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Montenegro Introduces Auctions for Renewable Energy Sources

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (American Public Power Association)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bill-Mead)

Montenegro plans to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix with a comprehensive programme of renewable energy auctions that will bring private investment into the sector.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is helping the Ministry of Capital Investments of Montenegro to implement the programme with dedicated technical assistance, financed by grants from the EBRD, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance through the High-Impact Partnership on Climate Action (HIPCA) and Italy through the Central European Initiative (CEI).

The aim is to assist Montenegro in boosting the use of clean energy and in building a sustainable and diversified power sector by creating an enabling business environment for private investment. The country, which has strong wind and solar energy potential, will be able to benefit from these resources at competitive prices.

The programme, which was presented in Podgorica, will first support the authorities in developing a comprehensive legal framework in the form of a new renewable energy law that will lay the foundation for accelerating the growth of renewable energy sources. This will be followed by support for the design and implementation of a competitive bidding process to award market-based support for renewable electricity generators.

Remon Zakaria, Head of the EBRD in Montenegro, said: “We are very pleased to support the introduction of best international standards for scaling up renewable energy investments in the country. By reforming the energy sector, Montenegro will be able to harvest its rich sources of renewable energy and positively contribute to the environment and the economy.”

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“Considering that our country has significant potential for renewable energy, such as hydro, wind, solar energy and biomass, our priority was and remains the production of renewable, clean energy. We want to turn climate and environmental challenges into our opportunities and competitive advantages, by ensuring a fair and inclusive transition towards climate neutrality. In line with its priorities in energy sector, Montenegro will continue activities to ensure secure energy supply, the development of a competitive energy market and sustainable energy development, with active cooperation with everyone who has the same goals,” said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Capital Investments Ervin Ibrahimović.

The majority of electricity in Montenegro is produced at the Pljevlja lignite-fired thermal power plant and the Perucica and Piva hydropower plants. Competitive procurement processes for renewables will allow the country to increase its share of solar and wind projects and decrease its reliance on coal.

In addition to environmental benefits, boosting investments in renewables could potentially help the country diversify its economy, which currently relies heavily on tourism. The existing underwater electricity cable that connects Montenegro with Italy, as well as other interconnections with neighbouring countries, could help position the country as clean energy exporter.

The EBRD has been supporting Montenegro in developing a sustainable and diversified energy sector through policy dialogue, technical assistance and investment. To date, the EBRD has invested more than 700 million euros in the country.

Source: EBRD

 

Mihajlovic: Those Who Shut Down Serbian Energy Industry Put us in a Situation Where We Depend on One Gas Supplier

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo: Serbian Government

Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Mining and Energy, Zorana Mihajlovic, said today that those who fought for nothing to change in Serbian energy sector and for it to remain closed, have put Serbia in a position where today it depends on one supplier.

“Having only one supplier, no matter who it is, is the biggest mistake for any economy, let alone for small economies when it comes to energy security. It is not the first time that they have attacked my knowledge and work because I tell the truth about Serbia’s gas security and because I point out the possibilities for the development of Serbian energy. For those who wanted to close Serbia, attack is always the best defense. But let’s wait for September of next year and for the gas pipeline to be completed, and I believe that we will have a contract with Azerbaijan much earlier”, said Mihajlovic, answering questions from journalists while visiting the construction site of Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection.

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When she was asked about the attacks in media because of Nis-Dimitrovgrad project, she stated that as long as the gas interconnection project exists, there have been stories about how Serbia cannot get gas in that direction, that there is not enough of it or that we do not need it.

“The gas we receive from the Russian Federation is not disputed, but due to the economy of Serbia and the citizens who use gas, we have to be safe, and that means having other suppliers. I believe that we will build other interconnections, with Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, we are thinking about interconnection with Croatia, because only a region connected by gas pipelines can be energy safe”, she said.

She added that she expects Serbia to have sufficient quantities of gas for this winter through the contract with “Gazprom”, in warehouses in Hungary and from the Serbian part of the warehouse in Banatski Dvor, but that it is important to build not only new interconnections, but also new warehouses. “The plan is to build a new warehouse that will only be owned by Serbia, in Itebej or at another location, whose capacity would be one billion cubic meters, and the value of the investment is estimated at around 200 million euros,” said Mihajlovic.

She also stated that she hopes that the countries through which Serbia is supplied, primarily Bulgaria and Hungary, will respect their contractual obligations, but that the country also has prepared crisis plans in case of unforeseen situations.

Source: Ministry of energy and mining

Renewable Power Remains Cost-Competitive amid Fossil Fuel Crisis

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (NIcholas Doherty)

Costs for renewables continued to fall in 2021 as supply chain challenges and rising commodity prices have yet to show their full impact on project costs. The cost of electricity from onshore wind fell by 15 per cent, offshore wind by 13 per cent and solar PV by 13 per cent compared to 2020.

Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021, published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today, shows that almost two-thirds or 163 GW of newly installed renewable power in 2021 had lower costs than the world’s cheapest coal-fired option in the G20. IRENA estimates that, given the current high fossil fuel prices, the renewable power added in 2021 saves around USD 55 billion from global energy generation costs in 2022.

