100 MW-AC Solar Project to Power the Santiago Metro

24.05.2016

SunPower and Total’s Pelican solar project will supply 42% of the subway system’s electricity needs, and a wind plant will supply another 18%.

Today SunPower, Total and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced a solar project that will supply 42% of the electricity used by the subway system in Santiago, Chile.

SunPower plans to begin construction on the Pelican solar plant near the border of the Coquimbo and Atacama Regions this year, and complete the plant by the end of 2017. The plant will supply an estimated 300 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually to the metro under a power purchase agreement.

SunPower will design and build the plant using its Oasis Power Block modular system. The company will additionally provide operations and maintenance services using its robotic cleaning solution, which it says will reduce water usage.

In addition to the Pelican solar project, the Santiago metro will also be powered by the new San Juan wind project, which will provide another 18% of the system’s electricity needs. Together, the two projects will meet 60% of the metro’s electricity demand for powering trains, lighting stations and other needs.

Investment in these two renewable energy projects will total be around US$500 million.

These projects will enter into service in 2018 and supply the metro for 15 years. During this time the remaining 40% of the system’s electricity will be supplied by Chilean electric company Chilectra. 2.5 million Chileans use the Santiago metro every day, according to President Bachelet.

“It is an example which hopefully we can extend, as quickly as possible, to other private and public companies, and certainly to our global energy mix as in our nation,” stated President Bachelet. The announcement was made during a visit to the National Stadium station, which is under construction.

With this initiative, Chile seeks to contribute to the CO2 reduction goals passed this last year in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.

In Chile there are currently 3 GW-AC of non-conventional renewable energy plants, a definition which excludes large hydro, in operation. Of these, 1.1 GW-AC are PV projects.

Source: pv-magazine.com

BRANKO DUNJIC: The Best and the Most Successful Companies have Integrated Principles of Clean Production in the Basis of Their Business

24.05.2016

UNIDO (United Nations Development Organization) is the United Nation’s specialised agency that promotes sustainable industrial development. UNIDO encourages the reduction of poverty in developing countries, as well as development of economy in transition. These commitments were defined in Lima Declaration in 2013 on the UNIDO’s General Conference. This organization in cooperation with companies provides consulting services in addition to technical. In our country, Cleaner Production Centre of Serbia within Belgrade’s Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy conducts mentioned activities. Each socially responsible company, that takes care of the environmental protection can be included in these programs and improve its business but, as our interlocutor PhD Branko Dunjic, executive Manager of Cleaner Production Centre of Serbia says, it is not the case. There are factors that affect the companies’ lack of interest and forming of the opinion that this is irrelevant and secondary thing.

EP: Cleaner Production Centre of Serbia exists within the framework of UNIDO’s project. You held a number of seminars and trainings for over 70 companies. Can you tell us more about the centre and the results of your work?

Branko Dunjić: Cleaner Production Centre of Serbia was founded in 2007 and it operates within the framework of Faculty for Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. The Center is at global level a part of UNIDO/ UNEP’s network of Centres for raw material efficiency and cleaner production (RECP Net). So far, it has helped in the application of methodology of raw material efficiency and cleaner production in more than 70 companies in Serbia and has trained 64 experts for cleaner production. In addition to projects in Serbia, the Center successfully provides consulting services abroad. For the last four years the Centre has been cooperating with International Finance Corporation (IFC) on different projects of raw material and energy efficiency in Serbia, Russia, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Center cooperates with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and it has successfully prepared and implemented the project ‘Environmentally sound management and final disposal of PCB’ funded by Global Environment Fund (GEF).

