SUBSIDIES FOR NEW GREEN VEHICLES

19.11.2023

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (thomas-kelley)

With subsidies for electric and hybrid vehicles, the Serbian government wants to encourage individuals to opt for environmentally friendly cars. Thus, in 2020, the regulation on the conditions and method of implementing the subsidized purchase of new vehicles that have exclusively electric and hybrid drive, as well as cars that, in addition to the internal combustion engine (IC engine), also run an electric power unit (hybrid drive) was adopted. Funds in the amount of 294 million dinars were allocated this year, which is twice as much as last year. The money will be disbursed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, based on the received applications for funding, up to available funds.

Companies/legal entities, small business owners and natural persons have the right to subsidized purchase of vehicles, and they can submit their application by October 31.

This right is not available to companies/legal entities and small business owners who have or will have the right to subsidized purchase of passenger vehicles to buy new taxis to be used as public transport.

The regulation focuses on the fact that the subsidies are valid for new vehicles, those that have never been used nor registered until the submission of the application for subsidized purchase.

IN FOCUS:

Disbursement of subsidies

As explained, legal entities, small business owners and natural persons who buy a vehicle in instalments are required to conclude a financial leasing contract before the subsidy is disbursed and pay an amount of at least 15 per cent of the purchase price of the new vehicle to the financial leasing provider as a down payment for the approval of the leasing contract.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (martin-katler)

If they buy a new vehicle with their funds, the subsidy is disbursed after submitting proof of the paid part of the purchase price. Then, within 15 days from the date of receipt of the decision, they are obliged to submit to the Ministry a vehicle purchase agreement, an advance invoice (if an advance was paid), a preliminary invoice and proof of payment of the remaining purchase price of the vehicle, i.e. a relevant bank statement.

Suppose the vehicle is purchased through financial leasing. In that case, they must submit to the Ministry a contract on financial leasing, a confirmation from the leasing company about the down payment amount and proof of the payment made within 15 days of receiving the Ministry’s decision.

Awarding subsidies is terminated if the amount of allocated funds in the current year is insufficient for the approval of all properly submitted applications.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection facilitated the purchase of electric and hybrid cars as part of implementing measures to improve air quality and the quality of the environment. The data also show that citizens understand the importance of more environmentally friendly transport. Every year, an increasing number of such vehicles are purchased with the help of state subsidies. In 2020, that number was 112. In 2021, it was 504; in 2022, a record 715 vehicles were purchased with the help of state subsidies.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

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

Greenhouse Gas concentrations hit record high. Again.

18.11.2023

emisije , zagađenje — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Chris LeBoutillier)

The abundance of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere once again reached a new record last year and there is no end in sight to the rising trend, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Global averaged concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most important greenhouse gas, in 2022 were a full 50 percent above the pre-industrial era for the first time. They continued to grow in 2023.

The rate of growth in CO2 concentrations was slightly lower than the previous year and the average for the decade, according to WMO’s Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. But it said this was most likely due to natural, short-term variations in the carbon cycle and that new emissions as a result of industrial activities continued to rise.

Methane concentrations also grew, and levels of nitrous oxide, the third main gas, saw the highest year-on-year increase on record from 2021 to 2022, according to the Greenhouse Bulletin, which is published to inform the United Nations Climate Change negotiations, or COP28, in Dubai.

“Despite decades of warnings from the scientific community, thousands of pages of reports and dozens of climate conferences, we are still heading in the wrong direction,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.

“The current level of greenhouse gas concentrations puts us on the pathway of an increase in temperatures well above the Paris Agreement targets by the end of this century. This will be accompanied by more extreme weather, including intense heat and rainfall, ice melt, sea-level rise and ocean heat and acidification. The socioeconomic and environmental costs will soar.. We must reduce the consumption of fossil fuels as a matter of urgency.,” said Prof. Taalas.

Just under half of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere. Just over one quarter are absorbed by the ocean and just under 30 percent by land ecosystems like forests – although there is considerable year-to-year variability in this. As long as emissions continue, CO2 will continue accumulating in the atmosphere leading to global temperature rise. Given the long life of CO2, the temperature level already observed will persist for several decades even if emissions are rapidly reduced to net zero.

The last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO2 was 3-5 million years ago, when the temperature was 2-3°C warmer and sea level was 10-20 meters higher than now.

“There is no magic wand to remove the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But we have the tools to strengthen our understanding of the drivers of climate change through WMO’s new Global Greenhouse Gas Watch. This will greatly improve sustained observations and monitoring to support more ambitious climate goals,” said Prof. Taalas.

Global Greenhouse Gas Watch

The WMO Bulletin devotes its cover story to the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch, which was approved by the World Meteorological Congress in May. This ambitious initiative envisages sustained greenhouse gas monitoring in order to be able to account for both human activities related and natural sources and sinks. It will provide vital information and support for the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C and aiming for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Although the scientific community has a broad understanding of climate change and its implications, there are still some uncertainties about the carbon cycle – and the fluxes in the ocean, the land biosphere and the permafrost areas.

“These uncertainties, however, must not deter action. Instead, they highlight the need for flexible, adaptive strategies and the importance of risk management in the path to net-zero and the realization of the Paris Agreement’s goals. Provision of accurate, timely, and actionable data on greenhouse gas fluxes becomes more critical,” says the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.