IRENA’s new report confirms the critical role that cost-competitive renewables play in addressing today’s energy and climate emergencies by accelerating the transition in line with the 1.5°C warming limit and the Paris Agreement goals. Solar and wind energy, with their relatively short project lead times, represent vital planks in countries’ efforts to swiftly reduce, and eventually phase out, fossil fuels and limit the macroeconomic damages they cause in pursuit of net zero.

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“Renewables are by far the cheapest form of power today,” Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA said. “2022 is a stark example of just how economically viable new renewable power generation has become. Renewable power frees economies from volatile fossil fuel prices and imports, curbs energy costs and enhances market resilience – even more so if today’s energy crunch continues.”

“While a temporary crisis response might be necessary in the current situation, excuses to soften climate goals will not hold mid-to-long-term. Today’s situation is a devastating reminder that renewables and energy saving are the future. With the COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE ahead, renewables provide governments with affordable energy to align with net zero and turn their climate promises into concrete action with real benefits for people on the ground,” he added.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Investments in renewables continue to pay huge dividends in 2022, as highlighted by IRENA’s costs data. In non-OECD countries, the 109 GW of renewable energy additions in 2021 that cost less than the cheapest new fossil fuel-fired option will reduce costs by at least USD 5.7 billion annually for the next 25-30 years.

High coal and fossil gas prices in 2021 and 2022 will also profoundly deteriorate the competitiveness of fossil fuels and make solar and wind even more attractive. With an unprecedented surge in European fossil gas prices for example, new fossil gas generation in Europe will increasingly become uneconomic over its lifetime, increasing the risk of stranded assets.

Source: IRENA

Recycled Material Made from Wood Shavings and Sawdust – “Cured” Wood Stronger Than Steel

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (stux)

Recycling wood waste, including wood shavings and sawdust, into a building material stronger than steel – that’s a brief way of describing the experiment carried out by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Canada. The new process, developed by a team led by Orlando Rojas, is potentially revolutionary, experts believe, though it remains to be seen what it will look like in practice.

They called the material produced during the experiment “cured wood”. The initial idea was to optimize the use of wood so that even the parts that otherwise cannot be used, such as wood shavings, sawdust and broken and rotten parts, are brought back to use.

The process is based on separating the fibers from wood waste. Dimethylacetamide is used as the dissolver, in order to release the cellulose fibers present in the cell walls of the material. They then form new hydrogen bonds, which results in a material with better mechanical characteristics, not just compared to the commercially available laminated wood, but also to many metals.

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The secret, as Rojas explained for the New Scientist magazine, is in the use of the inherent tendency of cellulose to create very strong hydrogen bonds. Not only is material stronger than steel produced this way, but the treatment can be repeated several times on the same parts in order to extend the life cycle.

The question is whether this process can be optimized, but Rojas and his team have no doubts there, because, as they say, all the systems used in the experiment are already known and widely present in the wood industry.

Source: eKapija

Energy Community Power System Can Support at Least 30 GW of Renewables Without Additional Investments Into Flexibility

Photo-illustration: Unsplah (Karsten Wurth)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

As the energy transition advances in the Energy Community Contracting Parties, the share of power generation from variable renewables such as wind and solar will increase manyfold.

The Energy Community power system with currently planned investments until 2030 can integrate as much as 30 GW of variable renewables without additional investments into flexibility sources, reveals an Energy Community study. Higher levels of variable renewables will require a more flexible power system to balance supply with demand, but investments will be substantially lower if existing cross-border infrastructure is better utilized and short-term electricity markets are operational and coupled with the EU.

“The energy transition is irreversible and today’s study shows that nothing should stand in the way of more renewables. Against the background of the energy crisis, we must look for cost-effective solutions to unlock higher renewables potential. Further electricity market integration is the clear way forward”, director Lorkowski said.

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The study assesses the flexibility needs and options to balance each Contracting Party’s power system on different time-scales (daily, weekly and annual) until 2030 and 2040 under different assumptions mainly linked to the speed of renewables uptake and level of market integration.

It identified that there will be no need for additional investments into flexibility sources until 2030 when variable renewables (wind and solar) might reach 30 GW. The study underscored the pivotal role of cross-border interconnectors and market coupling in providing the flexibility needed to enable higher penetration of renewables and decarbonisation in the Energy Community. Annualised investment needs/costs between 2030 and 2040 into additional flexibility sources will drop by as much as EUR 150 million if organised spot (day-ahead and intra-day) and balancing markets are coupled between the Contracting Parties and with the EU. Market integration will also allow the absorption of an additional 5 TWh per year of variable renewable production from the EU that would otherwise be curtailed.

The study concludes by setting out policy and regulatory recommendations to minimize overall system costs, including on energy sector governance, electricity market design, renewable energy development and carbon pricing. The Contracting Parties are recommended to define a flexibility strategy as part of their National Energy and Climate Plans.

The study was prepared by Trinomics and Artelys consultancies.

Source: Energy Community

Five Threats To the Water That Sustains our Farms

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo illustration: Pixabay

Since the 1950s, innovations like synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides and high-yield cereals have helped humanity dramatically increase the amount of food it grows. But those inventions would be moot without agriculture’s most precious commodity: fresh water. And it, say researchers, is now under threat.