Project ‘Implementation of IPPC/IED Directive in facilities for intensive rearing of poultry and pigs’ started in April 2015. Cleaner Production Centre and Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy implements this project in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Production of the Republic of Serbia and with financial assistance of the Embassy of Sweden in Belgrade. The basic objective of the project is to support authorities of the Republic of Serbia and operators to adopt sustainable approach for implementation of IPPC/IDE Directive in facilities for intensive rearing of poultry and pigs. At global level our Centre has become a part of newly established network of centres for efficient use of resources (RECP Net) which is jointly supported by UNIDO and UNEP. Cleaner production Centre has become regional coordinator for all projects of raw material efficiency and cleaner production in the Balkans from 2014. In the project ‘Chemical Leasing‘ which introduces a new business model in the management of chemicals, our Centre has been participating under auspice of UNIDO since 2007.

The Centre has received many international awards for the achieved results in introducing of the business model in competition with more than 50 organizations from 20 countries among which are a few gold and silver medals. We have also received an award for the best Centre in the world that implements this project. The partners ‘Knjaz Miloš’, ‘Ecolab’, ‘Henkel’ and ‘Bambi-Banat’ have also got medals. Your readers should visits sites www. chemicalleasing.com, www.cpc-serbia.org for detailed explanations of the business models. So far (2006-2015), this project has included 70 companies with 40,000 employees and the average amount of savings per company (not including the project with EPS) amounts to 100,000 € per year with:

– Average reduction of water consumption: 50,000 m3/year.

– Average reduction of energy consumption: 500 MWh/year.

– Average reduction of CO2 emission: 500t/year.

EP: Which companies have applied your methodology and in what way do you start cooperation with new companies? What did these companies change in their operation after the training and is there a way to monitor and evaluate the implementation of methodology?

Branko Dunjić: Among the companies that have successfully implemented the methodology with our help are; ‘Metalac’, ‘Knjaz Miloš’, ‘Imlek’, ‘Carnex’, ‘EPS’, ‘ZvezdaHelios’, ‘Bambi-Banat’, ‘Štark’, ‘Maxima’, ‘Sojaprotein’, ‘Tarkett’, ‘Umka’, ‘Chemical Agrosava’, ‘Galenika Fitofarmacija’, ‘Unipromet’, ‘Delta-Agrar’, as well as companies from the cities of Pančevo and Čačak. As a rule the best, companies adopt and apply methodology of raw material efficiency and clean production in the best way. Six months after the completion of the project, our trained experts visit companies and take interest in the actual implementation of cleaner production options. These companies retain the team that was formed during the training process and they continue with systematic analysis approach of material and energy balance and constant improvements.

Experience tells us that these projects whose investment value is under 5,000 €, are almost fully implemented, while the percentage of implemented projects of 50,000 € investment value is 60%, and the ones whose investment value is over 50,000 € is around 30%. The upper limit of repayment period of investment in cleaner production measures, that is acceptable for our companies, is about 3 years. At the beginning, we started cooperation with companies after series of information seminars throughout Serbia, and through personal contacts. Now, the companies increasingly emerge alone, but still the biggest part of projects is co-financed by different donors (UN, IFC, bilateral help).

EP: Is cleaner production in Serbia sufficiently represented and what are your impressions from the terrain? What are the main obstacles and problems in terms of environmental protection in order for factories to be responsible in the long run?

Branko Dunjić: Absolutely not. Most of our companies see clean production as unimportant, secondary thing, while it actually represents a serious business strategy, sustainable in the long term. Business strategy that is based on corporate stewardship, constant evaluation and advancement, and curiosity. The Strategy based on the responsibility towards yourself, the environment, natural resources, and future generations. Truth be told, our colleagues from all over the world say that they have the same situation. Again I can say that the best and the most successful companies have the best integrated principles of cleaner production.

The main obstacles are obsolete technologies and lack of money. Our industry lost pace and money in the last decade of the XX century. So now it is forced to work inefficiently, losing money through excessive and inefficient energy consumption, raw materials, chemicals and water. There are no financial incentives for the introduction of clean production, and you can also notice insufficient law enforcement. At the same time, water and energy prices are relatively low (although these prices are too expensive for some!), and this additionally contributes to the lack of interest of companies for this type of projects. All this leads to some type of apathy and disbelief in the possibility of change, and that is the reason why certain improvements that don’t cost anything are not implemented.

