MORE ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES IN MONTENEGRO

30.08.2023

Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has embarked on a substantial investment cycle in the segment of renewable energy sources and investments in numerous new green energy projects. One of these is the Solari project, which began producing solar energy, once the Solari 3000+ and Solari 500+ projects were implemented. Applications for the new Solari 5000+ project have also been completed. This project has generated a multitude of positive effects, which are already visible from the financial aspect for housholds, businesses, individuals and EPCG, and from the aspect of the expectations of the international community regarding the reduction of the emission of harmful gases and the bigger use of renewable energy sources.

We spoke with the Director of EPCG, Nikola Rovčanin, about the advantages of investing in solar energy, improving infrastructure, building wind turbines and the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant operations.

What is the goal of the Solari project, and what are the benefits for the end customer?

– The beneficiaries of the Solari project are given the opportunity to install the appropriate photovoltaic system, paying it off in equal monthly amounts equal to their average monthly electricity bill. The maximum investment repayment period is 10 years. Users who own a billing metre with power mea surement (so-called maxigraph) and want to install a photovoltaic system, in addition to the monthly amount for the repayment of the photovoltaic system, retain the obligation to pay the Engagement of Network Capacity monthly fee, which in the final monthly instalment will be equal to the average monthly electricity bill.

By installing a photovoltaic system, the end user becomes a so-called prosumer, who meets their energy needs from their own source, and any excess/shortage of electricity at a certain moment is handed over/ received through the power grid, which is financially balanced out annually. Users pay off the system in equal monthly instalments through a credit arrangement provided by EPCG. In this way, the project’s beneficiaries become the owners of a small solar power plant, the capacity of which is designed to approximately (or completely) meet their electricity needs. The EPCG Solar Gradnja Company has trained teams that are at the service of consumers to efficiently reach the stage of producing electricity themselves and becoming prosumers.

IN FOCUS:

How much solar energy is used, and what is the motivation like?

– Our staff responding quickly to the rapid energy transition in the market poses a special challenge. EPCG recognized the labor shortage problem and then felt it on its skin. The launch of the Solari 3000+ and Solari 500+ projects actualized this threat, but we were ready for it because we had foreseen it. We arranged for timely training sessions and worked hard on properly training our employees, so today, EPCG Solar Gradnja has a significant number of very good and ready assembly teams to respond to serious challenges when it comes to the installation of photovoltaic systems, whether they are mounted on the roofs of buildings or the ground. New facilities create new jobs, and we see this as an opportunity in our company, not only as a company but also in terms of a broader picture regarding social responsibility. I believe that the state must get involved and, through school curriculum and programs for retraining and additional workforce training, enable people to learn, acquire new skills and improve.

Does the existing infrastructure need to be improved to contribute to the bigger use of renewable energy sources in Montenegro?

– It is necessary to improve the existing power infrastructure in Montenegro to prepare it to support numerous new green energy sources. There is some concern regarding possible problems in our current transmission system. Nevertheless, I think that we will overcome these problems and that, in parallel with the implementation of the planned projects, the transmission system will develop and be ready to infrastructurally support all newly connected production facilities.

EPCG has managed to overcome the energy crisis by not stopping its investment cycle, but by maintaining the stability of the energy system, without restrictions and by not increasing electricity prices. How far did you come with constructing the GVOZD wind farm in Krnovo?

What are the next plans?

– In terms of wind energy, we have a project that entails the construction of the Gvozd wind farm with an installed capacity of 54.6 MW. It will be financed from the credit agreement EPCG will sign with the EBRD. All tender procedures for Gvozd are conducted on the EBRD’s electronic procurement portal according to transparent procedures. During the pre-qualification segment of the tender for the procurement of wind generators, which includes the procurement, installation and commissioning of wind generators, received nine offers from renowned global companies, four of which entered the second round of the tender procedure. In the following period, and in addition to embarking on the second phase of the procurement, which stipulates the procurement, installation and commissioning of wind generators, another tender will be launched for construction works on the plateaus and internal medium voltage network, roads, followed by a tender for connecting the Gvozd wind farm to the power transmission grid. A public call for an implementation consultant will also be launched.

What is the fate of TE Pljevlja?

– TPP Pljevlja has started implementing an environmental reconstruction project. We are trying to realize this project with our partners and contractors as soon as possible, bearing in mind that Montenegro has to fulfil the environmental requirements necessary to continue with the EU accession process regarding powdery substances, sulfur and nitrogen oxides. All these systems that we are installing will contribute to that. In this way, Montenegro will position itself as a country with one of the latest thermal energy facilities in the region and beyond.

Prepared by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Renewables Competitiveness Accelerates, Despite Cost Inflation

29.08.2023

solar — Photo-illustration: Pexels (Kelly)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (arteum-ro)

The fossil fuel price crisis has accelerated the competitiveness of renewable power. Around 86 per cent (187 gigawatts) of all the newly commissioned renewable capacity in 2022 had lower costs than fossil fuel-fired electricity.

Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2022, published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today shows that the renewable power added in 2022 reduced the fuel bill of the electricity sector worldwide. New capacity added since 2000 reduced the electricity sector fuel bill in 2022 by at least USD 520 billion. In non-OECD countries, just the saving over the lifetime of new capacity additions in 2022 will reduce costs by up to USD 580 billion.

In addition to these direct cost savings, there would be substantial economic benefits from reducing CO2 emissions and local air pollutants. Without the deployment of renewables over the last two decades, the economic disruption from the fossil fuel price shock in 2022 would have been much worse and possibly beyond many governments ability to soften with public funding.

IRENA’s new report confirms the critical role that cost-competitive renewables play in addressing today’s energy and climate crises by accelerating the transition in line with the 1.5°C warming limit. Renewables represent vital planks in countries’ efforts to swiftly reduce, and eventually phase out, fossil fuels and limit the macroeconomic damage they cause in pursuit of net-zero emissions.

IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “IRENA sees 2022 as a veritable turning point in the deployment for renewables as its cost-competitiveness has never been greater despite the lingering commodity and equipment cost inflation around the world. The most affected regions by the historic price shock were remarkably resilient, in large part thanks to the massive increase of solar and wind in the last decade.”

“Today, the business case for renewables is compelling, but the world must add 1 000 GW of renewable power annually on average every year until 2030 to keep 1.5°C within reach, more than three times 2022 levels. There is no time for a new energy system to evolve gradually as was the case for fossil fuels. In preparation of the COP28 in Dubai later this year, today’s report shows once again that with renewables, countries have the best climate solution at hand to raise ambition and take actions in a cost-competitive way.”

Commodity and equipment cost inflation in 2022 resulted in countries experiencing markedly different trends in costs in 2022, IRENA’s new report finds. However, at a global level, the weighted-average cost of electricity fell for utility-scale solar PV by three per cent, for onshore wind by five per cent, for concentrating solar power by two per cent, for bioenergy by 13 per cent and for geothermal by 22 per cent.

Only the costs for offshore wind and hydropower increased by two per cent and 18 per cent respectively, due to the reduced share of China in offshore wind deployment in 2022 and cost overruns in a number of large hydropower projects.

For the last 13 to 15 years, renewable power generation costs from solar and wind power have been falling. Between 2010 and 2022, solar and wind power became cost-competitive with fossil fuels even without financial support. The global weighted average cost of electricity from solar PV fell by 89 per cent to USD 0.049/kWh, almost one-third less than the cheapest fossil fuel globally. For onshore wind the fall was 69 per cent to USD 0.033/kWh in 2022, slightly less than half that of the cheapest fossil fuel-fired option in 2022.

IRENA’s report concludes that expected high fossil fuel prices will cement the structural shift that has seen renewable power generation become the least-cost source of new generation, even undercutting existing fossil fuel generators. Renewables can protect consumers from fossil fuel price shocks, avoid physical supply shortages and enhance energy security.

Source: IRENA

Clear skies for a sustainable future: how innovation can accelerate aviation’s net-zero journey

29.08.2023

avion aerodrom — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Pascal Meier)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Blake Guidry)

In a world where the urgency of combating climate change has reached new heights, few industries face as much scrutiny as the aviation sector. The skies have traditionally symbolized limitless potential, yet they also carry the burden of an undeniable carbon footprint. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), aviation accounts for 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With air travel projected to increase over this decade, these emissions are only poised to further escalate.

Today, there are limited low-carbon solutions and groundbreaking advancements in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and alternative propulsion technologies. The significance of these innovations has never been more pronounced. Notably, the IEA forecasts that 50 percent of the emission reductions necessary for net-zero targets must be driven by technologies that are either still in their conceptual stages or have not yet attained the necessary scalability.

At the core of aviation’s decarbonization efforts is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is key to helping reshape the industry’s path for emissions reduction in the short to medium term. Current sustainable aviation fuel, mostly sourced from renewables, organics, or waste, is a compelling alternative to traditional jet fuel. Yet, scalability and feedstock limits hinder widespread adoption. Advanced fuel technologies, such as alcohol-to-jet and e-fuels (i.e. SAF85) are crucial for long-term decarbonization, but their nascent stages and lack of scalability pose challenges.

Aviation trailblazers

In the mission to transform aviation and expedite its journey to net-zero, the significance of trailblazers who align climate objectives with business goals cannot be overstated. These innovators have the potential to reshape the industry’s course with their ideas and solutions.

Some of the most exciting ideas and solutions we’ve seen include companies such as Twelve, a pioneer in carbon transformation technology, which is working towards fossil-free aviation fuels made from CO2, water and renewable energy. Then there is Synhelion, which has developed a unique technology to produce carbon-neutral solar fuels from solar energy, and Boom Supersonic, which is designing a new supersonic airliner and committing to using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel to power its aircraft.

While sustainable aviation fuel is crucial, achieving net-zero aviation also requires alternative propulsion technologies. Hydrogen aircraft and high-density batteries show promise, but scalability is uncertain. Companies such as Universal Hydrogen aim to convert existing fleets and offer fuel services, targeting passenger service by 2025. Electrified aviation is also evolving, with startups such as Eviation developing all-electric propulsion for regional flights.

These innovators are at the cutting edge of science and technology, but they cannot transform the industry alone. They need the support of an ecosystem to achieve scalability and to make net-zero aviation possible.

The Sustainable Aviation Challenge

To this end, we’re excited to launch the Sustainable Aviation Challenge on UpLink to accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and other propulsion solutions, with the broader vision of enhancing the viability of promising start-ups in this space. The challenge brings together the World Economic Forum, the First Movers Coalition, which is co-chaired by the U.S. Department of State, industry leaders and technology innovators to drive the aviation industry forward.

Top Innovators will be able to leverage the Forum’s network, foster collaborations with industry players and establish a start-up ecosystem that can catalyse value chains. By fostering innovation, collaboration and transformation, this challenge propels exciting market innovation, underscoring the imperative for joint efforts by startups, governments, investors and corporate buyers to achieve global climate objectives and ensure a future where the skies symbolise limitless possibilities while protecting our planet.

Innovation ignites the spark, but collaboration fuels progress. Innovators need robust support ecosystems to turn ideas into reality. Investment, testing facilities, mentorship and industry collaboration are crucial. Established aviation players can transition from competitors to vital collaborators, sharing expertise, resources and networks to accelerate groundbreaking technology development.

Source: World Economic Forum

Energetik energija – Meeting with the Producers – Sungrow and K2

28.08.2023

Energetski portal naslovna (1) — Photo: Energetik energija

Energetik energija d.o.o. announces the long-awaited educational meeting on September 21. This “Meet the Producers – Sungrove and K2” promises to be an enriching experience for all present.

During this informative session, we will have the privilege of hosting representatives from two leading companies in the renewable energy industry, Sungrow and K2. The meeting will focus on key topics that are at the forefront of the industry’s innovation.