It cites the need for greater information about:

Feedback Mechanisms: The Earth’s climate system has multiple feedback loops, for example, increased carbon emissions from soils or decreased carbon uptake by oceans due to changing climate as illustrated for Europe for the droughts in 2018 and 2022.
Tipping Points: The climate system may be close to so called “tipping points”, where a certain level of change leads to self-accelerating and potentially irreversible cascade of changes. Examples would include the potential rapid die-back of the Amazon rainforest, slowing of the northern ocean circulation or the destabilization of large ice sheets;
Natural Variability: The major three greenhouse gases have substantial variability driven by natural processes superimposed on anthropogenic signal (e.g., driven by El Niño). This variability can either amplify or dampen observed changes over short periods;
Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases: Climate change is driven by multiple greenhouse gases, not just CO2. These gases have different atmospheric lifetimes, greater Global Warming Potential (GWP) than CO2 and uncertain future emissions.

The new Global Greenhouse Gas Watch is intended to be operational by 2028.

Greenhouse Gas Concentrations in 2022

The (NOAA) Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) shows that from 1990 to 2022, the warming effect on our climate – called radiative forcing – by long-lived greenhouse gases- increased by 49 percent, with CO2 accounting for about 78 percent of this increase.

Carbon dioxide is the single most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, accounting for approximately 64 percent of the warming effect on the climate, mainly because of fossil fuel combustion and cement production.

The 2.2 parts per million (ppm) increase in the annual average from 2021 to 2022 was slightly smaller than 2020 to 2021 and for the past decade (2.46 ppm yr). The most likely reason is increased absorption of atmospheric CO2 by terrestrial ecosystems and the ocean after several years with a La Niña event. The development of an El Niño event in 2023 may therefore have consequences for greenhouse gas concentrations.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which remains in the atmosphere for about a decade.

Methane accounts for about 19 percent of the warming effect of long-lived greenhouse gases.

Approximately 40 percent of methane is emitted into the atmosphere by natural sources (for example, wetlands and termites), and about 60 percent comes from anthropogenic sources (for example, ruminants, rice agriculture, fossil fuel exploitation, landfills and biomass burning).

The increase from 2021 to 2022 was slightly lower than the record rate observed from 2020 to 2021 but considerably higher than the average annual growth rate over the last decade.

Nitrous Oxide is both a powerful greenhouse gas and ozone depleting chemical. It accounts for about seven percent of the radiative forcing by long-lived greenhouse gases.

N2O is emitted into the atmosphere from both natural sources (approximately 60 percent) and anthropogenic sources (approximately 40 percent), including oceans, soils, biomass burning, fertilizer use, and various industrial processes.

For N2O, the increase from 2021 to 2022 was higher than that observed any time before in our modern time record.

Source: WMO

Clean technologies are driving job growth in the energy sector, but skills shortages are an increasing concern

17.11.2023

wind farm — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (NIcholas Doherty)

The number of jobs in the global energy sector rose in 2022 as growing investment in clean energy technologies drove demand for new workers in every region of the world, according to a new IEA report that offers a benchmark for employment across all energy industries.

The second edition of the World Energy Employment report, which is published annually, maps energy sector employment by region, fuel, technology, and value chain. The report provides a data-rich foundation for policy makers, industry, labour, and educators to understand the labour-related impacts of clean energy transitions.

Global energy employment rose to 67 million people in 2022, an increase of 3.5 million from pre-pandemic levels. More than half of employment growth over this period was in just five sectors: solar PV, wind, electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries, heat pumps, and critical minerals mining. Of the five sectors, solar PV is by far the largest employer, accounting for four million jobs, while EVs and batteries were the fastest growing, adding well over one million jobs since 2019.

Jobs in fossil fuel industries have also seen an increase year-on-year, but the rebound has been more subdued, leaving fossil fuels below pre-pandemic levels, despite oil and gas companies experiencing record revenues in 2022. As a result, clean energy employment represents over half of total energy sector jobs, having overtaken fossil fuels in 2021.

The uptick of clean energy jobs occurred in every region of the world, with China, home to the largest energy workforce today, accounting for the largest share of jobs added globally. The expansion of clean energy industries is also generating upstream jobs in critical mineral mining, which added 180 000 jobs in the last three years, highlighting the growing importance of these essential elements in the new energy economy.

However, a growing number of energy industries are citing skilled labour shortages as a key barrier to ramping up activity, according to a proprietary survey carried out by the IEA with 160 energy firms globally. The report finds the number of workers pursuing degrees or certifications relevant to energy sector jobs is not keeping pace with growing demand. This is particularly the case for vocational workers like electricians specialised for energy-sector work, as well as professionals in science, technology and engineering.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (
Mariana Proença)

“The unprecedented acceleration that we have seen in clean energy transitions is creating millions of new job opportunities all over the world – but these are not being filled quickly enough,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Governments, industry and educational institutions need to put in place programmes to deliver the expertise needed in the energy sector to keep pace with growing demand, particularly to manufacture and build the clean energy projects necessary to meet our energy and climate goals.”

Around 36 percent of the world’s energy workers are in high-skilled occupations, compared with about 27 percent for the wider economy. Some fossil fuel companies are retraining workers internally for positions in low-emissions areas to retain talent or to maintain flexibility as needs arise. However, this is not an option everywhere, and ensuring a people-centred and just transition for affected workers must remain a focus for policy makers, especially in the coal sector where employment has been declining consistently for several years, largely due to increasing mechanisation.

The increasing demand for workers in clean energy is expected to continue, with the growth in new jobs outweighing declines in fossil fuel roles in all IEA scenarios. In the updated Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario – which provides a global energy sector pathway consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 °C – 30 million new clean energy jobs are created by 2030, while close to 13 million jobs in fossil fuel-related industries are at risk. This means that around two clean energy jobs would be created for every fossil fuel-related job lost. Energy jobs may not always be in the same location nor require the same skills, meaning policy makers should focus on job training and capacity building to ensure that energy transitions benefit as many people as possible.