Interview by : Vesna Vukajlović

This interview was first published in bulletin “Responsible Companies Environmental Protection” on March 2016.

ABB Electric Propulsion System

24.05.2016

ABB today announced the total fuel savings of the entire installed Azipod fleet since being launched is estimated to be more than 700,000 tons. Assuming the average family car uses one ton of fuel annually, this savings corresponds to the annual fuel consumption of 700,000 cars.

The gearless, steerable propulsion system reduces fuel consumption by up to 20% and achieves decimeter accurate maneuverability without the aid of tugboats. It is installed on an extremely wide range of vessels, including the world’s largest cruise ship (6,600 passengers), the most advanced icebreaker, one of the largest crane vessels in Asia, a 105-meter luxury superyacht, and most recently, an innovative cargo transfer vessel. According to Clarkson’s Research, the leading shipbroker and research firm, the number of vessels with electric propulsion is growing at a pace of 12 percent per year, three times faster than the world’s fleet.

A pioneering technology leader, ABB is celebrating Azipod propulsion’s 25th anniversary this year. The electrical propulsion system – where the electric motor with propeller is mounted inside a streamlined pod capable of 360 degree movement beneath the ship – has evolved to become the industry standard for the marine industry. The system can drive and steer the ship at the same time.

More info

Source: abb.com

ABB Electric Propulsion System Saved over 700,000 Tons of Fuel for Marine Vessels so far

24.05.2016

Zurich, Switzerland, May 24, 2016 – ABB’s environmental friendly Azipod propulsion system brings greater fuel efficiency to diverse shipping segments.

Azipod propulsion units are the market-leading solution for today’s modern large cruise ships. The system is also dominating the growing icebreaking and icebreaking cargo ship sector. The most advanced port icebreaker will feature four Azipod propulsion units placed in an innovative design to allow the vessel to operate either bow or stern first, keeping ABB at the cutting edge of icebreaking technology.

The entire installed Azipod propulsion unit base has accumulated 12 million operating hours in merchant, offshore and special vessel segments. “Our engineers continue to innovate, like they did 25 years ago, to ensure Azipod propulsion meets the demands from a diverse range of ship owners. Much has changed in the shipping sector since we introduced the first Azipod but the desire for efficiency, maneuverability and reliability remains the same. The fact that Azipod propulsion remains the dominant force in podded electric propulsion shows our commitment to meet our customer’s needs,” said Juha Koskela, the managing director of ABB’s Marine and Ports business.

For more information click on the links below:

· Video

· Azipod portal

· Azipod 25 years portal

· Audio-visual material

Source: abb.com

World Could Warm 8 Degrees Celsius If All Fosil Fuel Reserves Burned

24.05.2016

iceberg-antarctica — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

As nations meet in Bonn, Germany this week to hash out how to achieve the 2-degree Celsius goal they set in Paris, new research is providing policymakers a glimpse of what would happen if the world does nothing to curb climate change. What if nations chose instead to burn through all of their remaining fossil fuel reserves, equal to 5 trillion tons of CO2 emissions? According to the new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the world would warm an average 8 degrees Celsius (14.4 degrees F), or up to 17 degrees Celsius (30 degrees F) in the Arctic. The research was conducted by a team of climate scientists at the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University in British Columbia who wanted to understand the worst-case scenario. “Such climate changes, if realized, would have extremely profound impacts on ecosystems, human health, agriculture, economies, and other sectors,” the researchers write.

Source: Yale Environment 360

Biodegradable plastic ‘false solution’ for ocean waste problem

23.05.2016

Plastične flaše, Plastične boce, Zagađenje — Photo: Pixabay

Biodegradable plastic water bottles and shopping bags are a false solution to the ubiquitous problem of litter in the oceans, the UN’s top environmental scientist has warned.

Most plastic is extremely durable, leading to large plastic debris and “microplastics” to spread via currents to oceans from the Arctic to the Antarctic, a UN report published on Monday found.