Pollution, climate change and over-abstraction are beginning to compromise the lakes, rivers, and aquifers that underpin farming globally. That is raising the spectre of widespread food shortages – a situation made worse by the Ukraine crisis.

“For two-plus generations, now, humanity has lived in a relative time of plenty,” said Leticia Carvalho, head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Marine and Freshwater Branch. “But we’re undermining the freshwater resources that make it possible for us to grow crops. And if we keep doing that, the consequences could be severe.”

The amount of fresh water per capita has fallen by 20 percent over the last two decades and nearly 60 percent of irrigated cropland is water-stressed, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The implications of those shortages are far-reaching: irrigated agriculture contributes 40 percent of total food produced worldwide.

Here’s a closer look at what is behind the decline of the world’s per capita freshwater reserves and how those challenges are affecting farmers.

Drought and aridification

Research shows that global warming is sparking longer-lasting droughts, like the record-setting dry spells that have gripped East Africa and the Western United States. This, say experts, is a prime example of climate change in the flesh.

According to the Global Land Outlook, a report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, over one-third of the world’s population currently lives in water-scarce regions.

At the same time, global warming has been blamed for increasingly severe flooding, as seen recently in India and Bangladesh, with dire consequences for farmers.

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Mismanagement of groundwater

Groundwater supplies 43 percent of the water used for irrigation. But improvements in drilling technology over the last few decades have led to its unsustainable extraction in parts of the world, such as India.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 10 percent of the global grain harvest is being produced by depleting groundwater resources.

Sound management practices and technological advancements, like drip irrigation, can lessen the pressure on groundwater reserves, say experts.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Angela Compagnone)

Saltwater intrusion

Intensive irrigation can lead to a rise in the water table, siphoning salt into the soil and the roots of plants, affecting their growth.  

As well, the overuse of groundwater can combine with climate-change-induced sea-level rise to cause saltwater to penetrate coastal groundwater aquifers. This can damage crops and their yields and affect drinking water supplies.

UNEP estimates that around one-tenth of rivers around the world are affected by salinity pollution.

Pollution

In some arid areas, there has been an increase in the amount of wastewater used to grow crops. Pathogens in that water can cause cholera or diarrhoea, though farmers are often not aware of those potential consequences. (Washing or boiling vegetables greatly reduces the risk of illness.)

The problem can be exacerbated by flooding, which can inundate sewage systems or stores of fertilizer, polluting both surface water and groundwater. Fertilizer run-off, can cause algal blooms in lakes, killing fish. Storm run-off and forest fires are further risks to farming and food security.

In some places around the world, pollution is also seeping into groundwater, with potential long-term impacts on crops, though more research is needed to establish the precise effects on plants and human health.

Land degradation

Humanity has altered more than 70 percent of the Earth’s land area, causing what the Global Land Outlook called  “unparalleled environmental degradation”.  In many places, the ability of soils to store and filter water is waning, making it harder to grow crops and raise livestock. If current land degradation trends continue this century, scientists predict that there could be disruptions to food supplies, says the report.

Extreme weather caused by climate change, like heavy rains followed by periods of drought, can accelerate land degradation.

Solutions

Adopting drip irrigation and other means of increasing water use efficiency, a target within the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, would help reduce demand on freshwater supplies worldwide. Another approach that can help – and is being promoted by UNEP and others – is the improved management of water resources.

The coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources can maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. It is a long-term process involving local communities, individuals and institutions in the management of water systems. Lake Dojran, shared by North Macedonia and Greece, is an example of where such approaches are promoting conservation and restoration. Another example is Sudan: in 2020, UNEP published a report which explored how communities there were using water management techniques to adapt to climate change.

Source: UNEP

EBRD to Invest in Lamda’s Green Bond in Greece

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has successfully participated in a green bond issued by Lamda Development in Greece, investing 20 million euros in the total 230 million euros offering.

Lamda is the largest Greek real-estate developer and owner of The Ellinikon, the largest urban regeneration project in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, which aims to transform the former Athens International Airport in the area of Ellinikon into a sustainable and fully integrated commercial, residential and hospitality area open to the public.

The proceeds of the bond issue will fund sustainability elements of The Ellinikon, including green buildings and infrastructure, green energy and smart-city technologies.

Lamda will invest the EBRD’s proceeds in financing green-certified assets, achieving at least Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” or BREEAM “Very Good” certification.

The green bond is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (ΑΤΗΕΧ) and aligned with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles. The issuance, taking place in the current market environment, shows the debt capital market’s resilience and contributes to its development and long-term financial viability, promoting environmental aspirations through a dedicated green finance instrument that strengthens corporate climate governance.

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Vlaho Kojakovic, EBRD Head of Property and Tourism, said: “We are delighted to contribute to Lamda’s path towards a low-carbon trajectory and the realisation of an investment plan focused on sustainability and climate resilience, through a tailored capital markets tool. The Ellinikon is a flagship project for the sector’s transition to a high-specification, smart and sustainable building and infrastructure landscape, offering a versatile land-use mix and having significant economic, societal and environmental implications for a much wider area.