Workers coming from outside the energy sector will be essential, and with some retraining, many workers today could benefit from higher wages in the energy sector. There is a growing body of policy making that aims to ensure the jobs created offer rising standards for workers, are more inclusive and target energy communities impacted by the transition, an area the IEA is tracking and analysing.

Source: IEA

HOW TO DEVELOP ELECTROMOBILITY IN SERBIA FASTER?

15.11.2023

oxana-melis-ftAVIslKM6Q-unsplash — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Oxana Melis)

Electrification is one of the global goals because it is the only way to reduce emissions of harmful gases generated by traffic. Experts predict that, by the end of 2030, we will have seen an expansion of electric vehicles, which perfectly fits into the plan to achieve climate neutrality, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The automotive industry is turning around and is already investing in the mass production of electric vehicles, while internal combustion engines (IC engines) are slowly, albeit very slowly, leaving the production lines. The development of electromobility is also connected with the development of the charging network for electric vehicles. Unlike gas stations, which are well distributed, there are still not enough places to charge electric cars. That is why we need to work on the development of charging infrastructure, and this is where the most is expected from the Government, the line ministry and public companies. We spoke with Miroslav Alempić, Assistant Minister for Road Transport, Roads, and Traffic Safety, about developing electromobility, an electric charger network and novelties prescribed by the Law on Planning and Construction.

Q. The Law on Planning and Construction introduces the term “electromobility”. What novelty does this concept bring?

A. Electromobility is a new mobility concept that is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly forms of transportation, especially if electricity is obtained from renewable energy sources. Electric-powered vehicles contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution.

Electromobility aims to find a sustainable balance between people, vehicles and the environment. Solutions for the issues related to the Green Agenda occupy a particularly important place in the amendments to the Law on Planning and Construction. Namely, Serbia is a signatory to the Green Agenda Declaration, which, among other things, incorporates recommendations on reducing air, water and soil pollution.

Respecting the objectives of the Declaration, following its competencies, with the amendments and additions to the Law on Planning and Construction, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure facilitates the implementation of some of the recommendations stated in the Declaration, namely the development and promotion of electromobility, as an environmentally friendly mode of transport, through the development of the required infrastructure and the obligation to build it. First of all, it refers to the installation of electric chargers and the obligation that a certain number of electric chargers must be considered when constructing residential and business buildings, as well as petrol stations on motorways.

IN FOCUS:

Q. When can we expect chargers for electric cars to be installed along the new roads, and at what will be their power?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Thomas Despeyroux)

A. In cooperation with the line ministry, public company Putevi Srbije intends to install electric chargers on existing and new motorway segments. Regarding the sections of first-A class roads under construction, such as the Moravian Corridor and Ruma-Šabac section, the plan is to install ultra-fast electric chargers, with a power of 175kW, at all major toll stations. The new chargers for electric cars will meet all the prescribed standards and be suitable for current and next-generation electric vehicles. Given that the amendment to the Law was passed, from now on, all new and old petrol stations on motorways are obliged to install their electric chargers.

Q. How many chargers for electric cars are there on Serbian roads?

A. We do not have a precise number of electric chargers in Serbia. The assumption is that there are about 100 of them and not more than 150 of different power, which is not enough, especially since there are not enough of them installed on motorways.

As part of the road modernization effort in our country, public company Putevi Srbije installed eight chargers for electric cars in the previous period, three of which are ultra-fast chargers with a power of 175kW, at strategically key points on the motorways, at the entrance to our country and toll stations Preševo, Šid, Dimitrovgrad and Subotica, as well as at the Belgrade toll station in the direction of Niš, on the plateau of the former Niš toll station (one in the direction of Belgrade, and the other in the direction of Niš).

Of course, apart from Putevi Srbije, petrol stations have also independently installed electric chargers. For example, OMV installed chargers for electric cars at the following stations Lapovo: Sever, Martinci 1, Doljevac, Gradina, Beška 1, Bačka Topola 1, Bubanj Potok, Novi Sad, Ruma, Kruševac and Vranje, including the strongest ones which power ranges from 150 to 180kW.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Stevan Aksentijevic)

Q. Are electric car chargers going to be installed in the coming period, and what will be their capacity?

A. A plan is to improve the electric car charging network further. In addition to petrol stations, an increasing number of people are interested in setting up their networks of electric chargers, offering a variety of amenities for electric car owners. Public company Putevi Srbije plans to install an additional 10 electric chargers on the public roads it manages this year. The specified chargers will be of newer generation, with the possibility of upgrading.

The following locations have been preliminarily determined for the installation of new chargers:

Čokot rest stop on the first A class state road No. 1, in the Niš-Preševo direction
Lalinci rest stop on the first A class state road, in the Čačak-Belgrade direction
Jerina rest stop on the first A class state road, in the Belgrade-Niš direction
Toll station Šimanovci on the first A class state road, in the Belgrade-Šid direction
Former toll station Sirig 1 on the first A class state road, Subotica-Belgrade road
Toplik rest stop on the first A class state road, in the Niš-Dimitrovgrad direction
Crvena Reka rest stop on the first A class state road, in the Dimitrovgrad-Niš direction
Korbevac reststop on first A class state road, No. 1, in the Niš-Preševo direction
Subotica toll station on the first A class state road, in the Subotica-Belgrade direction
Šid toll station, on the first A class state road, in the Šid–Belgrade direction.