Greener plastics that breakdown in the environment have been marketed as a sustainable alternative that could reduce the vast amount of plastic waste that ends up in the sea after being dumped. But Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist at the UN Environment Programme, told the Guardian that these biodegradable plastics were not a simple solution.

“It’s well-intentioned but wrong. A lot of plastics labelled biodegradable, like shopping bags, will only break down in temperatures of 50C and that is not the ocean. They are also not buoyant, so they’re going to sink, so they’re not going to be exposed to UV and break down,” she said.

Speaking at the the UN environment assembly in Nairobi, where 170 countries are meeting and expected to pass a resolution on microplastics later this week, she added: “We have detected plastics in places as far away as the Chagos Islands [in the Indian Ocean]. Even if you are remote, you are not safe from it.”

More than 300m tonnes of plastic were produced in 2014 and that is expected to swell to nearly 2,000m tonnes by 2050 on current trends, the UN report said. While the exact amount that reaches the oceans is not known, the report concluded: “plastic debris, or litter, in the ocean is now ubiquitous.”

The spread of everything from large plastic debris such as fishing gear which dolphins can become entangled with, to fragments smaller than 5mm in diameter known as microplastics, has ecological, social and economics costs.

Jellyfish, for example, are using plastic as a habitat and to hitch a ride, allowing them to extend their range. The spread of jellyfish is considered bad news by experts because of the amount of plankton they eat, taking away food from fish and other marine life.

“There is a moral argument that we should not allow the ocean to become further polluted with plastic waste, and that marine littering should be considered a ‘common concern of humankind’,” the report’s authors wrote.

The main solution to plastics in the ocean is better waste collection and recycling, particularly in the developing world, the UN said. But McGlade said that some of the biodegradable additives in plastic to allow it to break down made it harder to recycle, and potentially harmful in the natural environment.

“When you start adding all of that [additives], when it becomes waste, they [the additives] become the enemy of the environment. As consumers we need to think of the use of plastic,” she said.

The UN report said that it was only in the past decade that plastics in the ocean had been taken seriously. “Warnings of what was happening were reported in the scientific literature in the early 1970s, with little reaction from much of the scientific community.”

Source: The Guardian

Germany Just Produced So Much Renewable Energy That It Had To Pay People To Use It

20.05.2016

Electricity bills are often ludicrously high thanks to our energy-intensive modern world, but every now and then, thanks to the forces of nature, a metaphorical miracle takes place. As reported by Quartz, Germany just experienced such a phenomenon when a particularly bright and sunny day supercharged their solar and wind power sectors.

Around 1 p.m. on May 8, the nation’s renewable energy generating facilities were supplying around 55 gigawatts of the 63 gigawatts being consumed – about 87 percent of the total electricity consumption. With the addition of the country’s conventional power plants, the output actually exceeded the national demand. This energy surplus meant that, for a brief time, energy prices were actually negative, meaning consumers were effectively being paid to consume electricity.

A similar feat occurred in Denmark last year, when a terrifically windy day boosted their wind power sector so much that these turbines alone generated 140 percent of the nation’s electricity demand, with the excess energy being exported to Germany, Norway, and Sweden.

According to a United Nations report, Germany intends to be one of the frontrunners when it comes to renewable energy; it has pledged to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2050, an ambitious feat to say the least. Days like May 8 serve to give this ambition genuine credibility.

A recent study suggested that all the pieces are in place for an energy revolution. Fossil fuels would be rejected, and renewable and nuclear energy would take over. A recent declaration by the International Energy Agency, that over a quarter of the world will be powered by renewable energy by 2020, seems to imply that this may be the case – as does the Paris climate change agreement, which can only be successfully implemented if fossil fuels are ditched in favor of renewables.

Countries all over the world are stepping up to the plate, including Germany. Sweden has initiated legislative and infrastructural changes to put it on track to becoming the world’s first fossil fuel-free nation; Morocco will soon have a 24/7 concentrated solar power plant that will be able to constantly supply the entire region; the U.S., Canada, and China have all agreed to cooperate to end their reliance on fossil fuels.