Odisseas Athanasiou, CEO of Lamda Development, said: “We are very pleased with the EBRD’s participation in our first ever green Greek listed bond. This transaction further cements our relationship with the EBRD, which we consider a strong partner in our journey to make The Ellinikon a benchmark project for sustainability and smart living. The great reception of this bond by our investors is testament to the trust and confidence in our commitment to provide all of society, in a responsible way, with the highest standards of living in an urban environment.”

In 2019, the Bank invested 22.7 million euros in Lamda’s equity issuance to support the development of The Ellinikon.

To date, the EBRD has invested more than 5.8 billion euros in 91 projects in the corporate, financial, energy and infrastructure sectors of the Greek economy.

Source: EBRD

Serbia Will Be Fully Recognised as Country of New Technologies

Photo: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic expressed her belief that the BIO4 campus will further strengthen our economy, raise the average salary and pension level, and ensure that young people stay in Serbia, but also that many move to our country to work in the most challenging projects in biotechnology.

At the presentation of the conceptual design of the BIO 4 campus in the government building, Brnabic pointed out that construction is expected to begin next year, and occupancy is planned for 2025.

According to her, when we succeed in this intention, Serbia will be a country that no one will ever be able to stop and that will be fully recognised as a country of new technologies, knowledge and innovation and one of the most important European centres when it comes to new technologies.

The Prime Minister added that this will ensure that we have a high level of quality of life, which is not only reflected in the fact that we will have higher salaries, adding that BIO4 is a huge visionary project that has been worked on for more than 18 months.

Brnabic pointed out that the construction of this campus will cost EUR 190 million and that EUR 100 million will be invested in equipment, noting that the money will probably be secured from a loan from the Development Bank of the Council of Europe.

The future is in two fields – artificial intelligence and biotechnology, and the BIO4 campus introduces these two new fields to our country. If we manage to do that, and I have no doubt that we will, then the sky’s the limit for Serbia, she said, adding that Serbia is not the same country as it was in 2012 or 2015 and that more and more foreign companies are coming to our country.

According to her, there are already companies that are interested in opening their development centres for biotechnology and want to be tenants of the BIO4 campus.

The Prime Minister emphasized that BIO4 is an upgrade of what the government, in cooperation with the educational and scientific system, has been doing since 2016, when the beginning of the transformation of our economy into an economy based on knowledge, innovation and new technologies was announced.

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Since then, we have built four science and technology parks, a network of start-up centres in Serbia, the most modern data centre for data storage and reforms in the education system, primarily by introducing programming, we have managed to attract a large number of the most prestigious foreign companies that have chosen Serbia as the place where they open its development and research centres, the Prime Minister stated.

Brnabic presented that the company NCR in Serbia has built its largest campus for development and research outside the USA, that Microsoft is going to make their research centre in Serbia the main development centre in Europe that will employ several thousand people in the coming years.

Also, French Schneider Electric has its largest development centre in Novi Sad, Epik bought Serbia’s Trilateral, one of the most successful start-up companies in the world, she emphasised.

She pointed out that the IT sector has become the fastest growing sector of our economy and the largest export sector in Serbia, specifying that the export of IT services has increased three times in the last six years.

In the first four months of this year, it is equal to our export of IT services in 2016, and we believe that this year it will exceed 2.5 billion euros, said the Prime Minister.

Brnabic emphasised that since 2016, Serbia has more than doubled the number of programmers from 19,000 to more than 40,000, and expressed her belief that we will soon reach the number of 100,000 programmers.

The Prime Minister reminded us that we retain developers by enabling the development of more and more start-up companies, by increasing innovation funds that invest in start-ups, and by adjusting legislation.

As she stated, 2021 was a record year for the number of start-ups and investments in them, and more and more development centres are opening, so in addition to keeping our own, foreigners are also coming.

The BIO4 campus will house three faculties – Biology, Pharmacy and the Bioengineering Group of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy.

The campus will house eight scientific institutes, the Extension of the Science and Technology Park and research centres of private companies.

Source: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

New Version of Solar Car Emilia4 Being Prepared in Cooperation Of Serbia and Italy

Photo: Printscreen/Youtube (Mobil Auto TV)

It is called Emilia4 and it is the symbol of the day dedicated to sustainable mobility as selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy. It is a solar electric car, which runs on solar energy, and it was produced by Alma Mater Studorium – University of Bologna as part of the project of bilateral scientific cooperation with Serbia, co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy. The car was exhibited to the public at the ministry’s yard.

As the name suggests, Emilia4 is a car with four seats, which, in the version optimized for long races, travels at 65 km/h, and it is powered by two electric engines, which consume energy equivalent to a regular hairdryer of 1,200 watts, used in households, according to the website of the Embassy of Italy in Serbia.

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Thanks to its unique characteristics and performances, the vehicle triumphed at the event American Solar Challenge 2018 and European Solar Challenge 2021, contests reserved for vehicles which are powered exclusively by solar energy, so, without external battery charging, developed by universities and technical colleges worldwide.

This is an excellent result at the end of the project which included all car components to the end of achieving maximum energy efficiency: structure optimization in the sense of weight and power, also, thanks to the innovative solutions and materials, solar panels, highly efficient and light batteries and electric engines, as well as a careful studying of aerodynamics.