The charging service at the chargers installed by Putevi Srbije is currently free to contribute to the revival and development of electric vehicle transport in Serbia. Putevi Srbije now covers the cost of electricity used by those chargers, but when the relevant legal conditions are met, a charging fee will be introduced. We also expect more petrol stations and rest stops to be supplied with green energy, which will be achieved by investing in renewable energy sources through solar panels on rooftops, petrol station parking lots and rest stops.

For example, a solar power plant at a petrol station can produce from 50 to 100,000kWh of clean electricity every year and thus offset between 20 and 30 per cent of the facility’s total energy consumption.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

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

Energetik energija d.o.o. – at the ENERGETIKA Fair in Belgrade

15.11.2023

Izdelek-brez-naslova-(13) — Photo: Energetik energija

The International Energy Fair (with UFI license) represents the largest annual regional gathering of companies, corporations, enterprises, institutions, and professionals in sectors related to electric power, coal, oil and gas, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and mining.

This year, from November 28th to 30th, Energetik energija d.o.o. will once again showcase its offerings at the Belgrade Energetika Fair. The company has prepared a rich program for all partners, enthusiasts, and interested parties to join.

As one of the leading distributors of photovoltaic components in the Balkans, Energetik energija d.o.o. is a recognizable player in the dynamic and rapidly changing photovoltaic industry. Aligned with their motto, working principles, operational philosophy and the way they interact with clients, they have developed a comprehensive program for this year.

“This year has been turbulent for everyone in the photovoltaic industry, because the field by itself is subject to rapid changes. Therefore, we have decided to organize a fair event once again, and as we are known for, we have arranged an interesting program where our clients can directly receive the latest information firsthand,” says Director Riccardo Frisinghelli.

The Energetika Fair provides an opportunity to visit the company, engage with experts, and learn more about the latest products, solutions, and forecasts for the year 2024.

What to expect? For sure interactive presentations, demonstrations, and much more.

“As official distributors of renowned brands such as SolarEdge, Sungrow, TrinaSolar, K2 Systems, etc., we have organized presentations with experts from these brands as part of our close collaboration. Visitors will have the chance to meet them directly at our booth and learn more about their products, ask questions, etc.,” adds Director Riccardo Frisinghelli.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the energy transformation.

Reserve your place and participate in panel discussions with manufacturers SolarEdge, Trina Solar and K2 Systems, registration is via the link.

Source: Energetik energija

What to expect during pivotal talks to end plastic pollution

14.11.2023

plastika , plastic , waste , otpad — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Zuzanna Szczepańska)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Naja Bertolt)

Negotiators will gather in Nairobi, Kenya, from 13-19 November for the latest in a series of talks designed to forge a legally binding global instrument to end plastic pollution.

The discussions, which represent the third session of what is known as the International Negotiating Committee (INC-3), come with the world weathering what has been described as a plastic pollution crisis.

Humanity produces around 430 million tonnes of plastic every year, two-thirds of which quickly becomes waste. Much of that ends up polluting land, sea and air while increasingly working its way into the human food chain. During INC-3, negotiators are expected to discuss an initial draft of a global instrument released earlier this year, to end plastic pollution.

We spoke with the Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat, Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, about the upcoming talks and why a global plastics treaty is so important.

What is the goal of the INC process?

Jyoti Mathur-Filipp (JMF): The aim is to complete negotiations by the end of 2024 on an international legally binding global instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

Why is this process so important?

JMF: Plastic pollution has a devastating effect on ecosystems, the climate, the economy and our health. The social and economic costs of plastic pollution range between 300 US dollars and 600 US dollars billion a year, yet plastic production has surged over the past 50 years and is expected to double over the next 20 years if no action is taken.

This marks the third session of the INC. What happened at INC-2?

JMF: INC-2 took place in Paris earlier this year with more than 1,700 participants, including delegates from 169 UN Member States. They gave a mandate to the chair, with the support of the secretariat, to prepare a zero draft text of the global instrument ahead of INC-3. The zero draft was drafted based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastics, ranging from microplastics to the incentivization of non-plastic substitutes.

What will happen at INC-3?

JMF: INC-3 will be a crucial milestone to advance the consideration, understanding and articulation of some of the main elements of the future legally binding instrument, with the aim of mandating the development of the next iteration of the draft text of the instrument for consideration at INC-4, which will be held in April 2024 in Canada. The session will also feature 12 side events focusing on everything from promoting sustainable plastic production and consumption to socio-economic considerations in the transition to circular approaches to plastic.

What needs to happen to tackle plastic pollution?

JMF: We need to reduce the amount of plastics produced and eliminate single-use and short-lived plastic products. We also need to transform our ‘throwaway economy’ to a ‘reuse economy,’ where reusing plastic products makes more economic sense than throwing them away. It is important to switch to non-plastic substitutes and plastic alternatives which do not have the potential for negative environmental and social impacts. This all must come before recycling, which only tackles the end of life of plastic rather than the root cause of pollution.

What message do you have for participants in the INC process?

JMF: We know that we have the science. We need to keep the Nairobi spirit and get the substantive discussions moving, for a global solution to be reached by the end of 2024.

Ending plastic pollution is not a job for governments alone. Civil society, academia, youth and the informal sector are all part of the solution. We look forward to your active engagement and contribution to the process.

Source: UNEP

Commission welcomes agreement between European Parliament and Council on Nature Restoration Law

13.11.2023

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (La coccinelle)

The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement just reached between the European Parliament and the Council on the Nature Restoration Law. Once adopted and applied in the EU Member States, the law will be a key contribution to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and increasing Europe’s preparedness and resilience to the effects of climate change.