As always, though, it’s complicated. Many nations increasing their renewable energy generation capabilities are also scaling back on their nuclear power plants, particularly Germany. If they hope to be fossil fuel-free in the near-future, removing their nuclear power plants – which have a near-zero carbon footprint – will greatly hinder them on their quest, along with slowing down their efforts to mitigate man-made climate change.

http://www.iflscience.com

IEA urges Belgium to take a long-term approach to energy policy

20.05.2016

Belgium should adopt a national long-term energy strategy without delay, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today, stressing that such a plan was required to respond to the challenge of decarbonising the economy while ensuring security of supply and affordability of energy. Speaking at the launch of an IEA review of Belgium’s energy policies, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol encouraged Belgium’s federal and regional governments to work decisively together. “Our review rings alarm bells due to the lack of private-sector investment in the electricity sector,” Dr. Birol commented. “Government efforts to mobilise investment should include an electricity market design that ensures a viable business model for power generation. And to avoid a lack of generation capacity in the medium term, Belgium could consider operating their nuclear power plants as long as they are certified to be safe by the regulator.”

The new IEA report, Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Belgium 2016 Review, acknowledges Belgium’s recent progress in several areas of energy policy. Competition has increased in the electricity and natural gas markets. The use of fossil fuels has declined and the supply of renewable energy has grown. The country´s economy is becoming less energy-intensive, and its energy-related carbon emissions are declining. A major issue to be addressed, however, is the country’s nuclear phase-out policy. Nuclear energy accounts for around half of Belgium’s electricity generation, but the current policy is to close its nuclear power plants between 2022 and 2025. The report cautions that this would seriously challenge Belgium’s efforts to ensure electricity security and provide affordable low-carbon electricity. Allowing the plants to run as long as they are considered safe by the regulator would ease electricity security pressures, would reduce the costs of electricity generation in the medium term, would likely reduce the costs of the phase-out itself and would create time for investments in alternative generation options. “It is of the utmost importance that Belgium’s policy on nuclear power is consistent with its objectives regarding electricity security and climate change mitigation,” Dr. Birol stressed.

The report highlights the potential energy efficiency offers to help Belgium meet its energy policy goals. It welcomes the decision to implement nationwide road pricing for heavy-duty vehicles. The report also recommends further support to renovating the building stock and switching away from oil in space heating. In addition, it suggests abolishing direct and indirect subsidies on energy use and replacing them with more targeted measures on citizens and companies in need. Under any scenario, Belgium’s energy supply needs to be further diversified and energy demand further limited. Transport and buildings hold a large potential for efficiency and climate gains, and fiscal incentives and price signals could be used more frequently in order to reap them. The IEA Executive Director applauded Belgium for its excellent gas transport infrastructure and the high level of cross-border integration of its gas market. Referring to the eventual phase-out of imports of low-calorific gas from the Netherlands, he encouraged the government to give a higher priority to this matter, in case production of the Groningen gas field declines faster than currently expected. Dr. Birol also congratulated Belgium for holding large emergency stocks of oil.

http://www.iea.org

U.S. Uranium Production Report – Annual

09.05.2016

Total uranium drilling was 1,518 holes covering 0.9 million feet, 13% fewer holes than in 2015. Expenditures for uranium drilling in the United States were $29 million in 2015, an increase of 2% compared with 2014.

Mining, production, shipments, and sales

U.S. uranium mines produced 3.7 million pounds U3O8 in 2015, 24% less than in 2014. One underground mine produced uranium ore during 2015, one less than during 2014. Uranium ore from underground mines is stockpiled and shipped to a mill, to be milled into uranium concentrate (a yellow or brown powder). Additionally, seven in-situ-leach (ISL) mining operations produced solutions containing uranium in 2015, one less than in 2014, that was processed into uranium concentrate at ISL plants. Overall, there were eight mines that operated during part or all of 2015.