Above all, at these tech challenges, cooperation developed with the Faculty of Applied Arts of the University of Arts in Belgrade, whose skill in studying aerodynamics essentially contributed to the success of the project – it is added.

While waiting for the new version of the solar car, which the researchers are working on, Emilia4 was also presented to the Serbian public in May during the Eco BG Car Show 2022 at the exhibition stand of the Faculty of Applied Arts of the University of Arts in Belgrade.

Source: eKapija

Global Energy and Climate Leaders Meet in Sydney to Strengthen Clean Energy Technology Supply Chains

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Global energy and climate leaders are meeting this week at the Sydney Energy Forum, which is co-hosted by the Australian Government and the IEA, to discuss how to scale up and strengthen supply chains for the clean energy technologies needed for a secure and affordable transition to net zero emissions.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia opened the event, with high-level participants including IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol; Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen; US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm; Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Koichi Hagiuda; Samoan Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster; Indian Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh; and Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif. Top leaders from industry and finance also took part.

The discussions at the Sydney Energy Forum on 12-13 July reflect the importance of international dialogue and cooperation for achieving energy security and climate goals – and the central role of the IEA in these efforts. Governments around the world are seeking to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to net zero and limit the worst effects of climate change. This is set to redefine global energy security to include the supply of the minerals, materials and manufacturing capacity needed to deliver clean energy technologies.

The pressure on these supply chains from Covid-related lockdowns has been compounded by war in Ukraine, with supply disruptions and soaring prices affecting a wide range of key commodities. This turmoil risks undermining the pace of clean energy transitions, such as by hindering the production of EVs or the deployment of renewables, calling for astute action by governments to counter these challenges.

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“To durably address the challenges we’re facing from today’s global energy crisis, we need an immediate and massive expansion of clean energy technologies to build a resilient and affordable energy system,” Dr Birol said. “Establishing secure and sustainable supply chains for these technologies is essential, so I’m very pleased that decision-makers from around the world have come together for these discussions led by the Australian Government and the IEA to strengthen international action.”

To inform the conversations at the Sydney Energy Forum, the IEA has published a series of new studies, including a Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains and an analysis of Global Supply Chains of EV Batteries. The issues affecting different technologies are brought together in the cross-cutting Securing Clean Energy Technology Supply Chains report, which assesses current and future supply chain needs for key technologies – including solar PV, EV batteries and low emissions hydrogen – and provides a framework for governments and industry to identify, assess and respond to emerging opportunities and vulnerabilities. That report is a precursor to the 2023 edition of Energy Technology Perspectives, an IEA flagship publication, which will present detailed analysis on what is needed to develop and expand a range of clean energy technology supply chains to achieve net zero emissions.

Photo-Ilustration: Pixabay (paulbr75)

Reflecting the IEA’s growing role in this space, IEA member governments mandated the Agency in March to work on steps to improve the security of global supplies of critical minerals needed for clean energy transitions, making this a major expanding area of work.

The Securing Clean Energy Technology Supply Chains report contains specific insights for the Indo-Pacific region, which is home to many major raw material producers such as Australia for lithium and Indonesia for nickel. The report identifies five pillars for governments and industry action: Diversify, Accelerate, Innovate, Collaborate and Invest. It recommends improving the efficiency and speed of permitting and approvals for clean energy projects and critical mineral production, while maintaining high environmental and labour standards. It also calls for coordinated measures to bolster supply chain resilience including consideration of stockpiles for critical minerals, as has been done for oil for half a century, and promoting robust recycling industries to reduce demand for raw materials.

The report recommends increasing and prioritising investment in research, development and demonstration to spawn technologies and manufacturing processes that rely on smaller quantities of critical minerals or on a more diversified mix, as well as in training to ensure an appropriately skilled workforce along clean energy technology supply chains.

Source: IEA

Energy Crisis And Changes In Serbia

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Fre Sonneveld)
Photo: Ministry of mining and energy

The challenges stirred by the energy crisis in Europe require urgent measures and bold decisions to embrace some more energy-efficient times as effortlessly as possible. We need to think promptly about how to ensure energy security, provide more green energy, and how to rationally spend it.

Although the supply of oil and gas is still uninterrupted, and the state has plans in place for potential crisis situations that would lead to disruption of the supply chain, it is important to establish diversification of suppliers on which energy stability directly depends.

The Minister of Mining and Energy, Zorana Mihajlović, recently explained that we are currently completely dependent on Russian gas but that the possibility of obtaining gas from other suppliers is opening. The latter will be possible with the completion of the interconnection with Bulgaria, which is due in September next year.

“Our task is to conduct Serbian politics in the interest of Serbia, leaving the emotions aside. Let’s see when and how much gas we can get and reserve capacities for next year. The moment we get another supplier, we will become safer,” the minister said.

In focus:

More green energy – it’s Elektroprivreda’s turn now

The Ministry of Mining and Energy has created all the conditions for more green energy, but when it comes down to installing solar panels on the house roofs, EPS is still not doing its part, Mihajlović stated.

