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North Macedonia: Funding Secured for Three Solar Power Plants and Expansion of the Bogdanci Wind Park

Photo: Unsplash (jason mavrommatis)

The state-owned company Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (AD ESM) is embarking on a new investment cycle in renewable energy sources with the support of a favorable loan from the German development bank KfW.

This initiative includes the construction of the Bitola 2 solar power plant and the second phase of the Bogdanci wind park expansion. Funding for these two significant projects, totaling 55 million euros, has been secured through a state-guaranteed loan signed by the Ministry of Finance, with a 15-year repayment period and a five-year grace period, according to an AD ESM statement.

The Bitola 2 solar power plant is part of North Macedonia’s efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in its grid. This facility will be built within the Bitola mining-energy complex, which also encompasses coal-fired power plants and coal mines. The project is being realized with financial support from international institutions, including a loan and grant from KfW.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Andreas Gücklhorn)

The Bogdanci wind park, North Macedonia’s first wind energy facility, currently operates with sixteen wind turbines, each with a capacity of two to three megawatts. Plans to expand this wind park aim to further boost clean energy production in the country.

The loan agreement was signed by Moritz Reme, director of the KfW offices in Skopje and Pristina, and Lazo Uzuncev, General Director and Chairman of the Board of Elektrani na Severna Makedonija.

“As a government, we recognize the need to increase green energy production. In this regard, we have issued a guarantee for the realization of this agreement and for securing the necessary funds to finance the Bogdanci Wind Park – Phase 2 and Bitola 2 solar power plant projects. These projects are part of an investment cycle on which we are basing our future development”, stated Gordana Dimitrieska-Koçoska, Minister of Finance.

She added that this investment cycle is supported by a significant amount of planned capital investments in the 2025 budget.

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Additional Investments in Solar Power

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and AD ESM have signed an agreement for a European Union grant to build two new solar power plants—Bitola 1, with an installed capacity of 20 megawatts, and Oslomej 2, with a capacity of 10 megawatts.

The solar power plants are expected to generate around 46 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to supply over 7,000 households. Moreover, the projects are anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 40,000 tons per year, significantly contributing to environmental protection. The plans also include the reclamation of 45 hectares of land in the Bitola and Oslomej complexes, improving environmental health in Bitola, Kičevo, and the surrounding areas.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2026, bringing additional socio-economic and environmental benefits. The construction phase will stimulate the local economy by engaging domestic companies, while the completed projects will create new jobs. The power plants will be designed and built by the most competitive bidder, adhering to the highest European and global standards, with the entire contractor selection process conducted in line with EBRD rules.

The total grant for these projects amounts to nearly five million euros, while a previously signed 25 million euros loan has further supported their development.

Milena Maglovski

KLM’s Efforts for Sustainable Aviation

Photo: KLM
Photo: KLM

Climate change and global warming present challenges that require swift and decisive action. As we confront them, it is important to recognize the various sources of pollution. Civil aviation, for example, contributes to overall carbon dioxide pollution by two to three percent. Without serious changes, this share could rise to as much as 22 percent by 2050. There must be a way to reconcile humanity’s natural desire to travel with reducing aviation’s impact on climate change.

Since the main cause of pollution in the aviation industry is the use of fossil fuels, the key solution lies in reducing their use and transitioning to sustainable alternative fuels. In fact, this is exactly what the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is doing. KLM has been a leader in the aviation industry for many years when it comes to sustainability. Instead of developing a separate strategy for sustainable operations, the company places sustainability at the core of its business strategy. This approach allows it to integrate environmental practices into all aspects of its operations, thereby actively contributing to reducing its environmental impact.

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How KLM is trying to reduce its carbon footprint and climate impact

  • FLEET RENEWAL, as the newest generation of aircraft consumes less fuel and, therefore, emits fewer harmful gases. The airline’s goal is to reduce its relative carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent by 2030, and fleet renewal will enable it to achieve 12 percent of that target. This is why KLM is introducing new Airbus A320/321Neo aircraft for medium-haul routes, as these planes reduce emissions per passenger kilometer by 20 percent compared to the aircraft they are replacing. Additionally, KLM is introducing Airbus A350F aircraft to its cargo fleet, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cargo flights by 40 percent on an absolute basis.
  • OPERATIONAL MEASURES, such as route optimization, weight reduction, and fuel efficiency improvements, can contribute two percent towards achieving the projected goal for 2030.