Total production of U.S. uranium concentrate1 in 2015 was 3.3 million pounds U3O8, 32% less than in 2014, from seven facilities: one mill in Utah (White Mesa Mill) and six ISL plants (Crow Butte Operation, Hobson ISR Plant/La Palangana, Lost Creek Project, Nichols Ranch ISR Project, Smith Ranch-Highland Operation, and Willow Creek Project). The six ISL plants are located in Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming.

Total shipments of uranium concentrate from U.S. mill and ISL plants were 4.0 million pounds U3O8 in 2015, 12% less than in 2014. U.S. producers sold 3.6 million pounds U3O8 of uranium concentrate in 2015 at a weighted-average price of $42.86 per pound U3O8.

Employment

Total employment in the U.S. uranium production industry was 625 person-years in 2015, a decrease of 21% from the 2014 total and the lowest since 2004. Exploration employment was 58 person-years, a 33% decrease compared with 2014. Mining employment was 251 person-years, and increased 2% from 2014. Milling and processing employment was 200 person-years, a 32% decrease from 2014. Reclamation employment decreased 28% to 116 person-years from 2014 to 2015. Uranium production industry employment for 2015 was in 9 States: Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

https://www.eia.gov

KPA Unicon have signed new contract

09.05.2016

Stora Enso Wood Products Ltd and KPA Unicon have signed a contract of a biomass-fired hot water boiler plant delivery to Stora Enso sawmill in Honkalahti, Finland. The output of the new Unicon Biograte boiler plant will be 17.7 MWth. The new boiler plant will utilize bark and other wood residues from the Honkalahti sawmill as fuel, and it will produce hot water to the sawmill´s drying kilns. The new biomass boiler plant is scheduled to be in operation in August 2017. This is a turnkey delivery excluding civil and foundation works.

The contract includes all process equipment, installations, commissioning and training of the operational personnel. The heart of the new biomass-fired boiler plant is Biograte combustion technology, which is especially designed for utilization of wet biomass fuels for effective energy production. The contract includes KPA Unicon`s PlantSys system for local and remote control of the plant. PlantSys collects data from the process equipment and makes operation of the plant easy and reliable. PlantSys also enables a trusted remote access to the plant to optimize the parameters and predict the future service and maintenance needs. The parties have also signed a three year service agreement. The service agreement facilitates forecasting of service and maintenance work at the plant. This also guarantees the best availability of the plant. “At the moment we have also a 15 MWth boiler plant project ongoing with Stora Enso. The boiler plant delivery to Ala sawmill is in the project phase. In the past we have delivered several boiler plants to Stora Enso sawmills in Russia and the Baltic states. This new plant to Honkalahti is a good continuum to our long-term cooperation”, says Teemu Koskela, Sales Director of KPA Unicon.

http://www.kpaunicon.com

IEA Executive Director delivers keynote address to G7 Energy Ministerial

05.05.2016

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol urged investment in high-quality and innovative energy infrastructure when he delivered a keynote address on the first day of the G7 Energy Ministerial 2016 meeting in Kitakyushu, Japan. In his remarks on 1 May, Dr. Birol focused on the importance of energy investment for global growth and to meet climate objectives while ensuring secure and affordable energy supply. “Energy choices made today will have profound implications for many years to come,” he said. “We cannot afford to look only one or two years down the road. Your policy decisions will impact long-term economic performance, energy security and of course, our chances of successfully tackling climate change.”

The Ministerial meeting brings together energy ministers and high-ranking officials from the G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – plus the European Union, for two days of discussions centered around the theme of “Global Energy Security for Growth”. At the close of the meeting, the G7 and EU Energy Ministers released a Joint Statement, the “Kitakyushu Initiative on Energy Security for Global Growth”. This Joint Statement supports the IEA’s enhanced engagement with emerging economies. It also expresses appreciation for IEA efforts to enhance energy security, including the broadening of the Agency’s oil security system through further engagement with non-member countries. In welcoming IEA work on gas security, low-carbon technology roadmaps, energy efficiency (with the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation, or IPEEC) and electricity security including (with the International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA) grid integration of renewable energy, the ministers asked the Agency to provide further analysis to the G7 and report back.