She pointed out that the Ministry started projects of allocating subsidies to households last year for the installation of solar panels. However, the problem is that “Elektroprivreda” still does not sign contracts with citizens.

“We did everything necessary. We passed laws, simplified procedures, and then we stopped because EPS is not doing its part”, said Mihajlović in Smederevska Palanka, where she visited the households that participated in the energy efficiency project.

She recently emphasized that greater use of RES in energy production is a way to become energy sufficient, independent, and secure and that if we do not change the structure of the energy mix, we will not have enough energy in the future, which will pose a threat to national security.

The goal is that all households replace carpentry

In early 2022, the Ministry of Mining and Energy announced a new public call for replacing carpentry and installing solar panels in cities and municipalities. The state has allocated 230 million euros to increase energy efficiency in 2022, and since the funds are in place, Mihajlović hopes that all citizens will be able to replace carpentry.

She also announced relief funds for devastated municipalities and socially endangered groups who will reduce their electricity bills by 20 to 30 per cent by replacing carpentry.

“Increasing energy efficiency at the national level means saving 50 million kilowatt-hours per year, which, more importantly, in return gives 300,000 tons less of carbon dioxide emissions”, the minister said.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (American Public Power Association)

We need to change our attitude towards energy

The government will provide sufficient energy reserves for the next winter season, but that will not come easy or cheap; that’s why the citizens of Serbia must start saving and using energy more rationally.

“Serbia will have to make certain decisions, and we will all have to participate in the rationalization process. We are prepared for every scenario, but the question is how much it will cost because there is no such thing as cheap energy”, Mihajlović emphasized.

According to her, diversification of gas suppliers is a priority for Serbia. With the completion of the interconnection with Bulgaria, we will have the opportunity to receive gas from LNG terminals in Greece or Azerbaijan. One of the steps toward secure supply is connecting with Northern Macedonia and Romania.

Energy portal

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

Future With Fewer Challenges and More Megawatts Installed

Photo: New Energy Solutions

Projects such as the wind farm “Kovačica” with 104.5 megawatts installed and implemented by the company New Energy Solutions positively impact our country’s energy and environmental sector. Thanks to this, Serbia is approaching its plan to have 40 percent of its production in the energy mix by 2040 from RES.

The usage of solar and wind energy in Serbia’s energy mix today is only 3.5 percent. The only way for our country to be energy safe are further investments in RES. Therefore we have prepared the interview about investments and future wind farm projects with Miloš Perišić, Director of Engineering from New Energy Solutions. 

EP: With the accomplishment of the wind farm “Kovačica” project, the largest investment in the mentioned municipality was realized. Would you highlight this as the most significant project in the first 10 years of the company’s operation? 

Miloš Perišić: New Energy Solutions has been expanding in recent years. It is already one of the most important factors in the field of renewable sources in Serbia and the region. The expectations of the management and all employees in NES are high, so the realization of projects that will surpass even a project such as WPP “Kovačica” is planned, which is undoubtedly the most important project in the first 10 years of the company’s work. However, we are also sure that the projects ahead of us will surpass the success achieved by realizing that project.

In focus:

EP: Do you have data on the overall reduction of CO2 emissions and other benefits this project has brought? 

Miloš Perišić: The average electricity production from the wind farm “Kovačica” is about 298,000 MWh. If we assume that this production reduces the share of electricity production obtained from the thermal power plant, we come to a reduction in CO2 emissions by about 250,000 tons per year. We are sure that the positive effect of the “Kovačica” wind farm project is also reflected in the increase in the income of the local community with which we have exceptional cooperation. 

EP: New Energy Solutions is also working on developing the wind farm “Pupin” for the same Investor, the Israeli company Enlight. What can you tell us about this project? What stage is it currently in? 

Photo: New Energy Solutions

Miloš Perišić: Successful cooperation established with “Enlight”, a world-renowned company in the field of renewable sources, continues on the wind farm “Pupin” project. The fact that the company “Enlight” wishes to continue very successful cooperation through new projects is a great honor and recognition of our work. “Pupin” wind farm is a natural continuation of the “Kovačica” wind farm project. The installed capacity is 95.5 megawatts. A planning document was prepared and adopted, location conditions were provided, and a building permit was obtained. Activities are underway to provide appropriate permits for supporting infrastructure, which primarily refers to the connection to the transmission system, which is realized by the joint efforts of Elektromreža Srbije AD as the Investor of this part of the project and the company New Energy Solutions. 

EP: Investors are announcing investments in green energy power plants with the capacity of a few hundred megawatts to even a few gigawatts. Do you think EMS is ready to connect new wind farms to the network? What is the current situation? 

Miloš Perišić: According to publicly available information on the website of EMS AD, at the moment, there are requests for the connection of over 13 gigawatts from power plants that use renewable energy sources. If we take into account that about 390 megawatts of electricity from wind power plants are currently connected and that the total installed capacity of all power plants in Serbia is about 8 gigawatts, it is clear that EMS AD is currently unable to provide the capacity to cover all the existing requirements. However, the essential question is how much capacity of 13 gigawatts is realistic, what are the deadlines and whether all those power plants will be built. The joint-stock company Elektromreža Srbije has been working for a long time on the realization of a project that will enable the connection of power plants from renewable sources in a very serious and significant capacity. Also, I am sure that EMS AD will provide timely preconditions for connecting all power plants that will be built in the coming period.

