the total lending volume. The loan arranged by KfW IPEX-Bank has a tenor of 10 years. Given the new plant’s particularly good energy efficiency, it can be funded under KfW’s Energy Efficiency Programme. This marks the single biggest commitment ever made in connection with these programme loans.

“We are very pleased to be able to support BMW, our long-standing and esteemed business partner, with this key project, which sets new standards in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency,” commented Markus Scheer, member of the Management Board of KfW IPEX-Bank. “In this transaction we have made use of our years of experience and expertise when it comes to arranging and structuring large-volume financing.”

The new BMW Group plant being built in central Mexico is scheduled for completion by 2019. It involves a total investment volume of around USD 1 billion and will create at least 1,500 new jobs. The facility will produce the 3 Series Sedan, the BMW Group’s most successful model series, and its annual production capacity will reach some 150,000 vehicles.

With its innovative production system and comprehensive environmental standards, the plant in San Luis Potosí will be the BMW Group’s most resource-efficient production facility from its first full year of production. The plant will be supplied to 100% with CO2-free power, for instance through the use of renewable sources of energy. Much of the power will be generated by an on-site solar system.

The efficient use of water resources is also an important sustainability target in San Luis Potosí. Within the production network of the BMW Group the new plant will use the lowest volume of water per manufactured vehicle. The BMW Group will operate its first paint shop generating no process waste water, as the water required will be treated and reused.

Source: kfw-ipex-bank.de

Australia’s Energy Transmission Industry Calls for Carbon Trading

06.12.2016

elektricna-energija — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Australia’s electricity and gas transmission industry is calling on the Turnbull government to implement a form of carbon trading in the national electricity market by 2022 and review the scope for economy-wide carbon pricing by 2027.

Energy Networks Australia warns in a new report examining how to achieve zero net carbon emissions by 2050 that policy stability and regulatory certainty are the key to delivering lower power prices and reliable electricity supply.

While Tony Abbott once characterised carbon pricing as a wrecking ball through the Australian economy, the new report, backed by Csiro, says adopting an emissions intensity scheme is the least costly way of reducing emissions, and could actually save customers $200 a year by 2030.

The forceful intervention by the industry on Tuesday follows the Turnbull government on Monday flagging an emissions intensity trading scheme for the electricity sector as part of its scheduled review of its Direct Action climate policy.

Some stakeholders also believe the Finkel review into energy security and Australia’s climate commitments may also float the desirability of an emissions intensity scheme for the electricity sector when it presents its preliminary fundings to Friday’s Coag meeting of the prime minister and premiers.

But the difficulties for the government emerged immediately after the baseline and credit scheme was flagged by the energy and environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, on Monday when the chairman of the Coalition’s backbench committee, Craig Kelly, warned carbon trading was not Coalition policy and would not be accepted by the party room.

Energy Networks Australia has been working for two years on what it calls a policy roadmap to achieve zero emissions by 2050. A report to be released on Tuesday argues that the goal can be achieved but only with an integrated policy approach.

The report recommends that the government adopt an emissions intensity baseline and credit scheme for the electricity sector by 2022, and set a light-vehicle emissions standard policy to provide incentives for electric vehicle uptake.

The report also recommends policies that would allow an extensive rollout of smart meters, impose demand-based network tariffs – with a choice for customers to opt out – and pursue decentralisation of the grid, including standalone systems and micro-grids as a substitute for traditional delivery models.

It notes that the next decade to 2027 “is likely to see a step change in the rapid adoption of new energy technologies, driven by falling costs and global carbon abatement measures”.

“This decade provides a limited window of opportunity to reposition Australia’s electricity system to deliver efficient outcomes to customers.”

Energy Networks Australia worked with Csiro on the report. The peak research body’s chief economist, Paul Graham, said it was entirely possible with the right policies to maintain a reliable, stable electricity grid while achieving zero net emissions by 2050, which would ensure Australia kept its international undertakings made in the Paris climate agreement.

He told Guardian Australia that the modelling carried out for the roadmap indicated the emissions intensity scheme was the best option to reduce power prices over the medium term because the scheme subsidised low-emissions technologies.

The roadmap assumes the federal renewable energy target will continue through until the late 2020s but Graham said it would be possible to scrap the RET around 2030 if the trading scheme was delivering sufficient low-emissions technologies into the system.

He said the transformation now under way in the electricity sector was best managed with market frameworks that didn’t pick winners and were technology-neutral.

The chief executive of Energy Networks Australia, John Bradley, issued a call for sensible policy that was developed as far as possible on a national basis and was not subjected to outbreaks of politicking.

Bradley said carbon policy which could “change dramatically at every election or differs in every state is a recipe for a high cost and less secure electricity service to customers”.

Source: theguardian.com

Centrica to Trial £19m Local Smart Grid in Cornwall

06.12.2016

Energy giant Centrica has launched a new local energy market trial in Cornwall in a bid to test how a more distributed grid could help generation be managed closer to the point of demand.