Meeting topics:

SG Optimizers: Sungrow’s latest advancements in SG optimizers technology will be showcased, highlighting their impact on solar system efficiency, performance, and overall energy optimization.

Batteries: Explore the cutting-edge battery solutions offered by Sungrow, designed to revolutionize energy storage capabilities and create a seamless integration with solar systems.

Monitoring Systems / iSolarCloud: Gain insights into Sungrow’s state-of-the-art monitoring systems and the innovative iSolarCloud platform, empowering users to maximize their solar assets’ potential.

News from K2 Mounting Systems: Discover the latest updates and breakthroughs from K2 Mounting Systems, renowned for its exceptional engineering and support of solar mounting infrastructure.

This educational meeting is open to all individuals and organizations with an interest in renewable energy and the latest advancements in the solar industry. Whether you are a solar installer, system designer or renewable energy enthusiast, this event will prove to be invaluable for your knowledge and professional growth.

Attendance is free of charge but limited to a certain number of participants due to venue capacity.

To secure your spot, just reply to this email (or follow the link) and write your name; company name; and number of attendees.

Join us on the 21st of September as we engage in insightful discussions, exchange ideas, and forge stronger connections within the renewable energy community. This educational meeting with Sungrow and K2 promises to be an event that will provide you with the most valuable information, and we look forward to your active participation.

Should you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at academy@energetik.si.

Source: Energetik energija

HYDROGEN IS THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FUEL OF THE FUTURE

27.08.2023

Masina M1 — Photo: courtesy of Jasmina Grbović Novaković

Photo: courtesy of Jasmina Grbović Novaković

The establishment of the Centre for Excellence for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy, CONVINCE, results from systematic long-term research in materials for use in energy and environmental protection at the Vinča Nuclear Research Institute. The Centre has developed a hydrogen storage method. On a larger scale, the examination of the properties of materials with potential application in solid-state hydrogen storage occupies a special place in the Centre’s activities, primarily because of the importance that hydrogen, as an industrial raw material, has today, as well as because of the potential and future role of green hydrogen in energy and decarbonization of industry under the paradigm “hydrogen economy”. Existing applications of hydrogen range from the chemical industry, petrochemicals, methanol production, and hydrogenation of vegetable oils to the steel industry. We spoke with Jasmina Grbović Novaković, head of the CONVINCE of the Vinča Nuclear Research Institute, about the possible future application of hydrogen in the field of transport – large machines, long-range planes, ships, trains and truck transport, the development of hydrogen storage tanks and hydrogen’s advantages when used in industry and energy.

IN FOCUS:

“The application of hydrogen is also possible in the energy field (long-term energy storage, continuous sources and isolated stable power supplies, industrial heat sources, etc.). Forecasts contained within the latest analyses of the development of hydrogen energy and possible applications of hydrogen are mainly based on the limitations associated with gaseous storage. This problem can be overcome by storing hydrogen in a solid state, that is, by chemically binding hydrogen in the form of metal hydrides,” says Jasmina Grbović Novaković.

Researchers have developed a solid-state hydrogen storage tank, the so-called pilot plant. How does it work, and how can the fuel of the future be applied?

Storing hydrogen in a solid state is an alternative to conventional storage methods, primarily due to eliminating safety risks. Hydrogen is chemically bound in the material from which it cannot escape without raising the temperature in controlled conditions. The storage density can be very high – with some materials, the density of stored hydrogen corresponds to storage in a gaseous state under a pressure of 600 bar. The tank, which was designed and constructed at the CONVINCE Centre, works on the principle of bonding in a solid state, with active hydride powder in the form of pressed cylinders and controlled supply and removal of heat, depending on whether the tank is being filled or emptied. Such a tank is typically coupled with a fuel cell to produce and store electricity.

How would a car which runs on solid, i.e. hybrid, hydrogen work?

Unlike electric vehicles, where electric engines are powered directly by batteries, two scenarios are possible with hydrogen vehicles. The first is the use of hydrogen in modified internal combustion engines, and the second is based on the principle of hydrogen tank-fuel cell coupling. The released electrical energy is used to power the vehicle’s electric engine. Existing technological solutions involve using gaseous hydrogen stored in composite bottles under very high pressure. Using solid-state hydrogen tanks eliminates the possibility of explosion due to mechanical damage to the tanks at hundreds of times lower working pressures, while even mechanical damage and rupture of the tank will not cause significant hydrogen leakage, even if the vehicle catches fire.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Luxor Solar – the highest quality solar modules

26.08.2023

solar-panel-g20da084fd_1920 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (

The company Luxor Solar is a certified manufacturer of solar modules. They enriched their portfolio with heterojunction cell technology and high-end solar modules.

The heterojunction technology impresses with several advantages compared to current cell technologies. HJT is more efficient, more durable and guarantees more yield per area, in addition to more yield throughout the lifetime of the modules.

Heterojunction technology is based on an N-doped crystalline silicon wafer coated with very thin amorphous crystalline layers. Photovoltaic cells defer in their layer structure in negatively charged N-type and positively charged P-type cells.

If the base layer is doped with boron, it is a P-type cell. It has one electron less than silicon. That creates an electrician hole, and the positive charge carriers predominate. With N-type cells, the base layer is doped with phosphorus. It has one more electron than silicon, which creates free electrons.

This cell structure is responsible for the efficiency advantage over conventional cell technologies. These free electrons enable the higher efficiency of the N-type cells. They are responsible for extremely low power losses and prevent phenomena such as PID and LID.

Heterojunction cells combine the advantages of two technologies. The crystalline N-type-based cell core allows more direct sunlight to be converted into electricity. The amorphous cell layers also ensure better wreak light behavior and significantly higher resistance to high temperatures.

Heterojunction cells achieve optimal bifaciality thanks to their symmetrical structure. Indirect light is absorbed by the solar cells on both sides. The bifaciality factor of Heterojunction solar modules is up to 95 per cent.

