100-percent Green Power: BMW Group to use Sustainably Produced Aluminium Wheels From 2024

11.04.2022

The BMW Group is stepping up its activities in the field of sustainability and will use cast aluminium wheels produced with 100-percent green power for its BMW and MINI brands from 2024 onwards. For the BMW Group, this is another step towards its goal of creating the most sustainable supply chain in the automotive industry. The transition applies, in particular, to the energy-intensive electrolysis used in producing aluminium and to the wheel-casting process. To this end, corresponding agreements have been reached with all BMW Group wheel suppliers.

Up until now, wheels have accounted for about five percent of supply chain CO2 emissions. Transitioning to more sustainable production that relies on green power will reduce these emissions by more than half. The BMW Group procures about 10 million light-alloy wheels per year; 95 percent of these are made from cast aluminium.

CO2 savings of up to 500,000 tonnes per year

Through independent audits, the BMW Group can ensure conscious and sustainable use of aluminium by its contracted producers, saving up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. “Green power is one of the biggest levers for reducing CO2 emissions in our supply chain. We have already signed more than 400 contracts with our suppliers, including suppliers of wheels and aluminium, requiring them to use green power,” says Joachim Post, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network.

Aluminium has good recycling properties, making it easier to melt down old wheels as part of the circular economy. This eliminates the need for energy-intensive electrolysis to produce the primary raw material. At the same time, the secondary raw material must also meet the BMW Group’s premium requirements for quality, design, safety and mechanical properties.

MINI pioneers use of sustainable light-alloy cast wheels

MINI will become a pioneer in this field in 2023, when it will begin using light-alloy cast wheels made from 70-percent secondary aluminium in the new generation of the MINI Countryman. The combination of 100-percent green power for production and 70-percent secondary raw material content can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 percent, compared to conventional manufacturing processes.

Certification by Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI)

The BMW Group has been actively involved for many years in international initiatives focused on standardising raw material extraction. These include the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), an international non-profit organisation supported by environmental and industrial associations, NGOs, aluminium producers and processing companies. The BMW Group welcomes the fact that many of its aluminium wheel suppliers have already joined ASI and are making an important contribution to creating an environmentally and socially responsible aluminium value chain in this way.

ASI already certified the light metal foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut in December 2019 for its sustainable use of aluminium, confirming that it handles aluminium consciously and responsibly.

Systematic implementation of sustainability goals

Transitioning to 100-percent green power for production of cast aluminium wheels is another step towards reducing CO2 emissions in the BMW Group supplier network. The aim is to reduce emissions throughout the supply chain by 20 percent from 2019 levels by 2030. Systematically increasing the percentage of secondary aluminium through this process makes a further contribution to sustainability, in line with the principles of the circular economy the BMW Group aspires to.

Since 2021, the BMW Group has sourced aluminium from the United Arab Emirates manufactured exclusively using electricity obtained from solar power. The aluminium produced in Dubai is processed in the light metal foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut, where it is used to manufacture body and drive train components. The 43,000 tonnes of solar aluminium sourced in this way supply almost half the annual requirements of the Landshut light metal foundry.

Source: BMW Group

Energy Security: Commission Hosts First Meeting of EU Energy Purchase Platform to Secure Supply of Gas, LNG and Hydrogen

11.04.2022

factory-gas-ulje-industrija — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

In order to secure the EU’s energy supply at affordable prices in the current geopolitical context and to phase out dependency on Russian gas, the European Commission has established with the Member States an EU Platform for the common purchase of gas, LNG and hydrogen.

As agreed by the Heads of State and Government in the European Council on 25 March, it will be a voluntary coordination mechanism, bringing together the Commission and the Member States, supporting the purchase of gas and hydrogen for the Union, by making optimal use of the collective political and market weight of the EU.

The Platform will help ensuring security of supply, in particular for the refilling of gas storage facilities in time for next winter, in line with the Commission’s proposal presented on 23 March. It will also see to an optimal use of existing gas infrastructure. In addition, it will enhance long-term cooperation with key supply partners, extending also to hydrogen and renewables, possibly through Memoranda of Understanding.

“It is abundantly clear that the European Union is too dependent on Russia for our energy needs. The answer lies in renewable energy and, in the more immediate term, diversification of supply. Through the EU Energy Purchase Platform Member States can now work together on purchasing gas from other suppliers and developing an international market for hydrogen, to the benefit of all countries. For the EU, replacing gas imports from Russia will help to end our over-dependence and provide much needed room to manoeuvre”, said Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal.

The EU Energy platform will ensure cooperation in areas where it is more effective to act in a coordinated way at EU level rather than at national level. These areas include:

Demand pooling: The Platform will work with Member State representatives to maximise leverage to attract reliable supplies from global markets and at stable prices that reflect the predictability and the size of the common EU market. This will allow moving, when appropriate, towards joint purchases.
Efficient use of EU gas infrastructure: the Platform will coordinate actions to maximise Liquefied Natural Gas imports absorption, comply with gas storage obligations and ensure security of gas supply. It will also help identifying additional infrastructure needs, suitable to cater for future hydrogen use.
International outreach: Considering the need to secure significant volumes of non-Russian gas already in 2022 and the global market tightness, the EU Energy Purchase Platform will also coordinate and reinforce EU’s international outreach to gas partners and markets. This will include the main LNG exporting and importing countries with a view to define and agree on potential arrangements for diversification, including towards hydrogen. This work will take account of partners’ supply capacities, long-term contracts and existing as well as planned interconnections and storage infrastructure in the EU. The recently announced EU–US Joint Statement on European Energy Security is a guiding example.

Source: European Commission

Six Things to Know About Forests and Your Health

10.04.2022

forest-šuma-priroda — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Forests are indispensable to human health: Their protection, management, and restoration support disease regulation, nutrition, and more. But what exactly is the science behind forests and human health? And why is the connection so essential?

Through extensive investigation, WWF uncovered ample evidence that forests provide, prevent, and heal. Public health and forests are entwined—at the local, regional, and global scale.

In the new report The Vitality of Forests, WWF examined five categories of interactions between forests and human health: noncommunicable diseases, environmental exposure (pollution), food and nutrition, physical hazards, and infectious diseases. With climate change exacerbating many of these categories, the report also highlights the important role forests play in the resilience of human health to climate change.

1. Forests reduce risks associated with some major noncommunicable diseases.

Each year, 41 million people die from noncommunicable diseases. These are noninfectious diseases that cannot be transmitted between people and include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and mental health issues. Noncommunicable diseases are the fastest-growing and largest health burden globally, and 77 per cent of deaths from noncommunicable diseases are in low- and middle-income countries. Exposure to forests may reduce some of the factors that elevate the risks of noncommunicable diseases, and human stress hormones—such as cortisol, progesterone, and adrenaline—respond significantly when a person spends time in a forest.