The law should set in motion a process for continuous and sustained recovery of nature across the EU’s land and sea. As an overall target to be reached on EU level, Member States will put in place restoration measures in at least 20 percent of the EU’s land areas and 20 percent of its seas by 2030. By 2050 such measures should be in place for all ecosystems that need restoration.

The law will help the EU and its Member States meet the restoration target they committed to under the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework at the biodiversity COP15 in December 2022.

National action to make ecosystems healthy and productive

Different restoration targets will apply to different ecosystems, and Member States will decide the specific measures that will apply on their territories. For this purpose, they will develop national restoration plans, with restoration needs and measures adapted to the local context and a timeline for their implementation. They will develop these plans involving local communities and civil society.

The plans should seek synergies with climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and disaster prevention, as well as with agriculture and forestry.

Specific objectives for various ecosystems will cover for example improving the state of the EU’s key land and marine habitats, urban ecosystems, rivers and floodplains, or improving pollinator diversity.

Next steps

The European Parliament and the Council will now formally have to adopt the new Regulation. Once this is done, it will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Member States will then need to submit their first nature restoration plan to the Commission within two years of the entry into force.

Background

The economic cost of the degradation of nature is very high, while every euro spent on restoration can deliver a return on investment of more than eight euros, depending on the ecosystem. Only healthy and productive ecosystems can provide the many services we all depend on, including resilience to natural disasters such as droughts and floods as well as long-term food security.

Despite EU and international efforts, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems continue at an alarming rate, harming people, the economy, nature and the climate. Today, over 80 percent of conservation status assessments for European habitat types are in poor or bad status with many further deteriorating. Past efforts to protect and preserve nature have not been able to reverse this worrying trend. Research such as the European Environment Agency’s 2018 State of Nature in the EU report or the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) shows that European ecosystems are under increasing pressure especially from land use and land use changes and suffer from climate change and other threats such as nutrient pollution due to overuse of fertilizers and chemical inputs.

The Commission adopted the proposal for a Nature Restoration Law on 22 June 2022. The law is a key element of the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity strategy and builds on existing legislation.

Source: European Commission

Samsung C&T and ABB enter agreement to expand smart building capabilities

13.11.2023

To improve the livability and energy efficiency of large residential, commercial and multi-dwelling residential buildings, ABB Smart Buildings and Samsung C&T Corporation Engineering & Construction Group (‘Samsung C&T’) today entered a new global agreement to jointly deliver integrated, holistic building automation, reliable energy distribution, and energy management solutions. This follows a separate global agreement signed with Samsung Electronics in April 2022 to drive holistic residential smart building technology through the integration of ABB-free@home® and Samsung SmartThings.

The deal signals an intention to integrate holistic building solutions, such as Samsung C&T’s Homeniq smart home platform, the ABB-free@home® system and the ABB i-bus® KNX that can significantly widen potential home and building services under one property management tool. Able to choose between the Homeniq app, the ABB-free@home® app and ABB wall panels, this will allow building residents to control all Samsung C&T and ABB smart home devices from a single user interface. Intended to meet the increasing customer demand for integrated, easy-to-use, and flexible products and solutions, the partnership is a further milestone in enabling greater energy management, lower energy costs and improved quality of life.

The new ability to manage and monitor all energy grid systems within properties is also expected to lower connection charges by reducing power peaks and accelerate return on investment from photovoltaic (PV) equipment.

Welcoming the new partnership, Lucy Han, Head of Global Product Group Building and Home Automation Solutions at ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings Division, said, “This exciting new agreement with Samsung C&T is another important step forward in expanding our portfolio of seamless and comprehensive smart building technology and services and reflects our ongoing commitment to collaborating with partners to address global energy efficiency challenges.

“Our commitment to open technologies and industry interoperability standards is ongoing and today’s announcement extends our portfolio for commercial and large residential developments to the property management level.”

Hyejung Helen Cho, Head of Life Solution Department at Samsung C&T adds, “Construction companies, property developers and operators will also benefit from the convenience of a combined, one-stop-shop offering of Samsung C&T’s devices and ABB’s Smart Home control devices. The scope of the Samsung C&T platform demonstrates ongoing opportunities for developers to further upgrade the level of technology over time.”

Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of energy consumption and for 30 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but fast evolving technologies promise to deliver significant reductions to these levels. The new agreement with Samsung C&T will lead to further combined innovation initiatives, with a partnership on a newly enhanced property management platform a focus. Following an initial proof of concept developed earlier this year in Korea, further joint pilot projects are currently being identified in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Source: ABB

RENEWABLE SOURCES KEY TO ENERGY SECURITY

12.11.2023

Thessaly_PlastiraLake_002_photo-Y-Skoulas — Photo: Thessaly, Plastira lake ©GNTO/Y. Skoulas

Warm sea, pleasant climate and authentic architecture – this is perhaps the shortest description of one of the most popular tourist destinations on the European continent and the largest country on the Balkan Peninsula. However, apart from being a favorite summer destination, Greece is attracting more and more attention due to the development of a green economy in the demanding conditions that nature has imposed on the country. The Greek government plans to significantly increase its green energy capacities so that renewable energy sources (RES) will make up at least 60 per cent of the energy mix by 2030.

The Greek Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Maria Levanti, says that in 2021, Greece drafted and published the National Energy and Climate Plan (ESEK) for the period up to 2030, which sets goals and defines measures related to the national environmental protection policy. In this context, a number of measures have already been implemented in terms of energy modernization of buildings, replacement of fuel for heating units and replacement of heating and cooling devices. At the same time, in 2020, policies and measures for delignitization and environmental restoration were drafted and implemented in areas with lignite production, which have been temporarily postponed due to the recent energy crisis.