By using Luxor Solar Heterojunction solar modules, you can efficiently reduce your BOS costs. Compared to conventional solar modules, HJT modules generate +3 per cent more power and a further +8 per cent more yield over 30 years on the same large area.

The advantages of the Luxor ECO LINE HJT GG BIF series are several. They are high-class solar modules with an extra class for safety and environmentally conscious customers who appreciate outstanding quality.

Source: Luxor Solar

Extreme weather is the “new norm”

24.08.2023

led_Sibir_voda — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Daniel Born)

From mountain tops to ocean depths, the summer of extremes continues. Heatwaves are baking large parts of the northern hemisphere, fuelling unprecedented wildfires and disrupting marine ecosystems. Floods have transformed desert landscapes. The high-impact weather in August follows the hottest ever month on record in July.

“This is the new normal and does not come as a surprise,” said Alvaro Silva, a climate expert with WMO. “The frequency and intensity of many extremes, such as heatwaves and heavy precipitation, have increased in recent decades. There is high confidence that human induced climate change from greenhouse emissions is the main driver. This gives us the long-term context for the increasing occurrence and severity of such extreme weather and extreme events,” he told a regular media briefing in Geneva.

He said that the behaviour of the jet stream was also a contributing factor – its position has sometimes been. More southern than usual and has been meandering in some regions generating blocking (persistent weather pattern) conducive of extreme weather events such as heat waves as warmer air is pulled from subtropical regions.

“There are several studies suggesting a connection between rapid warming and changes in the Arctic, due to human-induced climate change, and mid latitude weather patterns, including in atmospheric dynamics such as the jet stream but further in depth research is needed to fully understand and explain the extremes occurring this summer,” said Mr Silva.

Heat-health alerts

Moderate and severe heat warnings for the third week of August have been issued by several national meteorological and hydrological services in Europe, including from France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Lithuania.

Much of Switzerland is under level three amber alert or the top-level red alert (as with the case of Geneva) until Thursday.

The heat has reached new heights. Switzerland has a new altitude record for the freezing point of 5,298 m (17,381 feet), measured by a Meteo-Suisse radiosonde carried by a weather balloon above Payerne.

“Another blow for glaciers that have already strongly suffered this year. Snow coverage is only present at the highest elevations,” said Matthias Huss, head of Switzerland’s glacier monitoring network and a member of WMO’s Global Cryosphere Watch community.

Temperatures in much of the southern half of France are forecast to be above 37°C on 22 and 23 Augusts, reaching a peak of 40 to 42°C in the Drome region. Meteo-France issued an amber alert for 49 departments and a red alert for four. It says that numerous station records have fallen both maximum daytime temperatures and minimum overnight ones – which have a particular impact on health.

EXTREME WEATHER IN CHINA HIGHLIGHTS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND NEED FOR EARLY WARNINGS

There are also red alerts in parts of Italy, Croatia and Portugal and widespread amber heat alerts in neighbouring countries.

Norway, which has suffered prolonged heavy rainfall, floods and landslides, is once again under a top-level red alert for rain in the southern part of the country.

Morocco set a new national temperature record of 50.4 °C in Agadir on 11 August, as temperatures crossed 50°C for the first time. Turkey reported a new national temperature record of 49.5°C on 15 August, beating the previous record of 49.1°C set in July 2021. Many parts of the Middle East also saw temperatures of above 50°C.

Spain, including the Canary Islands, and Portugal also experienced extreme heat, fuelling an extremely severe fire risk. As of 17 August, the Tenerife wildfire continued out of control, with more than 2600 ha burnt and people evacuated in some sites. Dry conditions, maximum temperatures above 30 °C, night temperatures above 20 °C, peak wind gusts above 50 km/h were observed on 16 and 17 in some AEMET weather stations of Tenerife.

Greece, badly scarred by wildfires in July, was again hit by fatal fires, leading to a number of reported deaths.

Japan has also suffered a prolonged heatwave, with many station records broken, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

WMO is stepping up efforts to strengthen heat-health early warnings and integrated action plans for heatwaves, which are amongst the deadliest natural hazards. Heat is a rapidly growing health risk, due to burgeoning urbanisation, an increase in high temperature extremes, and demographic changes in countries with ageing populations. Hundreds of thousands of people die from preventable heat-related causes each year.

A new study published in July, calculated last summer in Europe alone 60,000 additional people died due to extreme heat. Experts and governments consider this a conservative estimate. And it is worth noting, the figures are for Europe, which has some of the strongest early warning systems and heat-health action plans in the world,” said Joy Shumake Guillemot, of the World Meteorological Organization/World Health Office joint office on Climate and Health.

North America

Canada’s record-breaking wildfire season continues. More than 660 wildfires were out of control in Canada as of 22 August. In total there are more than 1 000 active fires, including 265 in the Northwestern Territories near the Arctic Circle. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre says that 15.3 million hectares have burnt so far this season – by far the worst fire season on record for Canada. Authorities issued an evacuation order for the town of Yellowknife.

The EU’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service said the estimated emissions from the wildfires through August increased to three times the previous highest annual total in 2014 at just over 350 megatonnes of carbon.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued heat warnings in western Canada and widespread poor air quality warnings. Some daily temperature records were observed for example in Lytton, a new August temperature record of 42.2 °C on 15 August 2023. (Old record of 40.6 °C set in 1967 and records in this area have been kept since 1921).

In the United States, the US National Weather Service says intense and dangerous heat continues to grip the Plains and much of the Central and Southeast U.S. with maximum temperature forecasted to be above 100 °F (38 °C) in many parts and numerous daily temperature records expected.

Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclone activity is ramping up on the approach to the traditional peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The US National Hurricane Center, which acts as WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, on 22 August is issuing forecasts and warnings for three tropical systems in the Atlantic (Gert, Franklin and Harold).