2. Forests clean air and water and reduce the risks of infectious and noncommunicable diseases.

In 2015, air pollution (ambient and household) accounted for 6.5 million deaths, with noncommunicable diseases accounting for most of the disease burden. By filtering pollutants from air and water, forests help reduce the threats of pollution-related infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases, including diarrheal disease, cancers, and respiratory diseases.

Conserving or restoring upstream tree cover is critical for the health and well-being of children around the globe. Diarrheal disease is the second-leading cause of death and the leading cause of malnutrition in children aged under five years worldwide. Research demonstrates that upstream tree cover is associated with a lower prevalence of diarrheal disease (linked to water pollution) in children downstream. A 30 per cent increase in upstream tree cover is linked to a 4 per cent reduction in the probability of diarrheal disease—similar to the effects of an improved sanitation facility.

3. Forests positively impact nutrition and food security.

Forests can offer a nutritional safety net. Each year, 3.1 million children worldwide die from undernutrition while those that survive with poor nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life often suffer lifelong health, social, and financial challenges. Children with adequate nutrition will have improved cognitive and physical development as well as lower risk of morbidity and mortality.

4. Forests can protect people from the impacts of disasters.

Between 1996 and 2015, 1.3 million deaths were directly attributed to disasters or hazards such as wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat. As the planet faces a rise in extreme heat—affecting 1.7 billion people between 1983 and 2016—the cooling potential of forests is essential in battling the direct risk of heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke but also the impact that excessive heat has on exacerbating respiratory and chronic cardiovascular conditions.

5. Forests mediate the emergence and spread of zoonotic infectious diseases and are our first line of defense against new infectious diseases.

Nearly one in three outbreaks of new and emerging diseases are linked to land-use change, including deforestation. Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death in low-income countries and the leading cause of death of children aged under five years globally. For Ebola, the relative importance of forest loss was found to be greater than 60 per cent independent of other factors.

Intact forest landscapes allow animals the habitat they require to maintain distinct populations and limit the ability of infectious diseases to spread among and between species. Forest loss and degradation concentrates animal populations, which has led to the emergence of novel infectious diseases that can have dramatic impacts on people and society.

6. Forests help mitigate climate change and its adverse health effects.

Importantly, the role climate change plays in human health is woven throughout this report. We know that our exposure to physical hazards like heat and more severe storms and floods will increase and the habitat of common vectors of infectious diseases like mosquitoes and ticks will expand. We also know the nutritional content of staple foods will decrease as CO2 in our atmosphere increases. And we know that people are more vulnerable to climate change if their health is already compromised. For each of these impacts, forests represent an indispensable solution to mitigating and adapting to climate change while also supporting the health and well-being of people.

Source: WWF

Only Together we Can Contribute to a Sustainable Future

08.04.2022

klm-flyresponsibly-keyvisual-632351 (3) — Foto: KLM

Travel is an integral part of modern life, and today the question is no longer whether it should become more environmentally sustainable, but only how to do it.

Air France – KLM has been setting sustainable business as its corporate goal for many years. Numerous projects such as fleet modernization, disposable plastic disposal, recycling, carbon offset programs, and sustainable aviation fuel development aim to reduce the carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

For 16 years in a row, Air France – KLM has been the aviation industry leader in the field of sustainable business according to the Dow Jones index. But now the group is going a step further – working on the development and regular use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF is one of the key factors in the ecological transition of aviation, more precisely in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

What is SAF and why is it so important

Sustainable aviation fuel is a jet fuel made exclusively from renewable sources, such as used edible oil, wood residues or synthetic kerosene. It can replace ordinary fossil fuel or be added to it without any engine modifications and additional costs. SAF differs from ordinary bio-fuel because the principle of sustainability is applied in the production itself, which means that its production does not lead to deforestation or reduction of food production. Currently, SAF is the most important factor in the fight for more sustainable aviation industry because its use can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 75 per cent!

In focus:

Start of regular use of sustainable aviation fuel

Air France – KLM (Air France, KLM, Transavia) airlines began using SAF on all their flights from France and the Netherlands in early 2022 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. For now, between 0.5 per cent and 1 per cent of sustainable aviation fuel is added to ordinary fuel on these flights. This pioneering step is the crown of decades of work on the implementation of SAF in the aviation industry.

Back in 2009, KLM was the first airline to introduce biofuel on its flights, and since 2011 both KLM and Air France have started using sustainable fuel on their commercial flights. In February 2021, KLM conducted the world’s first commercial flight using synthetic kerosene produced based on carbon dioxide, water and renewable solar and wind energy. In May 2021, Air France made the first long-haul flight between Paris and Montreal using SAF produced in France, while in October of the same year, on a flight between Paris and Nice, as much as 30 per cent of SAF was in the fuel mixture used by Air France. According to the current technological conditions, a maximum of 50 per cent of sustainable aviation fuel can be used on flights.

Challenges

To date, the use of sustainable aviation fuel on commercial airline flights has been less than 0.1 per cent. The sustainable aviation fuel industry is still in its infancy period and, therefore, faces many challenges.

The first is insufficient production – simply, there are still not enough factories that produce this type of fuel, so it is presently not possible to immediately introduce a larger amount of SAF into consumption. The problem connected with lower production is a higher price of SAF fuel – currently the production of SAF is four times more expensive than fossil kerosene.

In terms of money, a ticket for a flight that uses 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of sustainable aviation fuel will cost between 1 and 12 euros more, depending on the length of the flight and the class in which the passenger is flying. The aviation industry hopes that the development of the production and use of SAF will lead to its reduction in price.

Only together can we make a big step towards a sustainable future

So far, Air France – KLM has offered passengers the opportunity to compensate for their carbon footprint through various programs (for example, money raised by the KLM CO2ZERO initiative was used to afforest our planet, and over a thousand hectares of rainforest have been planted in Panama).

From January 13, 2022, passengers can also buy additional sustainable aviation fuel and thus directly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In addition to individuals, companies can also contribute to the energy transition of aviation through Air France – KLM Corporate SAF program. To achieve a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, different industries and companies must work together because only in this way can demand be stimulated, and thus the production and availability of SAF. Investing in the Corporate SAF program provides companies with the opportunity to actively initiate the transition from conventional fossil fuels to SAF and thus reduce the environmental footprint of their business flights.