Greece is also working on expanding its renewable energy facilities and applying measures that contribute to environmental protection to boost both the Greek and regional economies.

IN FOCUS:

Q. Renewable energy sources (RES) have fully corresponded to the increase in global demand for electricity in the first half of 2022. How did you manage to get rid of fossil fuels and switch to clean energy to ensure that the country has enough energy?

A. The Investment Law stipulates incentives for the use of renewable energy sources. The National Energy Programme has set specific energy and climate goals to be achieved by 2030. Cumulatively, RES units, mainly PV, reached 6.5GW in the national power distribution grid in 2022 compared to 4GW in 2019, while the capacity is expected to exceed 8.7GW based on planned projects for 2023.

Photo: Peloponnese, Dimitsana ©GNTO/K. Kouzouni

Q. Greece aims to increase its green energy capacity significantly. How will you make that happen?

A. The National Energy and Climate Plan (ESEK), which covers the period from 2021 to 2030, has set the ultimate goal of RES covering 60 per cent of consumption. To achieve this, initiatives are already being implemented to simplify and expedite the issuance of permits, the optimal integration of RES into power grids, the operation of storage systems, and the promotion of electromobility. RES already contribute more than 50 per cent to the country’s energy structure.

Q. How will you reach the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions in the near future?

A. The National Energy and Climate Plan’s overall goal is to transition to climate neutrality by 2050 in a sustainable, fair, and cost-effective manner. As part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which covers various sectors, such as clean energy, green construction, sustainable mobility, sustainable agriculture and others, Greece allocates 37.5 per cent of the Plan’s budget to climate goals. In recent years, harmful emissions of many elements found in air pollutants have been significantly reduced in Greece. According to the latest census data submitted by Greece to the European Commission, greenhouse gas emissions in the country were reduced by 28 per cent from 1990 to 2020. In 2019, Greece defined the implementation of special activities under the auspices of the National Air Pollution Control Programme (EPEAR), the improvement and modernization of air quality monitoring and the provision of timely submission of relevant reports, the reduction of nitrogen oxides and particles, also through the planning of fiscal and energy options and with the help of the European initiative Coal Regions in Transition as its priority goals, all to reduce the use of coal which households use for heating and limit harmful emissions of air pollutants.

Photo: Peloponnese, Mani, Vathia ©GNTO/EFili

Q. The Republic of Greece ranks 28th on the EPI list (Environmental Performance Index) out of 170 countries. How did you make progress in environmental preservation, and what have been the priorities along the way?

A. Environmental legislation in Greece follows international and European coordinates. It is worth noting that some legal regulations concerning environmental protection were passed very early. For instance, the legal definition of national parks has been institutionalized since the 1930s.

Regarding nature protection, the Greek network of protected areas within the EU borders, Natura 2000, is now considered complete. As for simplifying administrative structures and procedures for implementing environmental legislation, some recent steps in that direction included simplifying risk and environmental impact assessment procedures and the implementation of European directives on natural habitats and industrial gas emissions. Greece’s environmental investments amounted to 0.72 per cent of the country’s GDP in the period from 2014 to 2020, while from 2021 to 2027, it is estimated that they will exceed 1.12 per cent of GDP.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

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

Imports of green energy products more than doubled in 2022

11.11.2023

solar — Photo-illustration: Freepik (@Oleksandr Ryzhkov)

Clean energy is a fundamental part of the European Green Deal. In pursuit of this, green energy products such as wind turbines, liquid biofuels and solar panels are required. Utilising these energy products also reduces the energy import dependencies highlighted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In 2022, the EU spent 28.4 billion euros on imports of green energy products (including wind turbines, solar panels and liquid biofuels) from extra-EU countries, more than double the amount in 2021 (13.3. billion euros).

Focusing on specific products, the EU imported 22.6 billion euros worth of solar panels in 2022, a 145 percent increase compared with 2021 (9.2 billion euros). Increases were also recorded for liquid biofuels with 2022 imports reaching 5.1 billion euros, up 49 percent on 2021 (3.4 billion euros). An increase was also recorded in imports of wind turbines, which rose 17 percent to 0.8 billion euros in 2022, from 0.6 billion euros (2021).

Compared with 2012, imports of all three green energy products have increased. Imports of solar panels are up 137 percent, imports of liquid biofuels are up 60 percent and imports of wind turbines are up 504 percent.

Dramatic fall in exports of wind turbines in 2022

The value of green energy products exported by the EU to extra-EU countries was significantly lower (3.7 billion euros) and was 27 percent lower than the corresponding 2021 figure (5.0 billion euros).

Exports of wind turbines were valued at 1.3 billion euros in 2022, which represented a significant decrease (-59 percent) on those in 2021 (3.2 billion euros). Solar panels totalled 0.8 billion euros in 2022, up 44 percent on 2021 (0.6 billion euros). Liquid biofuel exports numbered 1.6 billion euros, up 23 percent from 2021 (1.3 billion euros).

Exports of liquid biofuels only totalled 0.5 billion euros in 2012 and grew to 1.6 billion euros in 2022, representing a 235 percent increase on 2012 exports. Exports of solar panels have seen a more modest increase (25 percent), from 0.6 billion euros in 2012 to 0.8 billion euros in 2022. Wind turbine exports have recorded a -55 percent drop, from 2.9 billion euros in 2012 to 1.3 billion euros in 2022.