Franklin is forecast to reach the southern coast of Hispaniola on Wednesday, traverse the island and move off of the northern coast on Thursday, bringing the risk of flooding to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Franklin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches (127- mm), with isolated higher amounts up to 15 inches (380 mm), are expected. Significant and potentially life-threatening flash flooding is possible Tuesday into Wednesday across Hispaniola.

Tropical Storm Harold is forecast to make landfall along the lower Texas coast on 22 August, bringing very heavy rainfall and the risk of flash flooding.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Josep Castells)

The tropical storm moving toward southern Texas comes as the region battles extreme heat and drought.

Ex-hurricane Hillary

Hilary, which at its peak was a category 4 storm, weakened before making landfall in Baja California, Mexico, on 20 August. It has now dissipated, but has made history. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued its first ever tropical storm warning for parts of southern California. It is quite rare for a tropical storm or hurricane to maintain its strength and tropical characteristics in California because of cool ocean waters and currents as well as prevailing trade winds.

Despite weakening, Hilary brought flooding rains to Baja California and Southern California, an area that is not used to seeing tropical rainfall, especially in the dry season. Desert towns like Palm Springs were under water, with major disruption to transport and infrastructure.

Hilary brought record rainfall to southern California and parts of Nevada. The US National Weather Service Los Angeles said “virtually all” its rainfall records were broken.

Death Valley, in California, which holds the record as the world’s highest temperature, sawits all-time wettest day on record on 20 August, with 2.20 inches (55.88 mm) of rainfall. This breaks the previous record of 1.70 inches set in August 2022.

Source: WMO

MY EV ROAD TRIP TO THE SOUTH OF SERBIA

23.08.2023

We hear more and more often that electric vehicles are our future, while some of us already consider it to be the present. However, as many divided opinions on the subject or potential reasons as to why they are not a realistic alternative to standard vehicles, there was no way to know the truth until I ventured out to gain first-hand experience. I haven’t had the opportunity to drive an electric car until now, so I decided to try it out and find out how things are going.

Considering the infrastructure in Serbia, I was worried about whether I could get to the very south of Serbia without any problems, where my destination was, and I was also concerned about the differences compared to the conventional car I was used to. The chosen route for my first test drive was Belgrade-Vranje.

A journey of about 350 kilometers was ahead of me, and I only knew that traveling by electric car required a bit of planning before the trip itself, primarily because of the locations of the electric chargers. I chose to drive a Hyundai Kona Electric with a battery capacity of 64 kilowatt hours. Planning a trip involves researching the infrastructure network of chargers, where there are two types – AC slow chargers and DC fast chargers.

IN FOCUS:

The difference between these chargers is primarily in the charging speed. DC chargers have a higher charging power, i.e. they charge faster, and their power can go up to 300 kilowatts, while AC chargers are up to 22 kilowatts at most and are mostly home chargers. They are also found in hotels and other facilities. I started from Zvezdara, where a Charge&GO charger in the Science and Technology Park is available to users of this complex.

The company that operates this charger has its network of electric chargers. In Belgrade, they have AC and DC chargers, and I found out that in Borča, they have a DC charger with a power of 75 kilowatts. Several OMV pumps in the city are waiting for the commissioning of higher-power DC chargers. That’s why I charged the car’s battery at the mentioned AC charger because it was the one closest to me and set off for Vranje. At 90 kilometers from Belgrade, I stopped at the Gazprom Petrol pump in Velika Plana to ensure I had enough electricity to get to the hotel in Vranje.

I topped up the battery, which was only 12 per cent dead by this point. In the same way as in a conventional car, fuel consumption is written in liters. In an electric car, you can monitor the electricity consumption on the dashboard, which was 17 kilowatts per 100 kilometers in my case. I noticed that driving on the open road is less economical than driving in the city, contrary to what we know about diesel and petrol cars.

Since there is not much braking on the highway, the Hyundai Kona drew more electricity, while in the city, where the brakes are frequent, the battery was replenished with each pedal press. This principle is called regenerative braking and means that the battery is discharged but also recovers energy by braking because the engine acts as a generator and produces electricity that is then returned to the battery. It would mean that there is some benefit from city traffic when you drive this car, which was extremely useful information for me.

Therefore, the range varies from 350 kilometers of driving on the open road up to twice the range if it is a question of city driving where there is always a lot of braking. In Velika Plana, I topped up the car to 95 per cent. Surely someone would ask me why I didn’t fully charge the battery when I was already connected to the charger, but there is a logical and economical answer.

There is a 50-kilowatt Charge&- GO DC charger at this location. Since I had over 80 per cent of the battery – it was recharged to less than 10 per cent in 20 minutes because the power used to charge the battery dropped to three kilowatts, which was quite slow. Crucial information for new e-drivers: an electric car is set up to 80 per cent of the battery at maximum power, of acceleration from which the electric one already starts its drive since it has much greater energy losses, such as combustion – as much as 70 per cent are losses. In contrast, an electric vehicle has 20 per cent losses, so it starts faster. Speaking of acceleration, you can reach a speed of 100 km/h in about seven seconds in this car. There is a possibility to set the cruise control, but also the limit. In the second variant, you can add gas, but only up to the speed you have limited. The factory car is set to a top speed of 177 km/h, but I haven’t tried that.

Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Building a sustainable future of the Western Balkans

23.08.2023

The business gathering entitled,, POWER OF SUSTAINABILITY 2023” Festival which will be held in Mostar on September 21/22, 2023. is a continuation of business networking activities organized by the Foreign Investors Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Intera Technology Park under the patronage of the City of Mostar and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The purpose of this gathering is to bring together the most important stakeholders from the Western Balkans region, whose work and activities are aimed at strengthening cooperation with all countries in the region, for the purpose of connecting the regional business community and promoting our region as a unique investment and tourist destination.

This will be the first business event of this kind to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the name:

,,Building a sustainable future of the Western Balkans”

under the motto:

Creating a sustainable community through dialogue!

A starting point towards a green and digital transition.