    Photo: KLM
  • PURCHASING AND USING SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF). The most important factor for reducing aviation’s climate impact is better fuel: sustainable aviation fuel or SAF, as its use can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 75 percent compared to fossil fuels. KLM’s ambition is to use 10 percent SAF on its flights by 2030, and through purchases and various partnerships with SAF producers, the company has already secured the necessary amount of fuel to be halfway toward achieving this ambition.

How can you, as a passenger, participate in the fight for more sustainable aviation

It’s simple – the next time you pack your suitcase, consider whether you really need all the items you’re taking. Also, when booking a flight, you have the option to voluntarily purchase an additional amount of sustainable fuel. Your contribution is calculated based on several factors that affect the carbon dioxide emissions of your flight, such as aircraft type, distance, and load factor. Today, KLM uses one percent sustainable aviation fuel on all flights departing from Amsterdam. It’s a start, but with your help as a passenger, it can do even more. Every small step contributes to the larger goal of preserving our planet.

KLM

The story was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ECOLOGICAL TRANSPORT

EBRD Supports the Largest Onshore Wind Project in Africa

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Andrew Schultz)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is promoting renewable energy and low‑carbon technologies in Egypt by arranging a syndicated loan worth 275 million USD for the construction and operation of the largest wind farm in Africa.

The 275 million USD syndicated loan to Suez Wind consists of a 200 million USD A loan from the EBRD and 75 million USD in B loans from Arab Bank and Standard Chartered.

The new wind farm is being co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), British development finance institution British International Investment (BII), German development finance institution Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) and the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP).

The wind farm in the Gulf of Suez region will have an installed capacity of 1.1 GW and will provide clean, renewable power at a cost below that of conventional generation.

The new wind farm is expected to generate more than 4,300 GWh of electricity annually and reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 2.2 million tonnes, helping the country to develop an energy sector that is aligned with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The EBRD is the leading development partner in the energy pillar of Egypt’s Nexus of Water, Food & Energy (NWFE) programme, which was unveiled at COP27. This landmark wind power plant is one of the first projects to be developed under NWFE’s energy pillar. The project will contribute to the 10 GW renewable energy target set under NWFE and will help the government to decarbonise its fossil fuel-dominated power sector and achieve its renewable energy targets.

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Suez Wind is a special project company jointly owned by ACWA Power (an international developer and investor that co-owns and operates a portfolio of power generation and desalinated water production plants) and HAU Energy (a recently established renewable energy equity platform that the EBRD is investing in alongside Hassan Allam Utilities and Meridiam Africa Investments).

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Levan Badzgaradze)

Rania A. Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and the EBRD Governor for Egypt, said: “Egypt is committed to advancing its renewable energy ambitions, aiming to derive 42 per cent of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2030, in line with our nationally determined contributions. Through our partnership with the EBRD, a key development partner within the energy sector of Egypt’s country platform for the NWFE programme, we are mobilising blended finance to attract private-sector investments in renewable energy. So far, funding has been secured for projects with a capacity of 4.7 GW, and we are working collaboratively to meet the programme’s targets to reduce Egypt’s fuel consumption and expand clean energy projects.”

Nandita Parshad, Managing Director of the EBRD’s Sustainable Infrastructure Group, said: “EBRD is proud to be the largest financier of this landmark 1,100 MW wind farm in the Gulf of Suez, also the largest onshore windfarm in the EBRD countries of operation to date. Egypt continues to be a trailblazer for large scale renewables in Africa: first with the largest solar farm and now the largest windfarm on the continent. Great to partner on both with ACWA power and to bring new partners in this project, Hassan Allam Utilities and Meridiam.”

Egypt is a founding member of the EBRD. Since the start of its operations there in 2012, the EBRD has invested almost 13.3 billion euros in 194 projects across the country. The EBRD’s areas of investment in Egypt include the financial and transport sectors, agribusiness, and manufacturing and services, as well as infrastructure projects in the power, municipal water and wastewater service sectors‎.