Source: Eurostat

Latin America to play an essential role in the global transition to a more secure and sustainable energy system

09.11.2023

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

At a time of rising geopolitical uncertainty and accelerating energy transitions, an extraordinary endowment of energy and mineral resources, as well as a history of clean energy leadership, positions Latin America and the Caribbean to play an increasingly influential role in the global energy sector, according to a new IEA special report.

The Latin America Energy Outlook is the IEA’s first in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the region, covering the full range of fuels and energy technologies across all 33 countries. The report finds that Latin America and the Caribbean’s wealth of resources and experience developing them – from high-quality renewables to oil and gas to critical minerals – could make major contributions to global energy security and clean energy transitions with the right packages of policies, on top of powering the region’s own transition and generating major benefits for local economies after a decade of sluggish growth. The special report draws on substantial input from government officials, experts and stakeholders across Latin America and the Caribbean, building on decades of IEA work on energy and climate issues with the region.

Latin America and the Caribbean already has one of the cleanest electricity sectors in the world, offering bright prospects for future clean energy industries. Renewables, led by hydropower, generate 60 percent of the region’s electricity, twice the global average, while some of the world’s best wind and solar resources can be found in countries including Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Argentina. Use of bioenergy is widespread across the region, and it is a major exporter of biofuels.

Meanwhile, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean hold about 15 percent of global oil and natural gas resources. And the region is highly significant for the production of minerals that are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies – with around half of global reserves of lithium, and more than a third of copper and silver reserves. The region’s clean electricity supply lays the foundation for the sustainable mining and processing of these materials.

“Latin America and the Caribbean can play an outsize role in the new global energy economy. With incredible natural resources and a longstanding commitment to renewables, countries in the region already have a head start on secure and sustainable transitions to clean energy. Leaning into these transitions would ignite growth in local economies – and put the world’s energy system on a surer footing,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Our report shows that supportive policy making and international cooperation are essential to ensure the region can take full advantage of its remarkable energy potential.”

The new Outlook finds a substantial gap in policy implementation. Sixteen of the 33 countries in the region have pledged to reach net zero emissions by mid-century or earlier, and most have presented more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) tied to the 2015 Paris Agreement. Yet under today’s policy settings, the region is projected to continue using fossil fuels to meet a large share of its energy needs, especially for road transport, while progress on clean energy transitions is set to remain limited.

By comparison, the report finds that if countries’ announced pledges are realised, Latin America and the Caribbean would see renewables meet all new energy demand this decade. This would allow oil exports to rise by nearly two million barrels per day by 2030, diversifying global supply and increasing revenues. Competitive renewable resources would also drive the production of low-cost and low-emissions hydrogen, which can help decarbonise heavy industry and freight transport domestically and internationally. Production of biofuels would rise, and long-term revenues from critical minerals would double to nearly USD 200 billion, exceeding those from fossil fuels.

The report identifies four key actions to reduce energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: ramp up the adoption of renewable energy, advance the electrification of industry and transport, drive energy efficiency to moderate demand growth, and boost access to clean cooking solutions. Notably, accelerating renewables accounts for 40 percent of the emissions gap between what is projected based on today’s policy settings versus a scenario in which announced pledges are achieved.

Investment in the region must also grow substantially, the report finds. To fulfil pledges, financing for clean energy projects needs to double by 2030 to USD 150 billion and rise fivefold by 2050. In this scenario, the ratio of investment in clean sources to unabated fossil fuels climbs from around 1:1 today to 4:1 in the 2030s. People-centred transitions must also focus on delivering universal access to modern energy at affordable prices, according to the report, with 17 million people in the region lacking access to electricity and 74 million without access to clean cooking supplies.

Beyond tackling CO2 emissions, major producers in the region can reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations by nearly 80 percent at low cost, and around 40 percent with no net costs, supporting the Global Methane Pledge that most countries have signed. Based on announced pledges, emissions from land use and agriculture, which account for half of economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions in the region today, are cut by the end of the decade and reach net zero. About 85 percent of forests in the region are in countries that are part of the Glasgow Pledge, which aims to stop deforestation by 2030.

The IEA’s work on energy and climate issues with partners in the region continues to deepen. The IEA family now includes five Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

“The special report is a milestone in our work with Latin American and Caribbean countries, and we look forward to further regional and bilateral collaboration inspired by its analysis, which lays out a clear pathway for countries to meet their energy objectives,” Dr Birol said. “The IEA stands ready to support governments across the region as they advance their clean energy transitions, building a more secure and fairer global energy system in the process.”

Source: IEA

Governments plan to produce double the fossil fuels in 2030 than the 1.5°C warming limit allows

08.11.2023

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Chris LeBoutillier)

A major new report published today finds that governments plan to produce  around  110 percent more  fossil fuels  in 2030  than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C, and 69 percent more than would be consistent with 2°C. This comes despite  151 national governments having pledged to achieve net-zero emissions and the latest forecasts which suggest global coal, oil, and gas demand will peak this decade, even without new policies. When combined, government plans would lead to an increase in global coal production until 2030, and in global oil and gas production until at least 2050, creating an ever-widening fossil fuel production gap over time.

The report’s main findings include:

Given risks and uncertainties of carbon capture and storage and carbon dioxide removal, countries should aim for a near total phase-out of coal production and use by 2040, and a combined reduction in oil and gas production and use by three-quarters by 2050 from 2020 levels, at a minimum.

While 17 of the 20 countries featured have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions — and many have launched initiatives to cut emissions from fossil fuel production activities — none have committed to reduce coal, oil, and gas production in line with limiting warming to 1.5°C.

Governments with greater capacity to transition away from fossil fuels should aim for more ambitious reductions and help support the transition processes in countries with limited resources.

