Home Blog Page 47

First Net-Zero Academy to Train 100,000 Workers in the EU Solar Photovoltaic Value Chain

Foto-ilustracija: People house photo created by senivpetro - www.freepik.com
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (mrganso)

The Commission has launched the European Solar Academy, the first in a series of EU Academies to be set up under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) to have in place the necessary skills along the net-zero technologies value chains. The role of NZIA academies is to develop learning content and programmes together with the industry, to ensure that sufficient skills and workforce in the value chain.

It is estimated that in the solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing sector alone, some 66,000 skilled workers will be needed by 2030 for the EU to meets its ambitious renewable energy targets while ensuring industrial competitiveness. The Solar Academy aims to train 100,000 workers in the solar photovoltaic value chain over the next three years to address the current labour and skills gap in the sector.

More:

Following the successful model of the European Battery Academy, launched in 2022 for the battery value-chain, the Solar Academy will design learning content, together with the industry and relevant parties in the solar PV value chain.  The Solar Academy will also develop learning credentials, which will certify the skills that people have acquired in its training courses, thus also boosting the mobility of the workforce across the Single Market. The deployment of the programmes is done via local partners. These can be Vocational and Educational Training (VET) providers, businesses, universities or other education and training providers with whom the Academy signs a contract to deliver its programmes.

The Commission is supporting the launch of the European Solar Academy with  nine million euros from the Single Market Programme. The project will be implemented by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) via its Knowledge and Innovation Community, EIT Innoenergy.

This Academy is the latest Commission initiative supporting the EU’s efforts to reach its ambitious targets under the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU Plan while ensuring that the industry is resilient and competitive on the global stage.

Source: European Commission

Iberian Lynx Rebounding Thanks to Conservation Action

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The Iberian Lynx has improved from Endangered to Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, continuing its dramatic recovery from near extinction thanks to sustained conservation efforts.

“As the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species celebrates its 60th anniversary, its importance cannot be overstated as the most complete source of information on the state of the world’s biodiversity. It is an essential tool that measures progress towards halting nature loss and achieving the 2030 global biodiversity goals. The improvement in the Red List status of the Iberian lynx shows that successful conservation works for wildlife and communities alike,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.

The conservation status of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) has improved from Endangered to Vulnerable, with the population increasing exponentially from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022. Today, the total population, including young and mature lynx, is estimated to be more than 2,000.

Conservation efforts for this keystone species have focused on increasing the abundance of its prey, the Endangered European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), protecting and restoring Mediterranean scrub and forest habitat, and reducing deaths caused by human activity. Expanding the species’ genetic diversity through translocations and an ex-situ breeding programme has been key to increasing numbers. Since 2010, more than 400 Iberian lynx have been reintroduced to parts of Portugal and Spain. The Iberian lynx now occupies at least 3,320 km2, an increase from 449 km2 in 2005.

More:

However, the Iberian lynx remains threatened, mainly due to potential fluctuations of the European rabbit population if there are further virus outbreaks. The Iberian lynx is also susceptible to diseases from domestic cats. Poaching and road kills remain threats, particularly where high traffic roads cut-through the lynx’s habitat. Habitat alterations related to climate change are a growing threat.

“The greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation, this success is the result of committed collaboration between public bodies, scientific institutions, NGOs, private companies, and community members including local landowners, farmers, gamekeepers and hunters, and the financial and logistical support of the European Union LIFE project,” said Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, Coordinator of the LIFE Lynx-Connect project, which led the conservation action for the Iberian lynx.

“There is still a lot of work to do to ensure that Iberian lynx populations survive and the species recovers throughout its indigenous range. Looking ahead, there are plans to reintroduce the Iberian lynx to new sites in central and northern Spain.”

In its first Green Status of Species assessment – the global standard for measuring species recovery and assessing conservation impact – the Iberian lynx is Largely Depleted. However, its high Conservation Legacy reflects the impact of conservation efforts to date, and “enough suitable habitat remains that the species could reach Fully Recovered status in 100 years, assuming conservation efforts continue with maximum efficacy.”

Source: IUCN

Renewables and Grid Flexibility Would Slash Electricity Prices by a Quarter by 2030, by a Third by 2040

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (_leoneil)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (seagul)

Boosting renewables, electrification and flexibility would structurally ease electricity costs for consumers, increase European competitiveness, and reinforce the business case for solar.

New modelling shows that electrification and flexibility can slash average day-ahead energy prices by 25 per cent by 2030, and by 33 per cent by 2040, compared to 2023. At the same time, the solar capture prices will be 71 per cent greater in 2030 compared to the baseline, and 54 per cent higher by 2040, supporting the sustainable growth of solar project developers.

Beyond benefit for consumer and developer, electrifying and flexing the system means system-wide cost savings – 30 billion euros saved by 2030 per year, and 160 billion euros save by 2040 per year.