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

Slovenian and Serbian TSOs Along with EPEX SPOT to Establish the First Regional Power Exchange for Central and South-Eastern Europe

08.04.2022

electricity-struja — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

ELES, EMS, and EPEX SPOT announce their joint commitment to establish the first regional power exchange for Central and South-Eastern Europe. The newly founded Alpine-Adriatic Danube Power Exchange – ADEX – will offer harmonized one-stop-shop spot power trading services in Slovenia and Serbia, with the ambition to also extend business and services to other countries in the Central and South-Eastern European (CSEE) region. ADEX shares will be owned equally by ELES, EMS and EPEX SPOT.

The agreement between the companies foresees a merger between BSP Southpool and SEEPEX. EPEX SPOT, the Transmission System Operators (TSOs), ELES and EMS will act as founding shareholders of the newly established power exchange ADEX, with the company’s headquarters in Ljubljana and main permanent offices in Ljubljana and Belgrade.

“We upgrade the trading culture in our region by providing the highest trading standards, advanced technical solutions, excellent exchange services, transparency, and innovation.,” says Aleksander Mervar, CEO of ELES System Operator and the President of ELES Group.

“This extraordinary achievement will boost regional electricity market development and provide an open-minded and sustainable role model for other CSEE countries to join this advanced business infrastructure,” says Jelena Matejić, EMS General Manager.

The short-term milestones of ADEX will also be to deliver a new harmonized intraday market in Serbia and to couple the key Serbian Day-ahead market with the pan-European Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC).

“ADEX will offer best-in-class trading and clearing solutions to the CESE community and help build liquidity in these extraordinary times. We expect to accelerate the much-needed implementation of Market Coupling in this region to complete the European integration of spot markets,” says Ralph Danielski, CEO of EPEX SPOT.

The completion of this merger will be subject to all applicable regulatory approvals and legal requirements.

Anže Predovnik, CEO of BSP Southpool, emphasises: “The business environment in the region is changing substantially, and the cooperation with SEEPEX and EPEX is the first step to adapting and preparing for further challenges at the PX level. ADEX is a new chapter for the BSP based on a solid and trusting partnership among all partners. This is the main prerequisite for our success, and all interested in our future development are welcome to take part in this journey”.

Miloš Mladenović, CEO of SEEPEX, adds: “SEEPEX was an avant-garde pan-European success story in the SEE region from the beginning, and this innovative ADEX context will additionally boost our front-runner position in the future also”.

Photo: EMS AD

In addition, ELES, EMS and EPEX SPOT are in advanced talks with MAVIR, the Hungarian TSO.

“We are working closely with our partners for HUPX, the Hungarian Power Exchange, to join ADEX shortly,” explains András Biczók, CEO of Mavir.

The initiative remains open for all additional partners who would like to join ADEX to drive forward the integration of spot power markets in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

-ENDS

BSP Southpool operates a physical day-ahead market and intraday market with market coupling services in Slovenia and local and cross-border clearing and settlement services. In 2021, its 34 members traded 10 TWh with an annual clearing turnover of 1,2 billion EUR. For more information, please visit www.bsp-southpool.com.

ELES is Slovenia’s power transmission system operator and operates a network of 400 kV, 220 kV, and 110 kV transmission lines with a total length of 2,955 km. Geographically on the crossroads between western, eastern, and southern Europe, ELES manages the foundation of transit flows and secures reliable transmission and distribution in several neighbouring countries. For more information, please visit www.eles.si.

Joint Stock Company Elektromreža Srbije (EMS) is a transmission system operator in the Republic of Serbia whose duty is to ensure secure and reliable electricity transmission, efficiently operate the transmission system, and secure optimal and sustainable development. EMS operates a network of 400 kV, 220 kV, and 110 kV transmission lines with nearly 10,000 km and manages eight cross-zonal capacities with the TSOs entirely in line with the ENTSO-E rules and practices. For more information, please visit www.ems.rs.

The European Power Exchange EPEX SPOT SE and its affiliates operate physical short-term electricity markets in 13 countries: Central Western Europe, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Nordics, and Poland. As part of EEX Group, a group of companies serving international commodity markets, EPEX SPOT is committed to creating a pan-European power market. Over 300 members trade electricity on EPEX SPOT. 49 percent of its equity is held by HGRT, a holding of transmission system operators. For more information, please visit www.epexspot.com.

SEEPEX a.d. Beograd (SEEPEX) is a licensed Market operator in Serbia established as a joint-stock company in a strategic partnership between EMS and EPEX SPOT. In 2021, 24 members from 13 European countries traded 3,2 TWh on an organised day-ahead market, with all transactions cleared by the European Commodity Clearing AG. For more information, please visit www.seepex-spot.com.

Source: epexspot

EBRD and Donor-Funded Solar Plant Starts Operating in North Macedonia

07.04.2022

photovoltaic-system-solarni-paneli — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The first large-scale solar plant in North Macedonia ‒ financed with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and bilateral donors to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) ‒ has been connected to the power grid and is producing clean electricity.

The 10MW solar plant, built on the site of the spent Oslomej lignite coal mine, was constructed by JSC Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM), the country’s state-owned electricity company. This is the company’s first solar plant in North Macedonia, developed with a view to diversifying energy sources and supporting decarbonisation. It is expected to produce nearly 15 GWh of electricity and displace 12,177 tonnes of CO2 annually.

The EBRD supported this investment with a EUR 5.9 million loan, while bilateral donors to the WBIF provided an additional EUR 1.6 million investment grant. The total project costs were EUR 8.7 million.

Andi Aranitasi, EBRD Head of North Macedonia, said: “The new solar plant will help the country, which faces severe air pollution from coal, to reduce its reliance on aging coal-fired infrastructure. It will also generate cheap electricity in times of very high market prices. We are proud of this achievement and are eager to continue our work with the authorities to promote further decarbonisation in North Macedonia.”

The new solar plant has a tenth of the capacity of the old coal-fired plant, so the EBRD is working with ESM on investing in additional solar power plants. The Bank also approved financing for an extension of the plant in Oslomej and the construction of a new plant in Bitola for a combined total capacity of 30MW. The European Union (EU) is also supporting this investment with a EUR 5.1 million investment grant.

Julian Vassallo, Deputy Head of EU Delegation, said: “The transition of North Macedonia from a coal dependant country starts today, by making a step towards the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, in line with the European Green Deal. This first phase of investing in 10MW solar photo-voltaic in Oslomej is a pioneer investment in renewables. Using solar power to create clean energy brings tangible benefits to the lives of citizens by reducing air pollution, while strengthening the energy security of the country. “

In addition to providing financing, the Bank is working with the authorities of North Macedonia to address the implications for inequality of the energy transition and to identify opportunities for economic diversification in the area, including for redeployment and reskilling. The EBRD will help the country to conduct a “just transition” diagnostic and an inclusive policy dialogue. The “just transition” project is expected to have a significant demonstration effect for the wider Western Balkans region, which faces similar challenges and requires a green, inclusive and just energy-sector transition.