Interviewed by: Milica Marković

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

Tonight is the ceremonial opening of the first section of the highway in Montenegro

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (G R Mottez)

The first section of the Bar-Boljara highway, from Smokovac to Mateševo, will be officially opened today on Montenegro Day. This road will officially be in use from 8 a.m. on July 14, and for the next seven days, until 8 a.m. on July 21, the toll will be free, according to the Government of Montenegro.

The first Montenegrin highway will facilitate the journey to the sea for all tourists and residents of this country. The Smokovac-Mataševo section is 41.5 kilometers long, with 20 bridges on the main route, nine bridges on loop ramps, two overpasses, eight underpasses, 7.2 kilometers of concrete walls, 16 double-tube tunnels.

The total length of the tunnel is 17.7 kilometers, which is about 43 percent of the length of the priority section of the highway.

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The section has four interchanges, with toll ramps, on which the highway is connected to the existing state. These are the Smokovac, Pelev Brijeg, Veruša and Mateševo ​​loops.

The maximum speed on the highway is 100 kilometers per hour, and there are three lanes available after the toll booth.

Energy portal

ABB Opens Global Innovation And Training Campus For Machine Automation At B&R In Austria

Photo: ABB

ABB opened its new global innovation and training campus at the headquarters of B&R in Eggelsberg, Austria, its global center for machine and factory automation. The new campus will create up to 1,000 additional high-tech jobs and includes world-class research and development laboratories, as well as global training facilities for up to 4,000 people per year in collaboration with universities. ABB invested EUR 100 million in the expansion of the B&R headquarters.

Campus innovations around artificial intelligence and machine and factory automation will play an essential role in unlocking the potential of future industrial production – in sectors such as electronics, e-mobility, food and beverage, recycling, logistics, or agriculture. They will increase productivity and flexibility, helping customers become more sustainable and produce closer to their end markets.

ABB CEO Björn Rosengren said: “Innovation has been in ABB’s DNA for more than 130 years and our division, B&R, is a true innovation hot-spot for the transformation towards more automated manufacturing. The official opening of this campus is a proud moment for our ABB as we create highly-skilled jobs while shaping the machines and factories of the future together with our customers.”

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A hub for integrated production, research, and training in central Europe

The new campus expands the total area of B&R’s headquarters to more than 100,000 m², making B&R one of the largest sites for integrated production, research, and training in central Europe, with currently around 2,400 employees. The expansion will also free up space which will serve as additional production capacity to meet increasing demand for B&R products.

Photo: ABB

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer thanked ABB for an important initiative: “Investments in our business location are always also investments in the future of Austria. The corona pandemic, disruptions in global supply chains and now the war in Ukraine clearly remind us that we need to become more independent if we want to be better prepared for future challenges. I am therefore pleased that ABB is taking an important step in bringing manufacturing back home with the opening of its new innovation and training campus. The new campus will not only be a driver for digitalisation and automation, but also will create jobs and contribute to prosperity in Austria.”

In a rapidly changing world, facilities such as the new ABB global campus are of utmost importance to Austria’s role in the global economy and generate growth as a center for innovation and investment. The ever-growing digitalization and automation of our industries will be key for the re-industrialization of Europe and also for bringing manufacturing back to Austria. By homeshoring industry, we are creating new jobs, securing Europe’s supply chain and seizing the opportunities for a more sustainable future.”

Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business area, added, “This is a decade of transformation towards robotics and automation as our customers respond to global labor and supply shortages, accelerating consumer demand for personalized products and the need to operate more sustainably. ABB’s new campus will serve as a customer collaboration center where we work with customers around the globe, helping them to respond to these trends and supporting B&R in becoming the partner of choice for the world’s most ambitious industrial automation projects.”

According to ABB research, 8 out of 10 companies in Europe and the U.S. are planning to further automate and 7 out of 10 to near- or reshore their production. The global addressable market volume for machine and factory automation is currently estimated at 20 USD billion p.a. and is expected to increase to 31 USD billion p.a. by the year 2030.

With the acquisition of B&R in 2017, ABB is the only company offering industrial automation customers the entire range of integrated hardware and software solutions around control, actuation, robotics, sensing as well as analytics and electrification.

Open innovation and education hub to develop and train together

The ABB innovation and training campus will serve as an open innovation hub, where B&R will closely collaborate with international customers, companies, and start-ups from across the region, as well as research and educational institutions to co-develop automation solutions and train the talents needed for the factories of the future.

Photo: ABB

“We are currently experiencing a record number of job vacancies in Austria. At the same time, more people are currently employed than ever before. This makes it all the more important to counteract the skills gap that can be felt in Europe in order to keep pace with the digital transformation and seize the chances it provides. B&R’s new campus with its dual training program is an important example of how to bring European manufacturing companies to the forefront of the world with skilling initiatives and innovation in order to successfully meet current economic and societal challenges,” said Austria’s Minister of Labor Martin Kocher.