The 2023 Production Gap Report: “Phasing down or phasing up? Top fossil fuel producers plan even more extraction despite climate promises” is produced by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Climate Analytics, E3G, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). It assesses governments’ planned and projected production of coal, oil, and gas against global levels consistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal.

“Governments are literally doubling down on fossil fuel production; that spells double trouble for people and planet,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “We cannot address climate catastrophe without tackling its root cause: fossil fuel dependence. COP28 must send a clear signal that the fossil fuel age is out of gas — that its end is inevitable. We need credible commitments to ramp up renewables, phase out fossil fuels, and boost energy efficiency, while ensuring a just, equitable transition.”

July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded, and most likely the hottest for the past 120,000 years, according to scientists. Across the globe, deadly heat waves, droughts, wildfires, storms, and floods are costing lives and livelihoods, making clear that human-induced climate change is here. Global carbon dioxide emissions — almost 90 percent of which come from fossil fuels — rose to record highs in 2021–2022.

“Governments’ plans to expand fossil fuel production are undermining the energy transition needed to achieve net-zero emissions, throwing humanity’s future into question,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “Powering economies with clean and efficient energy is the only way to end energy poverty and bring down emissions at the same time.”

“Starting at COP28, nations must unite behind a managed and equitable phase-out of coal, oil and gas — to ease the turbulence ahead and benefit every person on this planet,” she added.

The 2023 Production Gap Report provides newly expanded country profiles for 20 major fossil-fuel-producing countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. These profiles show that most of these governments continue to provide significant policy and financial support for fossil fuel production.

“We find that many governments are promoting fossil gas as an essential ‘transition’ fuel but with no apparent plans to transition away from it later,” says Ploy Achakulwisut, a lead author on the report and SEI scientist. “But science says we must start reducing global coal, oil, and gas production and use now — along with scaling up clean energy, reducing methane emissions from all sources, and other climate actions — to keep the 1.5°C goal alive.”

 Despite being the root cause of the climate crisis, fossil fuels have remained largely absent from international climate negotiations until recent years. At COP26 in late 2021, governments committed to accelerate efforts towards “the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”, though they did not agree to address the production of all fossil fuels.

“COP28 could be the pivotal moment where governments finally commit to the phase-out of all fossil fuels and acknowledge the role producers have to play in facilitating a managed and equitable transition,” says Michael Lazarus, a lead author on the report and SEI US Centre Director. “Governments with the greatest capacities to transition away from fossil fuel production bear the greatest responsibility to do so while providing finance and support to help other countries do the same.”

More than 80 researchers, from over 30 countries, contributed to the analysis and review, spanning numerous universities, think tanks and other research organizations.

Source: UNEP

ORIGINAL AND ECO-FRIENDLY SCENTS OF CITIES

08.11.2023

MiCrodia — Photo: courtesy of Karla Kuleš

Young, skilled and creative entrepreneur Karla from Zagreb started envisioning her idea two years ago – making scented candles that will exude the specific flora and cultural heritage of Croatian cities. These are not ordinary scented candles, as every detail is clearly thought out and they tell a special story with their fragrant notes and aesthetics. When Karla and her mother Dinka Kuleš devised a plan how to bring their vision of making candles that smell like the indigenous plants from Croatian cities to life, they realized that this fusion of scents, flowers and history actually creates a real souvenir of culture.

The work on making the candles is clearly divided – Dinka is in charge of production and Karla is in charge of logistics, finance, media and social networks. Although the Croatian coastline is widely known and associated with the wonderful local scents, it was less popular towns, so to speak, like Varaždin that this imaginative female duo also focused on. The Croatian brand miCrodia was launched late last year because a certain period was spent on researching the production technique, as well as the spectrum of fragrances specific to a certain place.

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A candle named Ragusa, their best-selling product, smells like the oranges grown in the city of Dubrovnik. This candle’s scent is based on beautiful gardens in the old part of the city, which is home to one of the first wild orange trees, standing in the Franciscan Monastery in the Old Town. It is an incredible 2,000 years old and has often been the topic of many poems. Since Zagreb is the city where Karla and her mother live, it is also one of their favourites. If you ever frequented the main train station in Zagreb in the spring, you must have noticed pink magnolias. Moreover, in addition to Zagreb and Dubrovnik, you can now smell the scents of Osijek, Varaždin, Rovinj, Pula, Rijeka, Otočac, Zadar and Split, and each candle label features the main historical symbol of the city, be it the Zagreb Cathedral or the Arena in Pula.

“Light music, the scents of Croatia and the sound of sizzling wax is all a person needs. Every day is a working day, sometimes we work for 12 hours if we have received a large order, but when you love what you are do, Mondays are not bad at all“, Karla says.

Eco-design and natural materials as green solutions

There is another message hidden behind the materials used in the realization of this extremely interesting idea. That is eco-ceramic or, as it is popularly called, jasmonite, from which candle containers are made. This is an environmentally friendly non-toxic material created by mixing gypsum and water-based acrylic resin and contains no chemical agents. This material has become quite popular with many world designers and artists when creating decorative items. Three years ago, when eco-ceramics was first presented in London, it was declared „the material of the year“ because of its incredible chameleon-like adaptability, i.e. its ability to replicate different textures and shapes, Karla explains to us. In this case, jasmonite is mixed with water to create a container that holds the scented candle.

The versatile material that Karla uses can become the future for many manufacturers. Apart from eco-ceramics, these candles have another special feature which is the cotton wick and soy wax which is used exclusively in the production. Cotton wicks are environmentally friendly and due to their structure, they can carry a flame for hours.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

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

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