In addition to the bilateral donors to the WBIF, Italy supported the investment by financing the project’s technical feasibility assessment.

The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) supports socio-economic development and EU accession across the Western Balkans by providing finance and technical assistance for strategic investments. It is a joint initiative of the EU, financial institutions, bilateral donors and the governments of the Western Balkans. The largest individual cumulative pledges to date have been made by Norway, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

The Oslomej 1 photovoltaic power plant is one of the 21 flagship projects in the Western Balkan region, selected for EU financing in 2022 through the WBIF. The project has been identified as part of Flagship 4 – Renewable energy in the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans 2021-2027.

The EBRD is a major institutional investor in North Macedonia. To date, it has invested more than EUR 2.2 billion in 159 projects across the country. Supporting green energy is a priority for the Bank, as it addresses one of the country’s most pressing challenges.

Source: EBRD

WindEurope 2022 in Bilbao: helping Europe deliver energy security

07.04.2022

energija_vetra_vetropark — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The WindEurope annual event begins today in Bilbao. His Majesty the King of Spain will open it with the President of the Basque Government, Ministers from around Europe and top officials from the EU Commission.

Over 8,000 people are taking part. The focus is energy security. Europe wants more wind energy more quickly than before to help it wean itself off Russian gas. How we deliver that is the focus of the Bilbao event.

WindEurope 2022 is the annual conference and exhibition of the European wind energy industry. Over 8,000 people will be taking part with 330 companies from across the wind value chain exhibiting. Ministers and policymakers from around Europe will speak in the conference along with industry leaders, investors, technology experts and NGOs.

Europe needs to increase its energy security

The event comes at a decisive time for European energy. The war in Ukraine has upended the European energy system. Europe has decided to end Russian energy imports by 2030 at the latest and to accelerate the deployment of renewables alongside that to improve its energy security. The EU’s “REPowerEU” agenda wants wind energy to grow from 190 GW today to 480 GW by 2030.

REPowerEU also highlights the crucial importance of simplifying the processes for getting permits for renewables projects. The complexity of permitting rules and procedures is the main bottleneck today to the expansion of wind energy. REPowerEU says renewables permitting is a matter of “overriding public interest”. It also asks national Governments to identify “go to” areas for new renewables.

These measures are essential. Today Europe is only building half the new wind farms it needs to build to reach its 40 per cent renewables target by 2030, let alone the higher wind volumes now envisaged in REPowerEU. This in turn is undermining the competitiveness of Europe’s wind energy industry, which is struggling also with high commodity prices and supply chain bottlenecks.

At the same time Europe needs to accelerate the electrification of its energy system. Only 25 per cent of the energy we consume in Europe today is electricity. Most of the rest of fossil fuels. The EU wants 75 per cent electricity in our energy by 2050 – and to accelerate now the shift to electric vehicles, heat pumps and the electrification of industrial processes.

WindEurope 2022 will cover all these issues. Plus the need to expand grid connections, improve market design and to attract and train the workforce the wind industry needs. And the opportunities: how wind can help electrify the energy system, benefit communities, regenerate deprived areas and preserve nature.

Ministers from Spain, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Romania and Lithuania are taking part. Together with the Director-General for Energy in the European Commission and other leading EU officials.

“WindEurope 2022 in Bilbao comes at a decisive moment for Europe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has upended the energy system. Europe is pursuing a new energy policy: less dependence on imported fossil fuels; and an accelerated transition to renewables. In Bilbao we will focus on how to deliver this: tackling the barriers that need to be overcome e.g. around permitting, but also highlighting the opportunities, notably for jobs and communities”, says Giles Dickson, WindEurope CEO.

Source: Wind Europe

Terra 360 – ABB Brings the World’s Fastest Charger to Serbia

06.04.2022

ABB Terra 360 Keyvisual commercial fleet render NEW-min — Foto: ABB

In the metropolises worldwide, the electrification of both private and public transport has gained serious momentum. Electric vehicles, buses, and a constantly increasing number of trucks will become an everyday thing on the Serbian streets in the not-so-distant future. General awareness of the benefits of this type of transport – the fact that these vehicles do not locally emit harmful gases and are cheaper to maintain than vehicles with internal combustion engines is peaking up.

Many countries are working intensively to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles providing various types of support. Serbia is making progress in this segment and has been subsidizing the purchase of these vehicles for the third year in a row. Of course, the increasingly rapid development of electromobility necessarily follows the development of the charger network, which is an absolute must for electric cars to be equal participants in everyday traffic. ABB is a global leader in the production of electric chargers, with the largest installed base of stations for fast charging of electric vehicles worldwide.

Mr Dejan Dešić, Transportation & Infrastructure Segment Manager at ABB, was our host kind to share a variety of information about the fastest charger in the world, Terra 360, electric chargers, electric formula, and plans for the future.

In focus:

EP: How fast is the development pace of electric charger production technology?

Dejan Dešić: ABB has made a giant leap forward in the production of electric chargers, which is also shown by our timeline. It all started in 2010 when ABB introduced its first TERA 50 KW charger, at a time when the first charging connector standard, CHAdeMO, was established. The first cars were produced that could be charged with fast chargers back then. Then, in 2012, the CCS standard was established, which is still the most common today because it can transmit large powers, more precisely – twice as much as the CHAdeMO standard. All ABB chargers can use dual-standard connectors. In 2012-2013. ABB equipped motorways in the Netherlands and Estonia with TERA 51 and TERA 53 chargers, both 50 KW. After 2014, intensive development of the charger network began in the USA, Asia, and Europe, where the entire ABB offer has been implemented.

A piece of particularly interesting news from the ABB’s world came in 2017 when 150 or 350 kW chargers were launched, and both chargers were modular and expandable. It specifically means that by adding one power supply cabinet, one can increase the charger’s power to 350 KW. With the development of chargers, we simultaneously monitor the development of energy needs of electric buses and trucks, and ABB works on creating a portfolio of chargers for both types of vehicles. Electric buses are widely present on the roads, and fast high-power chargers are available at charging stations. On the other hand, some chargers are placed inside bus depots, where vehicles are charged during the night, so those do not need to be high power.