“It is time to take the next step in energy transition. We need a flexibility revolution, surrounding renewables with grids, storage and electrification. The new political cycle is an opportunity to build the new energy transition agenda. We call on EU leaders to implement the existing electricity market regulation, set new targets for renewables and flexibility to 2040 and adopt an EU electrification action and investment plan as soon as possible”, said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.

More:

SolarPower Europe’s new report, Mission Solar 2040: Europe’s Flexibility Revolution, maps out three scenarios through the coming decades; solar-as-usual (SAU), solar + flexibility (SF), and solar + flexibility + electrification (SFE). Compared to SAU, the SFE scenario reduces curtailment – solar energy wasted – by 66 per cent in 2030 and 49 per cent in 2040. The more efficient utilisation of solar energy leads to gains across the economy.

With a flexible, electrified system, more solar can be added to the grid. By the end of this decade, the EU could reach 1.2 TW of solar, much higher than the 750 GW EU Solar Strategy goal. By 2040, the EU could host 2.4 TW of solar, meeting 39 per cent of the bloc’s growing power demand.

Critically, ramped-up solar deployment would empower the decarbonization of the economy – driving down emissions the equivalent of over 550 MtCO² per year by 2040 compared to current forecasts.

Source: SolarPower Europe

Global Solar Installations Almost Double in 2023 But Leaves Emerging Economies in the Dark

Photo-illustration: Pexels (Kelly)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (_leoneil)

2023’s new solar installations would cover more than half of India’s annual electricity needs or more than Brazil’s entire consumption. Compared to Europe, the annual installations would exceed the total yearly electricity consumption of Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Czechia, Austria, Portugal, and Greece – combined.

SolarPower Europe’s annual Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2024-2028 reveals growth rates not seen in over a decade, since 2010 when the global solar market was only four per cent of what it is today.

Solar continues to soar amongst its renewable colleagues, installing 78 per cent of the total renewable energy installed around the world in 2023. This is reflected in the IEA World Energy Investment (WEI) 2024 report, which demonstrates that investment in solar PV in 2023 surpasses all other energy sources combined.

“The world has truly entered its solar age. The sky is no longer the limit. How far solar can go will be determined by equitable global access to financing, and the political will to deliver flexible energy systems fit for the renewable reality”, said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.

More:

Looking to the future, the world is set to reach more than two TW of total solar capacity this year, having only reached the one TW level in 2022. However, between 2024 and 2028, year-on-year growth is expected to slow in the face of high interest rates, an energy crisis resolved – for now, and grids around the world struggling to keep up with renewable demand.

Michael Schmela, Director of Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe said, “It’s all just a little bit of history repeating – the world revises its solar estimates upwards and we get a glimpse at the vast potential of solar. By 2028, we could be installing more than 1 TW of solar a year. It’s now about setting targets in line with reality, and addressing the familiar challenges – permitting, regulations enabling profitable business models, and the new frontier – system flexibility, through vast amounts of battery storage capacities.  The sector is ready to deliver the decarbonised energy system, and policymakers must wake up to the climate and energy security solution on their doorsteps”, said Michael Schmela, Director of Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe.

For now, it seems that China will determine the rate of global solar growth, though it continues to be one of the most dynamic, and difficult to predict, markets. In 2023 alone, China installed 57 per cenr of global capacity – 253 GW – equivalent to the levels installed globally in 2022. On the manufacturing side, a massive scale-up of capacity have led to solar panel price collapses of around 50 per cent last year, and a growing consolidation of the solar manufacturing industry in the country.

Source: SolarPower Europe

Čelinac gets two Solar Power Plants

Photo: MT-KOMEX BH
Photo: MT-KOMEX BH

The municipality of Čelinac is located not far from Banja Luka. One part of the territory extends at an altitude of 800 meters; in the largest part of the municipality, the altitude ranges from 300 to 600 meters. The lowest point, with an altitude of 196 meters, is at the mouth of the river Jošavka into the Vrbanja. The area and the large number of sunny hours are highly suitable for constructing solar power plants. That is why it is not surprising that in this region, there is a great interest in clean energy, and there are more and more solar power plants that enable energy independence for the owners.

On the hills of the Markovac settlement, the company MT-KOMEX BH completed the construction of the solar power plants Markovac Jungići and Markovac Jungići 1. These solar power plants have a total power of 280 kWp and were built on an area of 3,000 m2. According to estimates, their annual production will amount to 360 MWh, which provides the investor with energy security. The company constructed these solar power plants using solar panels from Canadian Solar. They installed 420 panels, each with a power of 660 W.

IN FOCUS:

Likewise, five Fronius inverters, each with a power of 50 kW, were installed.  The investor decided to entrust the construction of solar power plants to MT-KOMEX BH, which consists of an expert team of engineers and installers. They have many years of experience in designing and building solar power plants. In addition, engineers have all the necessary certificates and regularly complete the required training. They provide services from creating a project for a power plant, obtaining permits, and delivering the necessary materials, technology, and labor to the site. The company’s hard-working installers are there to set up and install panels from reputable manufacturers, followed by installation of inverters and other necessary infrastructure.