http://www.iea.org

Air pollution: Benefits of cycling and walking outweigh harms – study

05.05.2016

The health benefits of cycling and walking outweigh the harmful effects of air pollution, a study has suggested. Air pollution contributes to 40,000 early deaths each year in the UK and we gulp in more of it when we exercise. On the other hand, regular exercise reduces the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and several cancers. The University of Cambridge study showed that even in cities with high pollution levels, the benefits outweigh the risks. The researchers used computer simulations to compare data on different kinds of physical activity and different levels of air pollution in locations around the world. It found that for an average air pollution concentration in an urban area, the tipping point – when the risks begin to outweigh the benefits – comes after a huge seven hours of cycling or 16 hours of walking a day. It is far beyond what most people would ever do. “Even in Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world – with pollution levels 10 times those in London – people would need to cycle over five hours per week before the pollution risks outweigh the health benefits,” said Dr Marko Tainio, the lead author of the study. He added: “We should remember, though, that a small minority of workers in the most polluted cities, such as bike messengers, may be exposed to levels of air pollution high enough to cancel out the health benefits of physical activity.” The study, published in Preventive Medicine, said exercise was always beneficial in London.

‘Action still needed’

The average air pollution level for cities around the globe is 22 micrograms per cubic metre, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In London the air pollution level was recorded at 16 micrograms per cubic metre in 2011. Senior author Dr James Woodcock added: “Whilst this research demonstrates the benefits of physical activity in spite of air quality, it is not an argument for inaction in combating pollution. “It provides further support for investment in infrastructure to get people out of their cars and onto their feet or their bikes – which can itself reduce pollution levels at the same time as supporting physical activity.” The research was carried out by experts from the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Diet and Activity Research and Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, along with researchers from the University of East Anglia.

www.bbc.com

UK’s proposed nuclear plant is one of the costliest things on Earth

04.05.2016

nuclear-power-plant — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Nuclear power has been around for decades, but it still isn’t cheap… in fact, it may result in one of the most expensive objects on the planet. Cost estimates for the UK’s proposed Hinkley Point C reactor have crept up to £24 billion (about $35 billion), making even some of humanity’s more ambitious construction projects seem like small potatoes. The Large Hadron Collider cost “just” $5.8 billion to build, the BBC notes. About the only thing that rivals Hinkley on Earth is Chevron’s recently completed $54 billion natural gas plant in Australia. If you’re not picky, the International Space Station’s collective modules top everything at a total of $110 billion.

As for why it would be so absurdly pricey? Greenwich University professor Steve Thomas says it’s due to not just the inherent complexity of nuclear power, but the safety concerns. Tragedies like Chernobyl and Fukushima have made it clear that disasters are far more costly than getting it right the first time.

Not that this is going to assuage critics of the plant, which has spent several years on ice. Greenpeace contends that it’s not just audacious in an era of budget cuts, but that the money could be better-spent on renewable energy sources like solar and wind farms. And it’s not just because they’re safer, either. They’d likely be finished much sooner, Greenpeace claims, and falling renewable energy prices could make these options more affordable. There’s no certainty that the government will listen to calls for change, but it’s clear that Hinkley Point C is the product of an era when nuclear tech still seemed like the most cost-effective way of powering the population.

http://www.engadget.com

Obama and Merkel inspired by ABB’s ground-breaking digital technology at Hanover Fair

27.04.2016

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama were among the first to experience a ground-breaking new smart sensor from ABB during their visit to the Hanover Fair on Monday.

The two leaders were shown how ABB’s smart sensor can improve the productivity of hundreds of millions of electric motors by connecting them for the first time to cloud-based services.

At the ABB stand, Merkel and Obama heard how the smart sensor can be applied to the vast majority of low-voltage motors, whether new or already in use, making it possible to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and save money. The digital solution will for the first time enable LV motors to be integrated into the expanding Internet of Things, Services and People.