The latest series of 50 KW chargers came in 2018. Their main feature is the possibility of charging the car at a much higher voltage (up to 920 V), which is the voltage needed to charge the most advanced premium models containing a high-power battery. In 2019, ABB launched a compact 24 kW fast charger, which can be easily installed on the wall. The series of slow chargers was launched in 2020, which means that ABB has completed the portfolio of its products, and it can be said that at this moment, it represents the most comprehensive offer on the global market. Thirty thousand fast chargers and hundreds of thousands of slow chargers have been sold (and that number is increasing every day), proves ABB as the absolute leader on the global market.

EP: Ending 2021, ABB launched the fastest charger globally, the Terra 360. What can you tell us about it? Where can we find it presently and what are the plans, and the installation dynamics around the world? When can we expect it in Serbia?

Dejan Dešić: ABB’s fastest charger Terra 360, which was introduced at the end of 2021, will soon be promoted in Serbia. Its sales in Serbia will begin in the second half of the year. The first Terra 360 charger was installed and commissioned in Norway. Even though Norway is an oil-rich country, it is making the fastest progress in electrifying its road network and fleet. This, currently the fastest and most powerful charger in the world, allows you to charge the battery to cover 100 km in three minutes of charging.

It is designed so that it can charge four cars at the same time, which is a great advantage for both the charger operators and the users. The algorithm is set, if one car is charged, to deliver 360 kW of power, which at the moment can be received by premium cars only. Should two, three or four vehicles charge simultaneously, the charger can automatically redirect power to 180 or 90 kW (2 cars to 180 kW, three to 120 kW, four to 90 kW or one to 360 kW). There are different cable length options, which can be either liquid-cooled or air-cooled, which is necessary due to the large power transmitted.

EP: Project documentation for all smart buildings must include electric chargers. What is the situation in Serbia in this respect?

Dejan Dešić: All modern buildings must meet project requirements that cover the installation of slow chargers to obtain certificates related to energy and environmental efficiency. More specifically, the projects that are being built now envisage EV chargers in at least five or ten parking spaces. We are witnessing, and it needs to be pointed out, that the installations are designed only for the number of chargers envisaged by the project documentation. Still, in a few years’ time, most tenants will drive electric cars that need a place with an electric charger, but the installations will need to be redone so that everyone can plug in and charge the battery of their EV.

We already have a case where the tenants of a residential complex immediately after moving in realized that a small number of parking spaces had a charger. They demanded that everyone be allowed to install an electric charger. This, of course, meant changes to the project, including the works on the grid and the new power substation. That is why I appeal to the designers to anticipate what will be taken for granted in a few years. ABB chargers can be seen in public places, at car dealerships who are obliged to have EV chargers on their property, and at gas stations. Public company Roads of Serbia have already installed our chargers. Courier services are slowly switching to this type of transport and have chargers within their infrastructure. ABB chargers may be seen installed in shopping malls new residential and commercial buildings and are widely available to all customers.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

How Quickly is Tourism Recovering From COVID-19?

06.04.2022

travel-putovanje-ljudi+aerodrom — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Tourism was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, as lockdowns restricted people to travelling around their homes and neighbourhoods rather than around the world. But there are now signs that tourist numbers are starting to recover as limitations on movement are eased.

There was a 27 percent rise in nights spent at EU tourist accommodation in 2021, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. This took the total to 1.8 billion, although this was still 37 percent less than in 2019, before COVID-19.

Where tourists went

Greece, Spain and Croatia saw the biggest rises in visitors last year, with the number of nights spent at tourist accommodation jumping by more than 70 percent. Trips to Austria, Latvia and Slovakia fell, but by less than 18 percent.

“This shows signs of recovery in the tourism sector,” Eurostat says.

However, when 2021 tourist night numbers are compared with 2019, it shows some countries lost more than half their bookings. Latvia, Slovakia, Malta and Hungary were the worst hit. Denmark and the Netherlands, on the other hand, were the least affected countries. They saw drops of less than 20 percent in nights spent in tourist accommodation.

Eurostat says the figures are “far less dramatic” than the contrast between 2019 and 2020, when tourism in the EU halved.

Tourism supports jobs

More than 2 million businesses – mostly small and medium-sized companies – make up the EU’s tourism industry, according to the European Parliament.

These firms employ an estimated 12.3 million people, but worker numbers increase to 27.3 million when related sectors are taken into account.

Across the EU in 2018, travel and tourism made up about 4 percent of GDP – the total value of products and services produced in a country – or 10 percent if closely related sectors are taken into account.

Three-quarters of these tourism businesses operated in either accommodation or serving food and drink. Italy, France, Spain and Germany were home to 55 percent of the EU’s tourism firms in 2018.

Global growth and risks

Tourism is the world’s third-biggest export sector, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a special United Nations agency.

Because of COVID-19, tourism lost out on around USD 1 trillion of export revenues in 2021, UNWTO estimates. It predicts that the tourism industry will recover gradually in 2022.

International tourist arrivals globally grew 130 percent in January 2022, UNWTO says. And this was despite the Omicron variant of COVID-19 slowing down the speed of the recovery.

The war in Ukraine also poses a new risk to the global tourism industry – by potentially disrupting the return of confidence to travel, UNWTO says.

Source: World Economic Forum

Environmental Concerns Increase With Decision on Lifetime Extension of Tuzla 4 and Kakanj 5

05.04.2022

On 24 March, the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina endorsed conclusions to cancel the application of the opt-out regime of the Large Combustion Plants Directive for two power plants, the TPPs Tuzla 4 and Kakanj 5. With the conclusions endorsed by the House of Peoples, the intention is to extend their operation until 2028.

In the Secretariat’s opinion, such a unilateral decision is a clear breach of the obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Energy Community Treaty.

The two plants concerned – approved for opt-out by the Ministerial Council in 2016 – are at the end of their 20,000 hours limit. Operation beyond the 20,000 hours limit has negative impact on the interest of all citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina as air pollution is responsible for severe health and environmental damages, including premature deaths due to respiratory diseases, and also cause extremely high costs that societies have to bear as a whole.

Furthermore, it needs to be recalled that with regard to the planned new lignite-fired power plant in Tuzla financed by a loan of the Chinese Export-Import Bank (TPP Tuzla 7), the Ministerial Council decided last year that the decision of the State Aid Council was in breach of Article 18 of the Energy Community Treaty, as the guarantee was not issued on commercial terms. The country is expected to notify the Secretariat on measures taken to rectify the breach of the Energy Community acquis by 1 July 2022.

Source: Energy community

The Great Barrier Reef is Suffering its 4th Mass Bleaching Event Since 2016 – here’s What That Means

04.04.2022

corals_korali_coral_reef_koralni_greben — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Milos Prelevic)

It’s official: the Great Barrier Reef is suffering its fourth mass bleaching event since 2016. We dived into the reef on March 28 and saw the unfolding crisis firsthand.