Finally, there is a check of readiness for commissioning – all these phases are contained in the phrase “turnkey” and are, therefore, the entire team’s responsibility. The company firmly believes that solar energy and green kilowatts will only experience expansion in these areas, evidenced by numerous inquiries from business people and citizens about the installation of solar panels both on roofs and on the ground. This is contributed significantly by the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Serbia, have more hours of solar radiation than many other European countries. Also, there are large areas that are not used on which solar panels could be installed.

The engineers and installers of MT-KOMEX BH are ready for all the challenges that business in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings. They work every day to promote renewable energy sources, answer all clients’ questions, and find the best and most efficient solution.

Prepared by Jasna Dragojević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURE CONSERVATION.

With Luxen Solar to a Healthier Environment

Photo: Luxen Solar
Photo: Luxen Solar

We live in a time when we face major global challenges to prevent further environmental pollution and ensure a healthy and environmentally clean environment. Every individual must contribute to this goal, as well as every company, regardless of the industry they operate in.

As a renewable energy company, Luxen Solar not only produces the latest generation solar panels that ensure a quick and efficient transition to clean energy but also tries to contribute in every way to the global goal of preserving the environment, in accordance with the United Nations 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals, REACH regulations, and RoHS directives.

Environmental protection awards

In 2023, Luxen Solar received three environmental protection awards – the highest state recognition for its contribution to the development of the green industry, recognition for special contribution in the process of green production and recognition for intelligent transformation and production.

“As a company that has its own factory, Luxen Solar pays special attention to the health of its workers and the environment in which panels are produced. Chemicals are one of the main pollutants in production plants. Luxen Solar strictly adheres to the RoHS directive on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, as well as the EU’s REACH regulation related to the registration, evaluation, approval, and restriction of chemicals. The company also requires compliance with the same regulation from its suppliers, who are obligated to submit a report that the products Luxen Solar purchases from them do not contain dangerous substances, neither for the health of the workers nor for the environment”, the company says and adds: ”As part of our efforts, we take into account all aspects relevant to environmental protection and sustainable development. These include energy and resource management, quality control, data and information security, the environmental impact of production, business ethics, recycling and the use of recyclable materials, wastewater management, respect for human rights, social responsibility and other aspects related to environmental protection and sustainable development following national and EU regulations“, the company states.

IN FOCUS:

‘Green’ factory

Photo: Luxen Solar

In Luxen Solar’s immediate environment, we have installed street solar lights and PV carports for charging electric vehicles and scooters of our employees. The annual production of the carports is equivalent to saving almost 57 tons of CO2, which can be translated to using 13 passenger vehicles for one year or almost 20 tons of recycled waste instead of the waste that ends up in landfills.

Solar rooftop installation with our TOPCon state-of-the-art modules of the latest LECO (laser enhanced contact optimization) technology will contribute to a saving of 246 tons of CO2, 120.000kg of burned coal or 85 tons of recycled waste instead of the waste that is deposited on landfills.

The company’s new 210mm production line, guided by artificial intelligence and characterized by high precision, speed, smart data processing, 24-hour monitoring, and quality control, enables an increase in production speed by 30 per cent and efficiency of used equipment by over 10 per cent.

Luxen Solar

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURE CONSERVATION.

French Auction Results are not the new Benchmark for Floating Wind in Europe

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Grahame Jenkins)

Last month France published the results of its 250 MW floating offshore wind auction off South Brittany (AO5). The winning bid was awarded at 86 euros /MWh – a record-low for floating offshore wind. But Governments must not think this is a new benchmark for floating wind development in Europe.

On 15 May France published the results of Europe’s first commercial scale floating offshore wind auction to date. The auction was competitive. 10 consortia prequalified and 6 ultimately submitted bids. The winning bid was awarded at 86 euros /MWh– well below the 140 euros /MWh ceiling price.

Floating wind is a relatively young industry. The technical and commercial risks are still pretty high. As of today Europe has 208 MW of floating wind in operation, spread mostly across 4 small wind farms. It is too early to tell what the price range for large scale floating wind is going to be in Europe.

The specifics of the French tender

Prices for floating wind are going to vary greatly across Europe – between countries but also from site to site. This French tender was unique in many ways.

First, project developers didn’t have to pay for the grid connection, neither for the export cables nor for the offshore substation. The French Transmission System Operator RTE will build and operate the grid connection and cover the costs. Second, the site conditions were extremely good with strong wind speeds and favourable water depths. Third, the Contract for Difference (CfD) offered is robustly indexed to inflation, taking into account different raw material prices. The actual price that’s paid when wind farm is built will be higher than 86 euros /MWh.

“We congratulate the winners. But Governments around Europe must not be mistaken, this auction was unique: the 86 euros /MWh winning price is not the new benchmark for floating wind in Europe”.