Source: EBRD

Solar Power Plant “B2 Sunspot” Commissioned in Kikinda

Photo: MT-KOMEX

The center of the North Banat District – Kikinda municipality – has gained another pillar of energy security after the trial operation of the “B2 Sunspot” solar power plant began on Friday, December 20. This milestone adds to the wealth of clean energy sources in Banat and across Serbia.

MT-KOMEX, a company renowned for its numerous projects and as the contractor for the largest solar power plant in the country, has taken on the construction of the “B2 Sunspot” solar power plant in Kikinda. With a capacity of 7 MW, the project will annually strengthen the power grid with an additional 11,000 MWh of green energy.

The solar power plant spans 8,500 square meters, located on a former landfill site. This transformation has led to ecological revitalization on multiple levels. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the project has converted previously unproductive land into a functional and productive site. The transition from an abandoned area to a modern energy facility was made easier with the advantage of existing infrastructure, which significantly facilitated construction efforts.

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The solar power plant utilizes bifacial panels from Canadian Solar, each with a capacity of 660 Wp. Thanks to their ability to absorb sunlight from both sides, these panels achieve significantly more efficient energy production. During operation, the energy will be converted by 70 Fronius Tauro Eco 100-3-P inverters, supported by seven energy transformers, each rated at 1,000 kVA. The construction was provided by Turkish manufacturer Kıraç Metal. The equipment’s configuration and operational design will ensure the projected annual production is met.

In terms of legal conditions, the “B2 Sunspot” plant was among the winners of the first auctions held by the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia. Following this, contracts were signed for the purchase of electricity and balancing responsibility with the joint-stock company “Elektroprivreda Srbije” (EPS). This marks the first time EPS has signed contracts for the trial and permanent operation of a solar power plant, with agreements spanning 15 years.

Upon commissioning the plant for trial operation, MT-KOMEX’s expert team expressed gratitude to the Kikinda municipality and relevant energy institutions, particularly “Elektroprivreda Srbije,” for their support and partnership, which enabled the realization of this important endeavor. Projects like this become a reality only through the collaborative engagement of all stakeholders.

Based on prior experience, the new “B2 Sunspot” solar power plant will not only contribute to sustainable development but also demonstrate that innovative approaches can create valuable resources on sites that were previously neglected.

Energy Portal

Sustainable Logistics Real Estate

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Marcin)
Photo: courtesy of Milorad Kilibarda

Transportation is often the primary focus when discussing sustainable logistics solutions, as it is a major energy consumer and environmental polluter. However, other logistical systems, such as logistics and distribution centers, terminals, warehousing, and handling systems, also significantly improve energy and ecological efficiency and the sustainability of logistics solutions within the supply chain. This aspect is often underrepresented, which motivated this discussion to highlight the various aspects of sustainability in logistics real estate in more detail. In fact, sustainability in logistics real estate is examined from two main angles: sustainable locations and facilities.

Sustainable Logistics Locations

Location selection is one of the most challenging tasks in logistics. Traditionally, location criteria for logistics properties prioritize good connections with transportation infrastructure, various transport modes, and logistics networks at the macro level and solid connectivity with end users and service locations at the micro level. This logistics-oriented approach to location selection significantly contributes to energy and environmental sustainability.

Based on these criteria, logistics centers and warehouses would ideally be located close to end-use and consumption points, as this would minimize delivery times, distribution costs, energy consumption, and emissions from transport.

However, achieving this is challenging in practice. Buyers and consumers are often in urban areas where space for logistics properties is limited and expensive. Additionally, traffic congestion and local transport and operating hours regulations can restrict logistics operations in these areas. As a result, logistics systems and facilities are often moved to the outskirts of large cities. A key question then becomes where to locate them and how far from end users and delivery sites, as this directly impacts transport volume and environmental effects. Delivery of goods largely relies on road transport, which emits significant amounts of CO2 and other pollutants. If logistics and distribution centers are far from urban areas, this increases vehicle starts, empty return trips, travel distances, energy consumption, and pollution. Positioning logistics systems closer to urban areas and near highways, railways, airports, and other transport hubs and terminals is preferable. This allows for intermodal transport systems that use more energy- and eco-efficient transportation methods. Indicators that highlight the importance of this approach include energy use and emissions per ton-kilometer (tkm): road transport consumes about 2,890  KJ/tkm and emits approximately 139.8  gCO2/tkm; rail transport uses about 667 KJ/tkm and emits 15.6  gCO2/tkm, while river transport averages 423  KJ/tkm and emits around 50.62 gCO2/tkm.