Descending beneath the surface at John Brewer Reef near Townsville, our eyes were immediately drawn to the iridescent whites, blues and pinks of stressed corals among the deeper browns, reds and greens of healthier colonies.

It’s a depressing, but all-too-familiar feeling. A sense of: “here we go again”.

This is the first time the reef has bleached under the cooling conditions of the natural La Niña weather pattern, which shows just how strong the long-term warming trend of climate change is. Despite the cooling conditions, 2021 was one of the hottest years on record.

When coral bleaches, it is not dead – yet. Coral reefs that suffer widespread bleaching can still recover if conditions improve, but it’s estimated to take up to 12 years. That is, if there’s no new disturbance in the meantime, such as a cyclone or another bleaching event.

So what conditions are needed for coral recovery? And under what conditions will coral die?

What it takes for coral to die

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Veronica Reverse)

Whether a coral can survive bleaching depends on how long conditions remain stressful, and to what level. What’s more, some species are more sensitive than others, such as branching acropora corals, especially if they’ve bleached previously.

If water remains too warm for too long, corals will eventually die. But if the water temperature drops and the ultraviolet light becomes less intense, then the coral may recover and survive.

While the average sea temperatures in the reef currently remain above average, they’ve shown signs of cooling to a more amenable average for coral survival.

Sea temperatures in Cleveland Bay, near Townsville, were above 31℃ in early March, but thankfully have now reduced to below 29℃. Similarly in the Whitsundays, Hardy Reef experienced temperatures as high as 30℃ but has receded to nearer 26℃ in the past few weeks.

If coral does survive a bleaching event, it is still impacted physiologically, as bleaching can slow growth rates and reduce reproductive capacity. Surviving colonies also become more susceptible to other challenges, such as disease.

Signs of stress

Survival also depends on each individual coral’s own resilience: its ability to cope with higher temperatures and increased ultraviolet stress.

For example, fast growing branching corals are the most susceptible to bleaching and are generally the first to die. Long-lived massive corals, such as porites, may be less susceptible to bleaching, show minimal effects of bleaching and recover quicker.

Corals can use fluorescent pigments to shield themselves from excessive ultraviolet radiation – a bit like sunscreen that lets coral manage, filter and attempt to regulate the incoming light.

To the casual observer, fluorescent corals look bright purple, pink, blue and yellow. For reef scientists, fluorescence is an obvious signal that corals are stressed and struggling to regulate their internal balance. As we’ve seen, white and fluorescent corals are currently a common sight on many reefs.

Most coral species have fluorescent pigments in their tissue. Some are always visible to humans, especially branching corals with bright blue or pink hues on the their branch tips.

Others are never visible, and some are visible only during times of heat stress when coral colonies boost these fluorescent pigments to fight the increasing ultraviolet intensity in warmer seas.

Coral can’t adapt fast enough

Scientists measure heat stress on corals using a metric called “degree heating weeks”.

One degree heating week is when the temperature at a given location is more than 1℃ over the historical maximum temperature. If the water is 2℃ above the historical maximum for one week, this would be considered two degree heating weeks.

Generally speaking, at four degree heating weeks, scientists expect to see signs of stress and coral bleaching. It usually takes eight degree heating weeks for coral to die.

According to Bureau of Meteorology data, many parts of the Great Barrier Reef, such as off Cairns and Port Douglas, currently remain in the window of between four and eight degree heating weeks. But some areas, near Townsville and the Whitsundays, are experiencing severe bleaching stress beyond eight degree heating weeks.

While we hope many coral reefs will recover from this round of bleaching, the long term implications cannot be understated.

When corals bleach, they eject their zooxanthellae – single-celled algae that gives coral color and energy. Some corals may regain their zooxanthellae after the bleaching event is over, but this usually takes between three and six months.

To make matters worse, full reef recovery requires no new bleaching events or other disturbances in the years that follow. Given the reef has bleached six times since the late 1990s, alongside global climate trajectories, this would appear an unlikely scenario.

While some corals may learn to cope with these new conditions by potentially acquiring more heat-tolerant zooxanthellae, the reality is that change is happening too fast for coral to adapt via evolution.

The severe bleaching in previous years also means future events may appear less severe. But this is simply because most of the heat sensitive corals have already died, potentially resulting in a lower probability of widespread severe bleaching.

We need stronger climate policies and action

Australia has the world’s best marine scientists and marine park managers. And yet, our policies are rated “highly insufficient”, according to the latest Climate Action Tracker.

If global emissions continue unabated, Australia may warm by 4℃ or more this century. Under this scenario, widespread coral bleaching is likely on the Great Barrier Reef every year from 2044 onward.

There have been some glimmers of hope in federal policy in recent years, such as statements recognising the existential threat climate change poses to coral reefs. Despite this recognition, substantial action is lacking, as any policy without action on climate change is ineffective.

If the federal government, reef businesses and individuals are to show leadership and maintain healthy reefs, we need to work together and take rapid, drastic action to reduce carbon emissions.

Committing to a stronger emissions target for 2030 and a carbon neutral footprint for all Great Barrier Reef businesses would go a long way to exhibiting the kind of change required if coral reefs, in their current form, are to survive into the future.

Source: World Economic Forum

IEA Member Countries Agree to New Emergency Oil Stock Release in Response to Market Turmoil

04.04.2022

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Erik Mclean)

The International Energy Agency’s 31 Member Countries agreed on Friday to a new release of oil from emergency reserves in response to the market turmoil caused by conflict between Russia and Ukraine, underscoring their strong and unified commitment to stabilizing global energy markets.

The agreement was reached at an Extraordinary Meeting of the IEA Governing Board, which was held at the Ministerial level and chaired by US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

The details of the new emergency stock release will be made public early next week. The agreement follows the previous action taken by IEA Member Countries, announced last month, to which they pledged a total of 62.7 million barrels.

Ministers expressed their solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their democratically elected government in the face of Russia’s appalling and, as they say, unprovoked violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Governing Board also encouraged member countries to support Ukraine in the supply of oil products.

The Ministers noted that war in Ukraine continues to put significant strains on global oil markets, resulting in heightened price volatility. This is taking place against a backdrop of commercial inventories that are at their lowest level since 2014 and a limited ability of oil producers to provide additional supply in the short term. Ministers also noted the particular difficulties in diesel markets.

IEA Members hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels. This agreement will be the fifth time that the IEA releases emergency stocks. Previous collective actions were taken in 1991, 2005, 2011 and on 1 March, 2022.