“Governments must consider the specifics of this particular auction when defining their auction budgets and ceiling prices. Don’t take the 86 euros /MWh bid price as a benchmark. Otherwise you might find yourself in a similar situation to the UK last year. The UK’s 2023 offshore wind auction had a low ceiling price because they made the wrong assumptions about costs – and nobody bid,” says Giles Dickson.

More:

France must change its auction design

In the South Brittany tender the price criterion made up 75 per cent of the total assessment of the different bids. 5 per cent was based on the robustness of the contractual and financial arrangements. The remaining 25 per cent were determined by award criteria linked to social and territorial development as well as environmental protection and sustainability.

It’s good France is using pre-qualification and non-price award criteria. And that they’re offering extensive indexation.

But the non-price criteria used in the South Brittany auction were not optimal:

Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

The French energy regulator (Commission de Regulation de l’Énergie) has said the 5 per cent robustness criteria should be reinforced in future auctions. WindEurope agrees and urges Governments to make this “ability to deliver” a binding pre-qualification criterion, as per the EU’s Net Zero Industry Act. Bidders scoring low on this criterion should be excluded from the auction.

The South Brittany auction encouraged bidders to build their project with as few turbines as possible. This pushed bidders to plan their projects with wind turbines of 20 MW and more – turbines that don’t exist in the current market. This increases the project risk. And the risk of bidders having to go for non-European turbine, in turn threatening Europe’s energy security and undermining France’s Offshore Sector Deal targets.

The award criteria used in the South Brittany auction failed to ensure the necessary differentiation between bids. On the social-territorial development criteria all bidders scored the maximum, effectively increasing the weight of the price criterion in differentiating the single bids.

It is important that these changes come in as soon as possible. France is running two more floating wind tenders of 250 MW each (Med I+II). And they’ll launch three more offshore wind auctions later this year. Two of them will be bottom-fixed auctions of 1 GW and 1.5 GW (AO7, AO8). The third one will be a floating wind auction of 2.5 GW (AO9). Another auction of up to 8-10 GW of capacity (AO10) could also be prepared later this year.

The South Brittany auction opens the door for big volumes of floating offshore wind to come. Europe could have 3 GW of floating offshore wind by 2030 if the relevant auctions are completed by the end of 2025.

Source: WindEurope

Climate Change Reduce the Numbers of Migrating Birds

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Maurice Schalker)

Climate change is altering the living conditions to which we have adapted, and this particularly affects wild species that have evolved over centuries to adapt to their natural habitats.

Researchers from the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois conducted a study on the impact of climate change on birds, and their findings were published in the journal Science Direct.

Analyzing bird populations between 1980 and 2015 alongside climate data from the same timeframe, researchers discovered a moderate decline in both the overall number and diversity of birds, with a more significant decline observed in migratory species and birds adapted to specific ecosystems.

Co-author of the study, Lui Chen, an assistant professor at the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong, notes that common birds like sparrows, which inhabit a wide range of habitats across North America, are less affected by climate change. According to the analysis, populations of common bird species decreased by about 2.5 per cent during the period from 1980 to 2015.

More:

Endemic species, such as the spotted owl and woodpecker, are much more affected by climate change because they require specific habitat conditions, making them highly vulnerable to any environmental changes. Chen explains that climate change was responsible for approximately a five per cent decline in the population between 1980 and 2015, with losses predicted to reach up to 16 per cent by the end of the century.

When it comes to migratory birds, although these species have the ability to move to more favorable locations, climate change can alter the living conditions at their final destination.

“These birds have generational patterns of migration. They will migrate regardless of obstacles and don’t know what awaits them at the other end. It might be too hot or too dry,” said study co-author Prof. Madhu Kana, adding that climate change can impact food supply along their migration route.

It is evident that climate change has a significant negative impact on birds, prompting Kana to emphasize that this underscores the need for more serious efforts to mitigate the climate crisis as soon as possible.

Milena Maglovski

Algae Offer Great Potential for Energy Production

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Shane Stagner)

The idea that algae can be used for the production of green energy is not new, and numerous universities have presented their concepts of facilities that generate electricity using these organisms.

Among them are researchers from Concordia University in Canada, who recently published their work in the scientific journal Energies. In this study, scientists describe how they managed to produce electricity from the photosynthesis process of algae, since photosynthesis produces oxygen and electrons.

The scientists’ idea is to “capture” electrons and thereby generate electrical energy. For this purpose, they created small energy cells in which they placed algae dissolved in a specialized suspension.

Properly configured, these cells can generate enough energy to power low and ultra-low-power devices such as IoT sensors.

However, although the amount of electricity obtained from algae is currently small, this method gives hope that soon we could have large-scale generators producing significant amounts of electrical energy from algae.

In addition to being widely available and practically free, this method of obtaining electricity offers another advantage over other renewable energy sources because it absorbs carbon dioxide.

“This technology is more than zero-carbon technology – it is a negative-emission technology because it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces electricity. Its only by-product is water,” says one of the study’s authors, Dr. Kirankumar Kuruvinashetti.