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Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ivan Bandura)

Besides transport distance, the land used for logistics locations is also essential for sustainability, as it could otherwise be used for agriculture, water management, forestry, or other ecosystems. Preserving the natural environment and contributing to biodiversity is crucial here. Land use and building construction impact the environment negatively by reducing rainwater absorption, disrupting the natural circulation of air and water, destroying green areas, and altering the landscape and visual environment. The area also loses its ability to absorb carbon and other pollutants, creating lasting consequences. Logistics real estate is increasingly occupying more land. In Europe, it is estimated that around 23 percent of commercial real estate is devoted to logistics. There are over a million square meters of logistics and industrial space in the Belgrade region, mainly on former fertile land along the Belgrade–Šid and Belgrade–Novi Sad highways. This trend of land occupation continues. Facilities are generally up to 10 or 15 meters high. Still, by constructing high rack warehouses up to 40 meters tall, land use would be much more efficient, resulting in less environmental impact. Such facilities are also more energy-efficient.

Sustainability also improves when existing sites or previously used industrial or commercial properties that are now abandoned, underutilized, or contaminated are repurposed instead of converting agricultural land into building land. This saves space, helps clear polluted land, and removes environmental hazards. Often, these sites have existing transportation, utility, and technical infrastructure that can be reused rather than building new structures from scratch.

Milorad Kilibarda, PhD

Read the whole story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ECOLOGICAL TRANSPORT

European solar sector issues yellow card as market data reveals 92 percent growth decline and investment slump

Photo-illustaration: Freepik (tawatchai07)
Photo-illustration: Feepik (freepik)

After four years of soaring growth, the EU solar sector has hit its first deployment slowdown of the 2020s, dropping from 53 percent growth in 2023 to 4 percent in 2024. This represents a 92 percent slowdown of solar growth.

SolarPower Europe’s annual EU Market Outlook for Solar Power reveals that 65.5 GW of solar has been installed in 2024, just beating the 2023 record of 62.8 GW of new solar. The total EU solar fleet now stands at 338 GW, quadrupling from 82 GW a decade ago.

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO at SolarPower Europe, said, “European policymakers and system operators can consider this year’s report a yellow card. Slowing solar deployment means slowing the continent’s goals on energy security, competitiveness and climate. Europe needs to be installing around 70 GW annually to hit its 2030 targets – we need to consider corrective action now, before it’s too late.”

The slowdown comes despite falling solar component prices and lower upfront costs for solar installations. Ground-mounted utility-scale solar projects saw an average cost decline of 28 percent in 2024. Despite the lower cost of capital, solar investment fell for the first time in the 2020s, from €63 billion in 2023 to €55 billion in 2024.

On rooftops, the report credits limited growth to the temporary resolution of the gas crisis. Households with solar and a heat pump saved up to 84 percent on their monthly energy bills during the height of the energy crisis – with less pressure on monthly energy bills for now, households are less inclined to invest in solar panels. Therefore, larger solar installations are likely to grow quicker than rooftop in the EU in the second half of the decade. However, with rooftop installations starting from a larger base, they will hold a greater share of the EU’s total solar through the decade, compared to utility scale.

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More widely, the market slowdown is attributed to system conditions. Europe’s electrification rate has been stuck at 23 percent for the past five years, leaving most of the energy system dependent on fossil fuels and combustion. The Electrification Alliance is calling for 35 percent electrification by 2030.

At the same time, system flexibility must work quickly to catch up to solar deployment. A flexible, electrified system will slash 2030 day-ahead energy prices by 25 percent, while boosting the solar business case by 71 percent. Amongst other flexibility tools, this will require a 16-fold growth from 48 GWh of EU battery storage today to 780 GWh of battery storage in 2030.

Dries Acke, Deputy CEO at SolarPower Europe (he/him) said: “Low-cost solar is the best option for bringing Europe into a new era of competitiveness. We need to complete our detachment from Russian gas and avoid LNG dependence. Europe’s industries needs clean and affordable electricity to stay competitive, and Europe’s renewable sector needs more flexible electricity demand to reinforce their business case. We call on the new European Commission to leverage this mutually reinforcing opportunity and build the Clean Industrial Deal around renewables, flexibility and electrification.”