The prospect of large-scale disruptions to Russian oil production is threatening to create a global oil supply shock. Russia plays an outsized role on global energy markets. It is the world’s third largest oil producer and the largest exporter. Its exports of about 5 million barrels a day of crude oil represent roughly 12 per cent of global trade – and its approximately 2.85 million barrels a day of petroleum products represent around 15 per cent of global refined product trade. Around 60 per cent of Russia’s oil exports go to Europe and another 20 per cent to China.

The Governing Board also recommended that governments and consumers maintain and intensify conservation efforts and energy savings. Ministers welcomed the IEA’s 10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use as a guide for member countries to reduce their oil consumption.

Ministers also discussed Europe’s significant reliance on Russian natural gas, as well as the importance to accelerate global dialogue with gas producing countries including IEA member countries, to ensure secure, affordable and reliable gas supplies, including LNG, and to continue to pursue a well-managed acceleration of clean energy transitions. On 3 March, the IEA Secretariat released a 10-Point to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas by next winter – and it is working closely with the European Commission on next steps.

The IEA Secretariat will continue to closely monitor global oil and gas markets.

Source: IEA

Eight Actions to Solar-Power EU Energy Independence

03.04.2022

On March 31st the international solar community gathered in Brussels for the SolarPower Summit. In light of the Russian war on Ukraine, the Summit publicly launched a landmark paper on the necessary, realistic, ambition for solar-powered EU energy independence.

Presented to EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, by European solar CEOs during a roundtable exchange, ‘Raising Solar Ambition for the European Union’s Energy Independence’ acts as SolarPower Europe’s official response to the consultation for the upcoming EU Solar Strategy. This paper sets out exactly what solar power can deliver for the EU’s climate goals and energy security in the short-, medium-, and long-term (and what we need to get there).

In the short term, to support immediate divestment from Russian gas, and with the right framework for the rooftop segment, solar can deliver 39 GW* of additional EU energy capacity for the coming winter. This represents 23.3 GW of solar rooftops, and 15.7 GW of utility scale solar installations. SolarPower Europe is currently surveying the sector to understand what additional utility scale solar is possible if we are able to fast-track shovel-ready projects.

The real solar acceleration can happen in the medium-term. The current REPowerEU solar market 2030 projection of 525 GW falls short of the true potential of solar expansion, with industry pre-war, business-as-usual scenario predictions of 672 GW. With the Russian war on Ukraine, and the increasingly acute climate crisis, the paper presents an accelerated high scenario, foreseeing over 1 TW of total EU solar capacity by 2030, and details the eight actions that will build the necessary foundations for the European solar Terawatt age:

Accelerate the deployment of projects
Connect and integrate solar projects into the grid
Develop the skills & workforce needed to deploy solar projects
Deploy integrated solar PV applications
Secure supply chains and access to raw materials
Reinvest in domestic manufacturing
Boost the deployment of rooftop solar PV during the renovation wave
Develop an enabling framework for consumer-driven solar

Aristotelis Chantavas, President of SolarPower Europe said: “The continent is facing war and geopolitical instability at a time when the climate emergency grows ever more intense. Europeans are just beginning to emerge from a global pandemic, already struggling to manage gas-driven soaring energy prices. Solar energy offers immediate relief – with potentially 39 GW potential additional capacity for this coming winter – and long-term sustainable solutions. 1 TW of solar in 2030 can replace all Russian gas imports to the EU. We have no more time to waste, we must raise EU solar ambition.”

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe said: “The SolarPower Summit comes at a crucial time. The unprovoked Russian war in Ukraine is a rough awakening from Europe’s fossil-fuel dependency and complacency. Factoring in this latest SolarPower Europe paper, the REPowerEU strategy, and the upcoming EU Solar Strategy, will be crucial tools to guide Europe towards a brighter, solar-powered future.”

Source: SolarPower Europe

Support Shifts Away from Fossil Fuels Despite Rising Energy Prices, Survey Finds

02.04.2022

thermal_power_plant_termoelektrana — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

According to a new survey, there is strong global support – across all countries and demographic groups – for the energy transition to move away from fossil fuels. A majority of consumers worldwide expect their overall spending power to be significantly impacted by further energy price increases, yet only 13 percent of those surveyed globally blamed climate policies for rising prices, while 84 percent of respondents stressed the importance of their own country’s shift to sustainable energy sources.

These are some of the key findings of a survey conducted by the World Economic Forum and Ipsos among 22,534 adults in 30 countries between February 18 and March 4 2022.

“The energy transition has always been about security, affordability and environmental sustainability: the so-called energy triangle,” said Roberto Bocca, Head of Shaping the Future of Energy and Materials, World Economic Forum. “The current geopolitical context makes it even more true today. This survey underlines that popular support exists for the transition to a new energy system that is more sustainable, secure and affordable.”

Impact of energy price hikes on consumer spending power

Survey respondents were asked to consider the energy they use for daily expenses – such as transportation, heating or cooling homes, cooking, powering appliances, etc – and assess how much energy price increases would affect their overall spending power. On average, more than half of consumers (55 percent) across the 30 countries surveyed expect their overall spending power to be significantly impacted by energy price increases.

However, expectations varied widely across countries. More than two-thirds of respondents in South Africa (77 percent), Japan (69 percent), and Turkey (69 percent) said that price rises would affect them “a great deal or fair amount”, as opposed to just over one-third in Switzerland (37 percent) and the Netherlands (37 percent). Conversely, the survey revealed limited differences of opinion across demographic groups in response to the same question. Concern was only slightly higher among those with a lower income (59 percent of respondents) and those in the 35-49 age group (58 percent) than the global average (55 percent).

Causes of the energy price spike – climate change policies least cited

The survey also asked respondents to select a “main reason” for the recent rise in energy prices. Answers to this question were particularly varied and revealed diverse opinions among global consumers. Without exception, no single reason dominated in any of the 30 countries.

The most cited reasons on average were “volatility in the oil and gas markets” and “geopolitical tensions” (by 28 percent and 25 percent of respondents globally). Another 18 percent cited insufficient supply to meet increased demand, 16 percent said they were not sure, and only 13 percent blamed climate change policies – the least cited reason on average.

Consumers in different countries chose different causes for the price hike. Geopolitical tensions were most likely to be blamed in the Netherlands (the only country where any single reason is cited by a majority – 54 percent), Belgium (46 percent), and Italy (42 percent).

Market volatility was the most commonly selected cause in Mexico (40 percent), South Korea (38 percent), Peru (36 percent), and Saudi Arabia (36 percent). Insufficient supply was cited most often in South Africa (37 percent), Malaysia (28 percent), and Argentina (28 percent). Russian and Japanese consumers were the most likely to be unsure (29 percent and 25 percent of respondents respectively).