Accompanied by ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, Greg Scheu, President of ABB’s Americas region and Hans-Georg Krabbe, Country Managing Director of ABB in Germany, the two leaders watched a YuMi robot demonstrate how easy it is to attach the smart sensor to an LV motor. Through a wireless connection to the Internet, the motor’s performance data was displayed on a large screen, demonstrating how unexpected breakdowns can be avoided and energy consumption reduced.

“The smart sensor enables transcontinental industrial digitalization,” said Spiesshofer. “The sensor reduces the downtime of motors by up to 70 percent, extends their life span by up to 30 percent, and cuts energy consumption by as much as 10 percent. If all industrial electric motors worldwide were equipped with our smart sensors, the energy savings would be equivalent to the output of 100 large power plants.”

The smart sensor has attracted considerable attention in Hanover, not just from President Obama and Chancellor Merkel, but from a wide range of potential customers who stand to benefit from its adoption. It will be made available on the market later this year.

ABB http://www.abb.com is a leading global technology company in power and automation that enables utility, industry, and transport & infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.

Paris Agreement signing ceremony in New York – the EU calls for swift ratification

21.04.2016

The signing ceremony, convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, follows the adoption of the world’s first universal climate change agreement by 195 countries in Paris on 12 December 2015. The European Union was the first major economy to table its commitment in the run up to the Paris climate conference COP21 and now looks forward to having the Agreement ratified and entering into force swiftly.

On behalf of President Jean-Claude Juncker, the Vice-President of the Commission responsible for the Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič, and the Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will attend the high-level ceremony. Vice-President Šefčovič and Dutch Environment Minister Sharon Dijksma will sign the agreement on behalf of the European Union and Commissioner Arias Cañete will deliver the official statement on behalf of the European Union.

Vice-President Šefčovič said in Brussels: “Our signature means first and foremost that we are signing up to the commitments we made in Paris. It sends also a clear signal that we are signing up to a fundamental and disruptive transition to a low-carbon economy and society. This transition is now irreversible and unstoppable. At the global level, we are seeing the winds of change. Europe is part of this and will continue to be a driving force. That’s why we need to deliver the Energy Union and create the conditions for future opportunities, innovation and job-creation that this transition will bring. Let’s use the momentum.”

Commissioner Arias Cañete said: “We have agreed. We will sign, and we will act. In Europe, we have already started our homework of implementing the Paris Agreement and we will continue to lead the global low-carbon economy transition. We will ratify the Paris Agreement by securing the support of our 29 parliaments, and by demonstrating that we will have the policies in place to meet our commitments. This will ensure that when we act, we will act on a solid legal basis. Already before the start of this summer, the European Commission will present a proposal to the Council to ratify the Paris Agreement on behalf of the European Union.”

During the visit to New York, Vice-President Šefčovič will have a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and with Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Director Achim Steiner to follow up on the COP21 Business Summit. He will also meet Michael Bloomberg, UNSG Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change to discuss further synergies between the Covenant of Mayors and the UN-led Compact of Mayors, underlining the importance that local actors play in the global fight against climate change. Commissioner Arias Cañete will participate in the special meeting of the High Ambition Coalition, the alliance of developing and developed nations that was instrumental in securing a successful outcome at the Paris climate conference in December 2015. He will also meet with the climate and energy ministers of China, USA, India, Turkey, Canada and Thailand to advance negotiations towards Marrakesh’s COP 22. Finally, the Commissioner will participate in the Climate Finance Ministerial and the Major Economies Forum meetings focused on the international collaborative efforts to implement the Paris Agreement.

Next steps

The first negotiating session since the adoption of the Paris Agreement will take place at the Climate Change Conference from 16 to 26 May 2016 in Bonn, Germany. This will consider the technical implementation details of the agreement and how to take forward action before 2020.

The EU will also be working to keep climate at the top of the political agenda and Commissioner Arias Cañete will participate in the upcoming the G7 Energy Ministerial meeting in Kitakyushu, Japan, from 1-2 May 2016.

http://europa.eu

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