Jörg Theis, President of B&R, said: “Education will be given highest priority at the campus. Our Automation Academy will offer inspiration and training opportunities for up to 4,000 students, apprentices, customers’ experts and employees from all around the world every year.” Theis added that B&R plans to offer dual education at the university level in collaboration with higher education institutions.

B&R unveils new brand identity

With the new campus, B&R has also unveiled a new brand identity creating a visual connection between B&R and ABB. “Our new visual design underscores ABB’s strong commitment to B&R as a category brand and shows the strength of B&R and ABB as we grow together and work together. Being part of that bigger family creates many new possibilities for every employee to proactively shape their career,” said Theis.

Sustainable campus with one of the largest self-consumption PV systems in Austria

As part of its sustainability strategy 2030, ABB expects to achieve carbon neutrality across its own operations by the end of the decade. At B&R, ABB has installed one of the largest self-consumption photovoltaic (PV) systems in Austria. Additional PV modules on the campus will now increase the total output to 1.8 MW. The self-consumption rate is approximately 98 percent.

More than 110 years of history in the Austrian industry

ABB has operated in Austria for more than 110 years and has a proud history in the Austrian industry – from electrification to railways and powering ski-lifts to robotics and process automation. The acquisition of B&R in 2017 made ABB the largest supplier of industrial automation in Austria.

B&R, founded in 1979 by Erwin Bernecker and Josef Rainer, is headquartered in Eggelsberg, Upper Austria. Today, B&R is a world-leading solution provider in the automation of machines and factories and the global ABB Machine Automation division of ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation business area. Overall, the ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation business area employs more than 11,000 people at over 100 locations in more than 53 countries.

Source: ABB

Mutual Support of Serbia, Republika Srpska in Terms of Market Supply

Photo: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke at a working lunch with Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Radovan Viskovic about topics related to energy, supplying the market with food products, and specific joint projects with Republika Srpska.

Brnabic pointed out that energy supply is an issue of special interest, both for Serbia and for the region, and assessed that it is necessary to achieve a common, regional approach in order to ensure the necessary energy for the upcoming winter.

The Prime Minister stated that the Open Balkans initiative is a good platform for solving this issue in the interest of the entire region.

Viskovic pointed out that Republika Srpska is trying to secure all the necessary resources needed for the winter in light of the current situation on the world market.

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Prime Minister Brnabic said that at the moment several vital projects are underway, on which Serbia and Republika Srpska are working together, the most important of which are in the field of energy and infrastructure.

The officials reached an agreement on further coordination in implementing these projects and mutual support in the matter of supplying the market with necessary products essential for citizens.

Source: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

June was “3rd warmest on record”

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The globe just had the third warmest June on record, according to Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, with widespread episodes of extreme heat. Antarctic sea ice was the lowest on record for the month of June.

The monthly report by Copernicus/ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts)  is part of international network of climate monitoring activities by the WMO community which underpin WMO’s State of the Global Climate reports.

Global climate in June: 3rd warmest on record

The monthly mean temperature for Europe was the second highest on record. Southern parts of the continent from the Iberian Peninsula across France and into Italy most affected. Daily maximum temperatures in Spain, France, and Italy soared above 40°C and the extreme heat exacerbated the ongoing drought conditions in the Po river basin.

Numerous June temperature records were broken across France and Spain, with Biarritz, France, and San Sebastián, Spain, being two prime examples.

This heat also extended across North Africa, where Tunisia equalled its monthly temperature record. Also, at Banak in northern Norway, a daily maximum temperature of 32.5°C was recorded, which if confirmed, would be a new June record for the county in which it is situated.

Above-average temperatures were also found across Siberia and large parts of Asia, where heatwaves in central and northern China led to increased electricity demand. Temperatures of greater than 35°C were recorded for five days in a row in Tokyo, Japan, which is a record. In North America, high temperatures occurred in Texas, with Houston having its hottest June on record; San Antonio suffered from this extreme heat too. The Middle East also saw above-average temperatures.

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Drought

In June 2022, a large part of Europe experienced lower-than-average precipitation, including over the UK, Ireland, Italy, much of the Iberian Peninsula and over a large region stretching from the northern Balkans across eastern Europe and over north-western Russia. In the Po Valley, in northern Italy, the continuing drought is affecting river transport, agriculture and energy management. Conversely, precipitation was higher than average over most of France, Iceland, regions of central Europe, western Russia, the southern Balkans and Turkey, according to the Copernicus Hydrological Bulletin.

Sea ice

Temperatures in June were much higher than average over large parts of Antarctica.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Antarctic sea ice extent reached 12.6 million km2 on average, 1.2 million km2 (9 per cent) below the 1991-2020 average for June. This is the lowest extent for June in the 44-year satellite data record and is marginally lower than the value for June 2019 (second-lowest), according to the Copernicus report.

It is noteworthy that 2019 and 2022 were separated by near-average June values in 2020 and 2022, highlighting the large interannual variability that has often characterized the Antarctic sea ice data record since 1979.

The monthly average Arctic sea ice extent in June 2022 reached 11.2 million km2, 0.3 million km2 (or 3 per cent) below the 1991-2020 average for June. This value ranks 12th lowest for June in the satellite record, which starts in 1979, and comes after a near-average extent in May 2022.

Source: WMO

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