More:

They Produce Electricity Even at Night

Despite their lower intensity, algae can generate electricity even without direct sunlight, explains co-author Dilipan Panersalvem.

“Just like humans, algae breathe continuously – they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Because of their ability to photosynthesize, they also release electrons during respiration. The production of electrical energy does not stop; electrons are continuously collected,” says Panersalvem.

He believes that with enough research and development, including AI-assisted integration technologies, this technology has the potential to be a sustainable, affordable, and clean energy source in the future.

Milena Maglovski

What Happens When the Lifespan of Solar Panels Ends? Is There a Reason for Concern?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Michael_Pointner)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Michael_Pointner)

New technologies bring hope for a better and safer future, but at the same time, they also bring anxiety – what negative consequences might they leave behind? Electric vehicles, for example, are criticized because of the energy storage batteries and the lithium required for their production. When it comes to solar panels, which offer us a clean energy source, there is debate about what happens when they become waste. How much will they pollute the environment? Can they be recycled?

Reflecting on this topic, I found an article with conclusions I would like to share.

Numerous and powerful industries are involved in the energy transition. Humanity is filled with both good and evil. Evil includes the desire for power, greed, and recklessness. Although we should be more united than ever in transitioning to a green and sustainable way of life, it cannot be overlooked that some don’t find this to be in their interest. In terms of energy transition and ecology in general, it is essential to highlight the concept of greenwashing, which powerful industries use daily. Therefore, those who harbor distrust towards green technologies cannot be blamed.

Greenwashing is a broad term. In the context of green technologies, this could be explained by companies presenting their products as environmentally sustainable, which they indeed are to some extent. However, they hide that these technologies are not 100 per cent ecological. This is precisely the example I mentioned at the beginning. While electric vehicles are presented as non-polluting because they do not use fossil fuels, producing their batteries requires lithium mining, which is not widely discussed.

Returning to the initial topic, solar panels could similarly be questioned. Although they help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, how much do we know about their different characteristics? What is required for their production, how much emission is released during the process, and what happens when their lifespan ends? Can they be recycled, or do they cause more environmental pollution after their lifespan than the benefits they provided during their operation?

The article I mentioned points out several arguments in favor of solar panels. Firstly, this industry is still relatively young and has room to develop to become more sustainable, and the recycling sector is improving on a daily basis. Besides room for improvement, there is also time for improvement because the lifespan of this technology is up to 30 years. Considering this, solar panels are long-lasting. They are not like phones, which are sold in large quantities and are often replaced every two years.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (_leoneil)

The second point discussed in the article is the material from which solar panels are made. It is stated that over 70 per cent of the material is glass, which has a well-developed recycling capability – in other words, it is recyclable. Although it has its specificities, like any object and technology where certain materials are adapted and improved, the current development of glass recycling infrastructure optimistically suggests that the process for recycling this glass will also develop. The other materials are metals, such as aluminum and copper wires, which also have good recycling potential and can be reused in this industry. Even if some older models of solar panels contain hazardous materials, such as lead, they appear in small quantities. Additionally, these hazardous materials are not released during the operation of the panels. If solar panels are correctly managed after their lifespan, they will not end up in the environment.

There are also companies dedicated explicitly to recycling solar panels, which means that work on this matter is already well underway.

The final argument presented compares fossil fuels and solar energy in the context of which option has a greater negative impact. Even if solar panels as waste create some negative environmental impact, they are still a cleaner solution than fossil fuels. From coal, oil, and natural gas mining to pipeline and tanker transport, spills can occur due to the pollution generated during use. There is also coal ash, which could be considered waste after the coal’s life cycle and is very harmful.

Ultimately, fossil fuels are a limited resource. Therefore, finding alternative solutions and giving them a chance to develop as effectively as possible is necessary.

If we go back to the initial issue of lithium mining to produce batteries for renewable energy storage, it should be noted that this matter is already being addressed. We are finding new materials that could replace the use of lithium and be more sustainable.

Katarina Vuinac

EU and SDGs: How has the EU Performed?

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)
Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

Eurostat released the publication ‘Sustainable development in the European Union – monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context – 2024 edition’. This publication provides readers with a statistical overview of the EU’s progress towards its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Eurostat monitoring report shows that, based on the assessment of the past five years of available data, the EU made progress towards most of the SDGs, while it fell slightly behind in a few goals.

The EU has made very significant progress in terms of reduced inequalities (SDG 10) and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) with several indicators reaching record values. Significant progress has also been made in terms of no poverty (SDG 1).

There were good achievements concerning the goals on sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), life below water (SDG 14), quality education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5).

Meanwhile, the goals on peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), global partnerships (SDG 17) made moderate progress in the EU. This was also the case for SDG 13, climate action.

More:

Regarding the goal on clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), several indicators show positive developments, but others show no progress or even movement away.

For affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), a slight movement away was observed in terms of energy affordability and the EU’s energy import dependency due to the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the consequent energy crisis in the EU.

The goal on health and well-being (SDG 3) was affected by the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic that are now fully visible in the available data.

The goal on life on land (SDG 15) is characterised by several unsustainable trends in the areas of biodiversity and land degradation, leading to a moderately unfavourable assessment of the EU’s progress in this area over the short-term period assessed.

The EU SDGs indicators set is structured along 17 goals, with 102 indicators, reviewed every year, aligned but not identical to the UN SDG indicators used as the basis for monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Many of the indicators are also used to monitor existing policies as the 8th Environment Action Programme and the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan.

Source: Eurostat

EU Support for Green Transition Projects in Serbia

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ivan Bandura)
Photo: Courtesy of Antoine Avignon

The European Union launched the European Green Deal, paving the way for a comprehensive approach to green in all sectoral policies. The Green Deal was extended to the Western Balkans in the form of the Green Agenda, which was adopted by all the countries of the region. The Deal’s priorities are decarbonization, the  fight against pollution, biodiversity, circular economy, and food systems.

The EU provides support in various forms – technical assistance to ministries when drafting laws and policies, investments, especially in wastewater treatment plants and waste centers and assistance with policy dialogues, including attracting public attention through various public events and the media. The Green Agenda for Serbia project successfully supports green innovations pilot projects.

We spoke with Antoine Avignon, Programme Manager for Environment and Climate Changes at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, about how they support the processes of green transition, whether we are doing enough on implementing mechanisms to reduce harmful gas emissions, the legal framework for the adoption of the National Energy Climate Plan in Serbia (NECP) and facilitating education and the development of awareness about environmental protection.

IN FOCUS:

Q: In what other ways does the EU Delegation support implementing the green transition in Serbia?

A: The very process of European integration is a process through which Serbia becomes green. To help Serbia become green, the European Union has invested 582 million euros in environmental protection. Thanks to our projects related to gas pipelines, there will be less harmful emissions and less polluted air. The EU supports Serbia in achieving its own environmental protection and climate action goals to gradually raise them to the EU level while boosting the awareness of individuals, the private sector, and the media. The most important results of this support to Serbia are constructing wastewater treatment plants in Subotica, Šabac, Leskovac, Kula, Vrbas, Raška, Niš, Kraljevo, Brusand Blac. The support also includes renovating the water supply system in Požarevac, Inđija, and Petrovac na Mlavi. Also, a water supply system was built from the ground up in Veliko Gradište. The EU financed the ash disposal system and the installation of the filtration system at the Nikola Tesla TPP. Equipment for monitoring the emission of harmful substances has also been installed in TENT A and B and Kolubara TPP. Regional landfills were built in Pirot, Užice, Sremska Mitrovica, Šabac and Subotica. A medical waste management system has also been developed. The first regional sanitary landfill in Duboko was opened thanks to EU assistance. It now serves nine municipalities in western Serbia and stores 80,000 tons of waste annually. The EU financed the flood defense system in Šabac with 10 million euros. In Subotica, the Delegation funded the construction of a modern Regional Waste Management Centre with 20.3 million euros.

Q: Is enough being done to implement mechanisms to reduce harmful gases in Serbia? How are we progressing towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030?

A: The data on the emission of harmful gases show that the biggest source of sulfur and nitrogen oxides and suspended particles is fuel combustion, which happens during electricity and heat production. At the same time, road traffic contributes to emissions to a lesser extent. The EU also financed the installation of 28 measuring stations and instruments for automatic monitoring of air quality. In February 2020, when air pollution in Serbia was above permissible limits for days, the EU supported Serbia in taking action and addressing this issue to prove how the European integration process can be helpful by offering expertise, examples of good practices, and investments. The emission of particles into the air above Obrenovac and its surroundings has been reduced by as much as six times.

Q: The Rulebook on the Detailed Content and guidelines for Determining the National Goals of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) was approved. Is there a sound legal framework and legislative system for adopting the NECP?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Thomas Reaubourg)

A: The Law on Energy lays a good foundation for the drafting and adopting the NECP. We provided technical assistance over four years to prepare and develop the first NECP that covers the period until 2030. This is a highly demanding and challenging process for countries that rely on fossil fuels and traditional inefficient energy use. Serbia has numerous other opportunities, technologies, and policies at its disposal that could diversify energy sources, bring additional renewable energy, and reduce consumption. It is essential to point out that the lower ambitions of the Serbian NECP are to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and even by 2030 in terms of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. We are following this process. We will help Serbia increase its targets during the implementation and reporting of the NECP in the coming years. Next year, Serbia should finalize and adopt the NECP, following the energy and climate goals of the Energy Community covering the period until 2030, considering the recommendations of the Energy Community Secretariat and the energy sector.

Interview by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURE CONSERVATION.