In the pleasant atmosphere of the City of Mostar and its surroundings, and with a rich program, participants will be able to hear very interesting speakers from the Western Balkan region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) during the two-day gathering. The conference will gather participants from the business and political life of the region, as well as representatives of the international community, organizations, and business associations and chambers.

At the conference, we will deal with current attractive topics, such as the green agenda of the Western Balkans ( promotion of the initiatives for investments in renewable energy sources, the role of regulators and legislators, and the experiences of private investors, methods of project financing and return on investment, etc.), circular economy models related to waste management, and successful examples of companies related to the restoration and protection of the environment, reducing pollution, as well as respecting international standards and practices, topics related to electromobility and the future of transport and reducing CO2 emissions, as well as topics related to the sustainable development of tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

We believe that the rich and meaningful official program followed by numerous gatherings that include a tour of the natural beauties around Mostar will mark the „Power of Sustainability Festival 2023“ as an excellent platform for exchanging best business practices, but also for networking with key individuals from the countries of the Western Balkans. Opportunities for business discussions and connections will be made possible through meetings and numerous joint activities, as well as informal get-togethers.

„Power of Sustainability Festival 2023“ stands out from other similar events not only for the importance of topics and content but also represents a unique interactive platform for the exchange of experiences and opinions, as well as a meeting place for business networking of renowned experts and eminent names from business, social and the political scene of the region.

Key themes:

INVESTMENTS IN THE GREEN ECONOMY – solar and wind energy, energy from geothermal sources

APPLICATION OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY – waste management and its energy utilization, restoration of natural resources

E-MOBILITY – decarbonization of the transport sector with the aim of creating a cleaner, healthier and more affordable future

SUSTAINABILITY IN TOURISM – ecological, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development

Source: POWER OF SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL

ABB expands partnership with Northvolt to electrify the world’s largest battery recycling facility

22.08.2023

ABB_is_providing_process_electrification_to_power_the_worlds_largest_battery_recycling_facility_Revolt_Ett._Image_Revolt — Photo: ABB

ABB and Northvolt are further strengthening their long-standing collaboration in the field of green batteries, an increasingly critical part in the ongoing energy transition. Since 2017, ABB has already delivered key electrification and automation equipment to power Northvolt Ett gigafactory for lithium-ion batteries in Sweden. This partnership is now being expanded to include battery recycling with ABB providing process electrification to power the world’s largest battery recycling facility, Revolt Ett, being established by Northvolt in Skellefteå, northern Sweden. Financial details were not disclosed. The order was booked in the first quarter of 2023.

Revolt Ett, the recycling site, will ultimately process 125,000 tons of end-of-life batteries and battery production waste each year – making it the largest plant of its kind in the world. It will service Northvolt’s gigafactory on the same site, which brought one production block online in 2022 and will establish others to reach an annual production capacity of 60 GWh.

Northvolt supplies a range of lithium-ion batteries to the automotive, industrial, and large-scale energy storage sectors that support the global energy transition. The producer aligns with World Economic Forum figures which show the demand for batteries is expected to increase 14-fold by 2030 due to the adoption of electric vehicles.

ABB will deliver switchgears and variable speed drives to the facility, which will match the speed of the processes taking place in the factory, ramping power up and down as required, saving energy, improving performance and lowering maintenance.

The facility is a key part of Northvolt’s sustainability ambitions and will start operations in 2023. The company plans to reduce the carbon footprint of its batteries to 10 kg CO2e per kilowatt hour (kWh) by 2030, compared to an industry reference of 98 kg CO2e per kilowatt hour (kWh). Key to achieving this target, Northvolt Ett is powered by 100 percent fossil-free energy.

“Batteries are a critical technology within the energy transition,” said Emma Nehrenheim, Chief Environmental Officer at Northvolt. “But with massive growth in battery demand it is critical that we secure solutions to recycle batteries and ensure reliable, sustainable supply of critical minerals. This new facility Revolt Ett will help us achieve both of these goals as we work towards our mission of building the world’s greenest battery.”

As increasing numbers of batteries in the market reach end of life, recycling via Revolt Ett’s battery materials recovery and hydrometallurgical (hydromet) processes is set to supply up to 50 percent of Northvolt Ett’s raw material needs for lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese by 2030. By that point in time, Northvolt aims to have the capacity to manufacture 150 GWh per annum across its operations in Sweden and Germany.

“This is ABB’s first order within the strategically important battery recycling segment,” said Staffan Södergård, Business Unit Manager, Battery Manufacturing, Process Industries, ABB. “In conjunction with a trusted partner in Northvolt, this project offers us the opportunity to help our customers avoid carbon emissions, reuse material and protect critical supply chains. We look forward to its progress.”

Northvolt Ett battery gigafactory is located near the port of Skellefteå in northern Sweden. Northvolt is a European supplier of high-quality battery cells and systems and was founded to enable the European transition to a decarbonized future and with a mission to deliver the world’s greenest lithium-ion battery with a minimal CO2 footprint.

ABB became Northvolt’s partner in 2017, from the inception of the producer’s research and development campus in Västerås, Sweden. Since then, ABB is also invested in Northvolt through ABB Technology Ventures (ATV), the venture capital unit of the ABB Group. ABB has been an ongoing electrification and automation partner and most recently Northvolt chose ABB’s Plant Optimization Methodology to help fast-track project execution with integrated electrification, instrumentation, control, and digitalization (EICD) solutions for efficient start-up and operations.

Source: ABB

Declining electricity consumption in advanced economies is weighing on global demand growth this year

21.08.2023

struja_energija — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Federico Beccari)

EU electricity demand set to drop to lowest level in 20 years, but with global consumption expected to increase strongly in 2024, growth of renewables is more important than ever.

Overall growth in electricity demand worldwide is expected to ease in 2023 as advanced economies grapple with the ongoing effects of the global energy crisis and an economic slowdown, according to the IEA’s latest Electricity Market Report.