The countries most likely to cite climate change policies as the cause of the recent price rises were India (24 percent), Germany (20 percent), and Poland (19 percent); and among demographic groups, it was business decision-makers (19 percent). However, climate policies were not the top reason in any country or among any demographic group, and it was the least common response on average.

Global consensus around the importance of shifting away from fossil fuels

Respondents were also asked how important it was to them that their country shifts away from fossil fuels to more climate-friendly and sustainable energy sources in the next five years. On average, more than four in five of those surveyed globally (84 percent) said it was important to them. Vast majorities said so in every country surveyed: from 72 percent in Russia (the lowest globally) and 75 percent in the United States to 93 percent in South Africa and Peru. Citizens of emerging countries were especially adamant about it.

Globally, the level of importance granted to shifting away from fossil fuels was also very high across all demographic groups surveyed. Although support was strong among all demographic groups, slightly more women (87 percent) thought it was important to move away from fossil fuels than men (81 percent).

Source: World Economic Forum

We Lose One Species on Earth almost Every Hour

01.04.2022

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Laura Dewilde)

Last Saturday in center of Zagreb, the attention of passers-by is captured by a clock whose alarm rings to wake up the whole human race.

Every hour counts down and warns of the fact that we lose one species almost every hour on Earth. WWF Adria, in cooperation with Bruketa & Žinić & Gray and Dept, and Go2Digital, set it up today, the last Saturday in March, when Earth Hour is traditionally celebrated around the world.

According to the latest State of the Planet Report, published in September 2020, the size of the populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles has decreased by a worrying 68 per cent since 1970. This is a consequence of the expansion of global trade, consumption, population growth and accelerated urbanization, as a result of which species lose their habitats or are hunted and become extinct.

“Our relationship with nature has been damaged. The accelerated destruction of nature, as a result of human activities, has catastrophic impacts not only on wildlife populations, but also on human health and all other aspects of our lives. We lose one species almost every hour in the world. Our time is running out and if we want nature to recover, we must act immediately “, warned Nataša Kalauz, Executive Director of WWF Adria.

That the clock is ticking on some species in our vicinity, the people of Croatia can see on numerous advertising screens in our cities where there are photos of some of the most endangered species in the region, such as the Balkan lynx, olm or Mediterranean monk seal.

Among the greatest threats to wildlife are crimes against nature that include illegal hunting and fishing, the killing of protected species, illegal trade and smuggling, and the illegal capture and possession of wildlife. On the WWF Adria website, you can find information on other ways to prevent biodiversity loss. We can preserve the wealth and beauty of the world around us together, say WWF Adria, adding that in this time of great divisions and conflicts, we must not forget that we all share this planet and must take care of it together.

The Earth Hour can be marked by any of us, by turning off the lights from 20:30h, and the same will happen in the squares and sights of many of our and the world’s cities.

Source: WWF Adria

In Moldova, Shelter Belt Forests Build Rural Livelihoods and Protect Against Climate Change Impacts

01.04.2022

nature-priroda-Moldavija — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Mihail Bozianu’s interest in beekeeping started early. “I was 11 years old and we had nothing,” he remembers. “I started on my own with two hives. By the day I graduated from high school, I had 43.”

Today, Mihail, a resident of Mingir village, has 1,200 beehives. He’s one of the most productive beekeepers in Moldova, and has won international awards for beekeeping.

To do their best work and produce their finest “liquid gold,” Mihail’s bees depend on the tranquil forest environment they find on the slope of a nearby hillside, where they spend their days buzzing peacefully among the six hectares of trees and undergrowth. Astonishingly, this slope was once barren, frequently used as a rubbish dump and prone to landslides – but today, that’s a distant memory.

This dramatic change came about after Mihail received a grant from the IFAD-financed Rural Resilience Project (RRP), via IFAD’s flagship ASAP initiative, to plant a protective shelter belt.

Shelter belts are an agroforestry technique that turns degraded land into carefully managed forests of diverse native trees and plants. They reduce soil erosion, safeguard water resources, protect against storm damage, act as windbreaks, and even capture carbon – in short, they’re an ideal way to help rural communities adapt to climate change and its effects, including extreme weather events.

What’s more, a well-planned shelter belt helps increase rural incomes by creating the conditions for better agricultural yields in the surrounding fields, along with forest products like Mihail’s honey. The resulting boost to local economies fosters a sense of stability and creates economic opportunities that, among other effects, provide decent jobs for young people and give them another option besides leaving home in search of work.

Working with staff from ICAS, the research institute of Moldova’s forestry agency, Mihail chose trees that would flourish at different times of year: linden, mahaleb cherry, cornelian cherry and, most importantly, acacia – which grows fast and which bees love.

His honey production is already increasing – to the point that he’s had to hire help. “Now I am paying a salary to a young man who is not afraid of bees,” Mihail says. “I am also supporting his studies so that he doesn’t have to leave the country to find work.” By the time the shelter belt is mature, he expects his honey production to rise by over 70 percent. He’s also planning to hire and train four more apprentices.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bianca Ackermann)

Stories like Mihail’s are an inspiration for impoverished rural communities across Moldova that are confronting the effects of climate change and struggling to find ways to adapt.

Petru Sorici, the mayor of Nishcani village in central Moldova, is among them. “We noticed that villages that are surrounded by forests are somehow more protected from different kinds of weather: hail, landslides, heavy rains,” he says. He urged his fellow villagers to apply for adaptation funding from the IFAD-financed IRECR project.

In 2020, Nishani village received approximately USD 16,000 to plant and manage seven hectares of forests as a shelter belt just north of the village, on what had once been heavily degraded land next to a landfill.

Residents are already seeing some benefits from the shelter belt: like the one in Mingir village, it’s an ideal place for bees to thrive and it halts soil erosion. It’s also an ideal growing environment for medicinal plants, and it creates a natural barrier against the landfill site.

But trees grow slowly, and forests need to be safeguarded as they mature. In the areas where shelterbelts have been established, local authorities have agreed to manage them for the first few years, until the trees are well established. This, along with training on climate-resilient agriculture for small-scale farmers, will keep the initiative sustainable even after the projects that supported them come to an end.

At the time of IRECR’s official closure in 2021, it had produced 42 forest restoration plans and established over 500 hectares of protective shelter belts and strips of pasture, on land owned by 2,000 households. The RRP project, which is still ongoing, is providing grants to small-scale farmers to establish another 200 hectares of shelter belts.

As climate change accelerates worldwide, conserving ecosystems and using natural resources sustainably will be critical for protecting the lives and livelihoods of rural-dwellers. For rural communities in Moldova, shelter belts are a small but important contribution to their resilience.

Source: IFAD

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