Nature Restoration Law: Council Gives Final Green Light

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The Council formally adopted the – first of its kind – regulation on nature restoration. This law aims to put measures in place to restore at least 20 per cent of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

It sets specific, legally binding targets and obligations for nature restoration in each of the listed ecosystems – from terrestrial to marine, freshwater and urban ecosystems.

The regulation aims to mitigate climate change and the effects of natural disasters. It will help the EU to fulfil its international environmental commitments, and to restore European nature.

The new rules will help to restore degraded ecosystems across member states’ land and sea habitats, achieve the EU’s overarching objectives on climate mitigation and adaptation, and enhance food security.

The regulation requires member states to establish and implement measures to jointly restore, as an EU target, at least 20 per cent of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030.

The regulation covers a range of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater, forest, agricultural and urban ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers and lakes, as well as marine ecosystems, including seagrass and sponge and coral beds.

More:

Until 2030, member states will prioritize Natura 2000 sites when implementing the restoration measures.

In recent decades, the abundance and diversity of wild insect pollinators in Europe have declined dramatically. To address this, the regulation introduces specific requirements for measures to reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030 at the latest.

The regulation sets out specific requirements for different types of ecosystems, including agricultural land, forests and urban ecosystems.

Member states will put in place measures aiming to restore drained peatlands and help plant at least three billion additional trees by 2030 at the EU level. In order to turn at least 25 000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers by 2030, member states will take measures to remove man-made barriers to the connectivity of surface waters.

Under the new rules, member states must plan ahead and submit national restoration plans to the Commission, showing how they will deliver on the targets. They must also monitor and report on their progress, based on EU-wide biodiversity indicators.

The regulation will now be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force. It will become directly applicable in all member states.

By 2033, the Commission will review the application of the regulation and its impacts on the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, as well as its wider socio-economic effects.

Source: European Council

China Anti-Subsidy Investigation: Provisional Duties

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

ACEA takes note that the European Commission has decided to impose provisional countervailing duties on imports of electric cars manufactured in China, based on initial findings of an anti-subsidy investigation initiated last year.

ACEA has consistently affirmed that free and fair trade is essential in creating a globally competitive European automotive industry, while healthy competition drives innovation and choice for consumers.

Free and fair trade means guaranteeing a level playing field for all competitors, but it is just one important part of the global competitiveness puzzle.

More:

“What the European automotive sector needs above all else to be globally competitive is a robust industrial strategy for electromobility,” stated ACEA Director General, Sigrid de Vries. “This means ensuring access to critical materials and affordable energy, a coherent regulatory framework, sufficient charging and hydrogen refilling infrastructure, market incentives, and so much more.”

The investigation will continue for several months until the Commission decides whether to propose definitive anti-subsidy measures. Member states will then vote on such a proposal.

Source: ACEA

Soil Monitoring Law: EU on the Pathway to Gealthy Soils by 2050

Photo-illustration: Unsplash ( Roman Synkevych)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Steven Weeks)

The general approach reached by the Council today aims to make soil health monitoring obligatory, provides guiding principles for sustainable soil management and addresses situations where soil contamination poses unacceptable health and environment risks.

Healthy soils are the foundation for 95 per cent of the food we eat, host more than 25 per cent of the biodiversity in the world and are the largest terrestrial carbon pool on the planet. Yet, soil is a limited resource and over 60 per cent of soils in the EU are not in a good condition.

‘’Humans and our ecosystems depend on soil as a source of food, clean water, and habitat. But it is a non-renewable resource which needs to be protected and restored. Today, we are taking an important step towards healthy soils in the EU by 2050’’, Alain Maron, minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for climate change, environment, energy and participatory democracy.

Comprehensive monitoring framework

Member states, supported by the Commission, will first monitor and then assess the health of all soils in their territory, so that sustainable soil management practices and other appropriate measures can be taken by authorities and landowners across the EU. Member states will determine sampling points for monitoring, on the basis of an EU common methodology.

The general approach includes additional flexibilities to member states regarding soil measurements, including the possibility to use existing data and monitoring systems. It also sets out the minimum quality requirements for laboratories analysing soil samples to ensure the comparability of soil measurements.

More:

Assessment of soil health

The general approach shares the Commission proposal’s ambition on assessment of soil health, maintaining the concept of soil descriptors (physical, chemical and biological parameters). In order to adapt to local circumstances, a more flexible double-value system was agreed in the Council to assess soil health:

  • non-binding sustainable target values at EU level to reflect the long-term objectives
  • operational trigger values, set at member states level for each soil descriptor, in order to prioritise and gradually implement measures leading to a healthy soil status

Sustainable soil management

According to the general approach, member states will define practices on sustainable soil management within five years of the directive entering into force, taking into account the guiding sustainable soil management principles set out in the directive.

Land take mitigation

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Henry Be)

While maintaining the aspirational long-term objective to have no net land take by 2050, the general approach is centred on tackling soil sealing and soil destruction, as the most visible, the most impactful and the easiest to monitor aspects of land take.