The report’s July update, published today, finds that electricity demand in the United States is expected to decline by almost 2 percent this year while demand in Japan is forecast to fall by 3 percent. Electricity demand in the European Union is set to drop by 3 percent, similar to the decrease recorded in 2022. Following these two consecutive declines, which together amount to the EU’s largest slump in demand on record, EU electricity consumption is poised to drop to levels last seen in 2002.

As a result, global electricity demand is set to increase by slightly less than 2 percent this year, down from a rate of 2.3 percent in 2022. But assuming an improving world economic outlook, demand growth is expected to pick up again in 2024, rebounding to 3.3 percent, according to the IEA’s latest projections.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (American Public Power Association)

Rising global electricity demand is still broadly supported by the electrification of energy systems as efforts ramp up to reduce emissions, by the increasing use of indoor cooling as temperatures climb, and by robust demand growth in emerging and developing economies, according to the IEA report. China’s demand is forecast to increase at an average annual rate of 5.2 percent over the next two years, only slightly below its 2015-19 average. Average annual growth in demand from India through 2024 is estimated at 6.5 percent, well above its 2015-19 average.

Even as demand in many regions expands, the strong deployment of renewables worldwide means they are now on track to meet all the additional growth in global electricity demand over the next two years. By 2024, renewables’ share of global electricity generation will exceed one-third. And depending on weather conditions, 2024 could well become the first year in which more electricity is generated worldwide from renewables than from coal.

At the same time, electricity generated from fossil fuels is expected to decline over the next two years. Electricity generated from oil is projected to fall significantly, while coal-fired generation will slightly decline in 2023 and 2024, after rising 1.7 percent in 2022.

“The world’s need for electricity is set to grow strongly in the years to come. The global increase in demand through 2024 is expected to amount to about three times the current electricity consumption of Germany,” said Keisuke Sadamori, the IEA’s Director for Energy Markets and Security. “And we’re encouraged to see renewables accounting for a rising share of electricity generation, resulting in declines in the use of fossil fuels for power generation. Now is the time for policy makers and the private sector to build on this momentum to ensure emissions from the power sector go into sustained decline.”

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (markusspiske)

In another sign the energy transition is taking hold, the IEA now sees electricity generated from fossil fuels falling in four out of the six years between 2019 and 2024. In the past, annual declines in fossil-fired generation were rare and occurred primarily after global energy and financial shocks, when global electricity demand was suppressed. But in recent years, electricity generated from fossil fuels has lagged or fallen even when electricity demand expanded.

That indicates the world is rapidly moving towards a tipping point in which global electricity generation from fossil fuels will increasingly be replaced by electricity from clean energy sources, the report finds.

In particular, the report examines in detail the forces driving the declines in electricity demand in the EU. The bloc’s energy-intensive industries have not yet recovered from last year’s production slump, it finds. Almost two-thirds of the net reduction in EU electricity demand in 2022 is estimated to have come from energy-intensive industries contending with elevated energy prices. This trend has continued well into 2023, despite prices for energy commodities and electricity falling from previous highs.

Source: IEA

MULTIPLE BENEFITS OF BIOGAS – FROM ENERGY TO FERTILIZER

21.08.2023

Renewable energy sources have become an inevitable topic, especially in the last year, yet it seems that contemplating them is reduced to very few sources. Solar energy could take the first place as a source available for wider use, which requires a relatively simpler and cheaper installation, followed by wind energy, with a more demanding installation process, but with great potential, which has been receiving more and more investments. However, a frequently mentioned source, hydro energy, is often found in a negative context in terms of jeopardizing the environment. The mentioned sources are the ones that most often come to mind when talking about renewable energy.

Thanks to its geographical characteristics, Serbia has a significant potential for obtaining energy from such sources. One of the potentials is biogas, which has not garnered enough attention yet and whose usefulness goes further than producing energy.

We asked electrical engineer Goran Knežević to explain what biogas is, its generation process and its advantages compared to other renewable sources.

IN FOCUS:

Biogas is a mixture of gases created by the decomposition of organic matter without the presence of oxygen. This process is called anaerobic digestion, and it could be compared to the process of digesting food in a cow’s stomach. Biogas can be produced from almost all organic residues, whether from farms, agricultural holdings, industries, the service sector, or food chains. In this way, in addition to solving the problem of supplying cleaner energy, biogas also solves the problem of waste. On the one hand, farms that generate organic waste for free or at extremely low prices can solve the waste disposal problem. At the same time, on the other, thanks to biogas plants, there is the possibility of transforming waste into electricity and heating/cooling energy, or biomethane. Biogas’ contribution to the reduction of environmental pollution is shown by the fact that burning biogas prevents the emission of methane into the atmosphere, a gas with a greenhouse effect that is 22 times more pronounced than carbon dioxide. By upgrading biogas to the biometer level, carbon dioxide is released that can be used in greenhouses or, say, the carbonated beverage industry. In explaining the biogas production process, we should mention that animal and vegetable waste contains a high percentage of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. During the anaerobic decomposition of such substances, which can be divided into four stages, namely hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis, a considerable amount of gas with a high percentage of methane (40-65 per cent by volume) is produced, which is called biogas (medium thermal power 16.2 – 19.8 MJ/Nm3).

“The decomposition process begins with the mechanical shredding of raw materials, fed several times a day into hermetically sealed tanks, so-called fermenters (digesters). The whole process takes place at a constant temperature, usually in the range of 36–42°C. The capacity of the fermenter is sufficient to keep the raw material in them for 30-60 days, which allows the bacteria to generate biogas efficiently. After it has been produced, biogas is purified and then transported to the so-called cogenerator. A cogenerator is a device created by connecting a gas engine and an electricity generator. In this way, electrical and thermal energy is produced (thermal energy is a consequence of cooling the cogenerator). The electrical energy is then measured and handed over to the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS), and the heating/cooling energy can be used for own needs, or further sale,” explains Goran.

Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Once threatened, Mexico’s “green jewel” has become a model of conservation

19.08.2023

šuma - forest - zelenilo -green — Foto-illsutration: Unsplash (John-o-Nolan)

Martha Isabel “Pati” Ruiz Corzo moved to the Sierra Gorda – a dramatic expanse of wilderness in the heart of Mexico – four decades ago in search of a quiet, idyllic place to raise her family.

But what the former music teacher from Querétaro City found instead was a land scarred by logging, road building and other types of often-unregulated development, which were whittling away at Sierra Gorda’s unique mix of jungles and cloud forests.

That led Ruiz Corzo to launch a grassroots movement that has spent 40 years protecting one of Mexico’s most ecologically diverse areas. At the effort’s core is the idea that local communities should play a leading role in conservation and that preserving Sierra Gorda’s natural spaces could be more profitable than razing them.

“We have lost that natural world that we once had contact with. So, all that remains is sacred to me,” said Ruiz Corzo, who in 2013 was named a United Nations Champion of the Earth, the UN’s highest environmental honour. “I believe our society should connect with the nature that sustains us as a loving mother.”

Today, Sierra Gorda is home to a web of thriving ecosystems that host an array of wildlife, including more than 1,100 species of birds and butterflies, and endangered animals, such as the jaguar. The region is widely viewed as a rare conservation success story, one that is receiving more attention as countries try to stem the erosion of the natural world. Globally, unchecked human expansion into once-wild places is one of the reasons more than 1 million species are being pushed towards extinction.

“The success of Sierra Gorda is proof that it is possible to reverse nature’s decline and to create more sustainable communities,” said Juan Bello, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Director. “In the 10 years since Pati Ruiz Corzo received the Champions of the Earth award, Sierra Gorda has continued to serve as a shining example of how conservation can go hand in hand with economic development.”

A leading model of community action

Covering more than 380,000 hectares, almost a third of the state of Querétaro, Sierra Gorda is filled with mountains, rivers, jungles, semi-arid deserts and mist-shrouded cloud forests. UNESCO has described the area as Mexico’s “green jewel”.

Ruiz Corzo moved to Sierra Gorda in the 1980s and soon came to find that what was once a pristine wilderness was becoming laced with roads, garbage dumps and logging operations. That led her to found the Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda with her husband and local residents.

“It was impossible not to act,” Ruiz Corzo said.

Thanks to Grupo Ecológico’s efforts, Sierra Gorda was declared a protected area by the federal government in 1997, and UNESCO named it a Biosphere Reserve in 2001.

Much of Sierra Gorda’s success stems from the “conservation economy” that Ruiz Corzo and Grupo Ecológico have built. The reserve is home to 100,000 people and many earn at least some of their income from ecotourism and forest restoration, and by helping to counter climate change.

Grupo Ecológico, for example, developed a programme that incentivizes landowners to leave their lands and forests to grow wild by compensating them for lost income from cattle ranching and logging – activities that fuel soil erosion and destabilize fragile ecosystems.

According to Grupo Ecológico, removing cattle from land can help restore forests, each hectare of which can soak up nearly four tonnes of planet-warming carbon dioxide per year.

Grupo Ecológico has developed its own carbon dioxide capture mechanism called “Biodiverse Carbon,” which is based on a model validated by the World Land Trust. Grupo Ecológico funds forest protection projects through its Carbon Balanced initiative and has also been collaborating with the Querétaro state government since 2014 to run a state-funded carbon footprint scheme.

Under the programme, vehicle owners in Querétaro pay a small tax along with the fee for renewing their license plates every year. Companies and industries based in Querétaro also pay a carbon tax. A proportion of these funds is then paid to landowners in Sierra Gorda to compensate them for conserving forests on their land, which allows for the return of a range of plants and animals.

Grupo Ecológico has also been responsible for coordinating Mexico’s only climate mitigation and adaptation initiative that is solely focused on forest and soil restoration.

“We work hand in hand with the state government,” said Ruiz Corzo. “We have developed together with them climate action tools, strategies and guidelines, and now the state of Querétaro is a champion on the matter.”

Other projects Grupo Ecológico has launched include beekeeping support, ecosystem conservation training and community-based tourism.

Education and awareness

Sustainable use and management of biodiversity is one of the four overarching goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark agreement adopted in December 2022 to halt and reverse nature loss. The plan includes putting 30 per cent of the planet and 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030.

For Ruiz Corzo and her children, one of the best tools to defend nature and foster sustainable environmental practices is education.

Ruiz Corzo’s son, Mario David Pedraza Ruiz, runs a family ranch, Rancho Suelo Vivo, which provides training and environmental education programmes to farmers – from smallholders with limited crops to commercial livestock farmers.

“Thousands of farmers have passed through this classroom. As everyone can be part of the conservation movement, we have sought to bring together two very different areas: livestock farming and conservation agriculture,” Mario Ruiz said.

Nearly 40 years into the campaign to protect Sierra Gorda, Ruiz Corzo said her work still fills her with a deep sense of purpose.

“We are preserving the services of nature, strengthening them to capture more water, more carbon dioxide, to have more habitat for the species of flora and fauna. If nature is promoted, wonderful things happen,” she said.

Source: UNEP

1...464748...385 Page 47 of 385

IN FOCUS:

More:

More:

More:

IN FOCUS:

More:

More:

IN FOCUS:

More:

MORE:

IN FOCUS:

More:

More:

More:

Newsletter

Calendar of events

2024 October

Events for 31 October

Events for 1 November

Events for 2 November

Events for 3 November

Events for 4 November

Events for 5 November

Events for 6 November

Events for 7 November

Events for 8 November

Events for 9 November

Events for 10 November

Events for 11 November

Events for 12 November

Events for 13 November

Events for 14 November

Events for 15 November

Events for 16 November

Events for 17 November

Events for 18 November

Events for 19 November

Events for 20 November

Events for 21 November

Events for 22 November

Events for 23 November

Events for 24 November

Events for 25 November

Events for 26 November

Events for 27 November

Events for 28 November

Events for 29 November

WRITE US