The firm announced plans on Friday to develop a “virtual marketplace” in the area over a three year trial period, which will see participants use smart technologies to sell their flexible energy capacity to both the grid and the wholesale energy market.

The scheme plans to provide free smart technology upgrades to renewable generators, local businesses, and other large energy users and will work with them to install new energy storage units in a bid to help them to unlock new revenue streams. Further plans will see battery units and/or micro-combined heat and power (CHP) installed in up to 100 homes.

The £19m programme is being funded using a £13m grant from the European Regional Development Fund alongside investment from Centrica and the British Gas Energy for Tomorrow fund, while partners on the trial include Western Power Distribution, National Grid and Exeter University.

Centrica plans to open a new office in Truro, Cornwall, to house the 23 staff who will run the project.

Centrica said the programme has been developed in response to the global shift of focus from centralised generation to a distributed model where energy is generated and managed closer to the point of demand, often through renewable energy technologies.

The company hopes a more localised grid could help to reduce pressure on the main electricity grid, and provide a boost to renewables by ensuring output from intermittent sources of clean power can be maximised.

Cornwall has the second highest renewable capacity of any English county with over 760MW of clean energy capacity, following only Cambridgeshire which has almost 850MW. Over 70 per cent of Cornwall’s renewables capacity comes from solar, leading to surges in power output on sunny days.

“Cornwall has been at the forefront of harnessing renewable generation, but that has brought challenges to the local grid,” said Jorge Pikunic, managing director of Centrica’s team leading the project. “Our ambition is to explore how battery storage, flexible demand and generation can to reduce pressure on the UK’s electricity grid, avoid expensive network upgrades and support future decarbonisation.

“This is a unique opportunity for us to work together with local businesses and homes to unlock new approaches that can give consumers more control of their energy, both here in the UK and potentially around the world. I believe this is a clear example of how the energy landscape could look in future – a truly decentralised market where energy is smarter, greener and cheaper.”

Source: businessgreen.com

Big Business Calls on Government to Halt Solar Tax Hike

06.12.2016

A group of major businesses, including retail giants Sainsbury’s, IKEA and Kingfisher, have called on Chancellor Philip Hammond to stop a planned rise in business rates for firms with solar installations.

The businesses have joined senior politicians, energy executives and environmental charities in signing a letter protesting against the changes, which will see rates rise up to eight-fold for organisations which own solar installations and use the power generated themselves.

“Businesses, schools and others with solar face a sharp six-to-eight fold tax hike from next April,” the letter reads. “If this proceeds it will also restrict future investment in solar rooftops all over the UK and put the British solar industry at a disadvantage, both at home and internationally.”

“New ministers have described climate change as ‘one of the biggest – if not the biggest – threats to our national and global security’,” the letter continues. “We agree. It would be extraordinary if the government penalised businesses and communities for taking positive action. We urge you to stop the solar tax hike.”

The changes in the tax rates, which are decided by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), will mean that from April solar energy charges rise from a flat fee of £8 per kW of capacity to between £48 and £66 per kW. It applies only to companies with self-owned commercial rooftop installations where the energy is used on-site, not exported to the grid.

Industry body the Solar Trade Association (STA), which orchestrated the letter, warns the rate rise could render many solar systems uneconomic. For example, a business with a 100kW system would see costs rise from £400 a year to more than £2,730 per year, it claims.

Earlier this year the STA won a partial victory in the battle over business rates, agreeing a deal with the VOA which means organisations exporting more than 50 per cent of their solar power will see a decrease in tax rates.

But the STA claims it has reached the end of the road in its negotiations with the VOA, and now needs the government to step in to halt the remaining tax rises.

Some industry insiders have warned that unless the government takes action the differential tax rates for solar arrays based on their ownership structure could result in a perverse outcome where companies may transfer their solar arrays to new corporate vehicles that then export the power.

Alongside Sainsbury’s, IKEA and Kingfisher representatives, the letter is also signed by swathes of green campaigners, politicians and business leaders. Signatories include Labour MP and chair of the Environmental Audit Committee Mary Creagh, chief executive of Energy UK Lawrence Slade, executive director of Greenpeace John Sauven, Good Energy CEO Juliet Davenport, Eden Project co-founder Sir Tim Smit and Green Party leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley.

“The sheer diversity of groups willing to sign this letter demonstrates the breadth of feeling on this issue,” Paul Barwell, chief executive of the STA, said in a statement. “Now that the UK has signed the Paris Agreement it goes without saying that the government should support organisations seeking to reduce their carbon footprints, not penalise them. It is essential that solar energy is treated sensibly within the tax system.”

In response to the letter, a spokeswoman for HM Treasury insisted the changes to business rates will “improve the fairness of rate bills for all businesses”.

“Installing solar panels is only one factor in determining the value of a property for business rates and an increase in the rateable value of solar panels will not necessarily result in an overall increase in rates,” she said in a statement. “To help businesses with any higher bills, on top of the £6.7bn package to reduce business rates announced at Budget, we’re also providing £3.6bn in transitional reliefs.”

Source: businessgreen.com

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