It sets out mitigation principles to be taken into account in member states’ land use planning, which are sufficiently flexible to respect member states’ spatial planning decisions, including on housing and energy transition measures.

Contaminated sites

According to the proposed directive, member states will identify all potentially contaminated sites, then map them in a public register.

The general approach introduces a risk-based and stepwise approach. This will allow member states to prioritise measures, taking into account the potential risks, socio-economic context and the current and planned land use. To help identify potentially contaminated sites, ministers agreed on establishing national lists of potentially contaminating activities.

Once a contaminated site has been identified, it will be investigated, and any unacceptable risks for human health and the environment will be addressed.

Next steps

The general approach reached by the Council will allow its rotating presidency to start talks with the European Parliament on the final shape of the text. Negotiations are expected to start under the new legislative cycle.

Source: European Council

Increasing Energy Investment in Africa is Vital for the Continent’s Sustainable Economic Growth

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: pixabay

Meeting growing energy demand in Africa requires a surge of spending on clean energy projects, with swift action to tackle financial barriers so investment can reach the levels that are needed, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The report, Clean Energy Investment for Development in Africa, supports a flagship initiative launched today by Italy’s G7 Presidency at the Leaders’ Summit in Apulia. Called Energy for Growth in Africa, it aims to help foster a strong pipeline of bankable clean energy projects in Africa and to improve access to financing so the projects can come to fruition, with an emphasis on technical assistance and capacity building.

The IEA will be the initiative’s key knowledge partner, working alongside the United Nations Development Programme, which will focus on implementation. Energy for Growth in Africa – which will complement existing initiatives among G7 members, including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), Global Gateway, and Just Energy Transition Partnerships – will initially collaborate with the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa.

Clean Energy Investment for Development in Africa lays out the opportunities and challenges of accelerating the sustainable development of Africa’s energy infrastructure. Despite the continent’s immense energy resources, it currently attracts only around 3 per cent of global spending on energy. About 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, and more than 1 billion cook their meals over open fires and traditional stoves using wood, charcoal, kerosene, coal or animal waste.

More:

According to the report, meeting Africa’s rising energy needs, as well as the energy access, climate and development goals set by governments in the region, requires annual energy investment to more than double to over 240 billion dollars by 2030, with around three-quarters going to clean energy. The report outlines key target areas for investment, including energy access, the power sector and emerging industries, such as critical minerals and the manufacturing of clean energy technologies.

It also highlights strategies to boost financing for energy investments in Africa, which remains difficult due to higher perceived risks and elevated borrowing costs compared with other parts of the world. In emerging and developing economies, the cost of capital can be two to three times higher than in advanced economies. The report emphasises that concessional finance is therefore key, especially to unleash more funding from the private sector. Africa’s energy systems require, on average, 30 billion dollars in concessional finance annually to 2030 to help realise the three-fold increase in private sector investment needed over the same period, according to the IEA analysis.

“The lack of energy access in Africa is a great injustice, but increased spending on impactful projects could quickly turn the tide,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said. “Our new report outlines the immediate investment priorities and the financing mechanisms needed to rapidly make these projects a reality. We are pleased this issue is high on the G7 agenda and stand ready to work closely with our partners in Africa and beyond to turn promises into action, including through the G7’s Energy for Growth in Africa initiative.”

The IEA has been working on energy and climate issues in Africa for decades. It now has five Association countries in Africa – Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa – and collaborates with many more on a wide range of energy issues. In May, the IEA and its partners hosted the first ever high-level Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, mobilising 2.2 billion dollars in financial pledges from governments and the private sector in an effort to make 2024 a turning point on clean cooking access.

Source: IEA

1...464748...414Page 47 of 414

Newsletter

Please enter a valid email address

Calendar of events

2025 September

MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Events for 30 September
No Events
Events for 1 October
No Events
Events for 2 October
No Events
Events for 3 October
No Events
Events for 4 October
No Events
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Events for 5 October
No Events
Events for 6 October
No Events
Events for 7 October
No Events
Events for 8 October
No Events
Events for 9 October
No Events
Events for 10 October
No Events
Events for 11 October
No Events
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Events for 12 October
No Events
Events for 13 October
No Events
Events for 14 October
No Events
Events for 15 October
No Events
Events for 16 October
No Events
Events for 17 October
No Events
Events for 18 October
No Events
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Events for 19 October
No Events
Events for 20 October
No Events
Events for 21 October
No Events
Events for 22 October
No Events
Events for 23 October
No Events
Events for 24 October
No Events
Events for 25 October
No Events
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for 26 October
No Events
Events for 27 October
No Events
Events for 28 October
No Events
Events for 29 October
No Events
Events for 30 October
No Events

WRITE US

Office: Bulevar oslobođenja 103/3, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Monday–Friday: 09–17h
Phone/Fax: +381 (11) 396 23 59 info@energetskiportal.rs marketing@energetskiportal.rs

©2024 www.energetskiportal.com