Looking forward, the future looks less bright than previously forecast. By 2028, the sector could be installing 82 GW per year, with annual growth only in the 1-digit range of 3-7 percent. By 2030, the most-likely ‘medium’ scenario forecasts 816 GW total solar capacity in the EU, that’s 8 percent down from our estimate of 890 GW only six months ago. Furthermore, for the first time, our ‘low’ scenario for 2030 warns that Europe could miss its REPowerEU target of 750 GW, and achieve only 650 GW.

Source: SolarPower Europe

Reliable Solution – Solar Energy

Photo: MT-KOMEX

An increasing number of companies recognize the benefits of investing in sustainable energy. This trend is driven by the pursuit of decarbonization and climate neutrality goals and as a response to the global energy crisis. This moment revealed the instability of traditional energy sources and the necessity to move towards energy transition. Companies are increasingly considering integrating solar energy in their efforts to secure reliable energy sources for their operations. However, making such decisions requires trust in the efficient execution of projects. When a project is entrusted to a team of experts, investors need assurance that all phases are carefully planned, allowing them to focus on achieving their business objectives.

SAKURA ENERGY has decided to integrate sustainable energy into its operations. This decision marks a significant step toward reducing the company’s environmental footprint and improving energy efficiency. To realize their ambitious idea, they found a reliable partner in MT-KOMEX, a company with extensive experience constructing solar power plants. MT-KOMEX offers comprehensive support at all project stages, from initial analysis and design to implementation and maintenance. The company’s expert team oversees every aspect of the project, ensuring compliance with the latest standards and regulations in the field of renewable energy.

The solar power plant Sakura Park 1, located on the rooftop of a building in New Belgrade, will include 304 bifacial photovoltaic panels manufactured by Luxor Solar, chosen for their high quality and efficiency. Bifacial solar panels are designed to generate more electricity by capturing sunlight reflected off the surface on which they are installed.

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The panels will be installed in landscape orientation on flat rooftop surfaces. They will be arranged in two rows facing east-west, with a tilt angle of 9°. The horizontal spacing between the panels is 22 millimeters, while the vertical spacing is approximately 140 millimeters. Each panel measures 2,279 x 1,134 x 30 millimeters and weighs 32.7 kilograms.

Photo: MT-KOMEX

The total capacity of the photovoltaic generators is 173.28 kWp DC. Four alternating current inverters, each with an output power of 40 kW and manufactured by Huawei, are planned for connection to the grid. The total output power of all inverters is 160 kW, and they are connected via AC cables to a single AC distribution panel within the building. The electricity generated by this solar power plant will be used to power the building’s internal systems, with partial excess energy fed into the distribution grid. The estimated annual electricity production from the solar power plant is 175,221.00 kWh, demonstrating the efficiency and capacity of the project.

The adoption of solar energy plays a significant role in combating climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, one of the main greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Regarding the solar power plant Sakura Park 1, the expected annual CO2 savings amount to 82,317.25 kilograms, highlighting this project’s environmental benefits. These benefits include achieving climate goals, reducing air pollution, and improving quality of life.

Prepared by Katarina Vuinac

The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine ECOLOGICAL TRANSPORT

Renewables account for 24.5 percent of EU energy use in 2023

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Lusign)

In 2023, 24.5 percent of gross final energy consumption in the EU came from renewable sources, up by 1.4 percentage points compared with 2022. This share is 18 percentage points (pp) short of meeting the 2030 target (42.5 percent), which would require an annual average increase of 2.6 pp from 2024 to 2030.

Sweden ranked first among EU countries, with two-thirds (66.4 percent) of its gross final energy consumption coming from renewable sources in 2023. Sweden primarily relied on solid biofuels, hydro and wind.

Finland followed with 50.8 percent, also relying on solid biofuels, wind and hydro, while Denmark came in third with 44.9 percent, with most of its renewable energy sourced from solid biofuels and wind.

The lowest shares of renewables were recorded in Luxembourg (11.6 percent), Belgium (14.7 percent) and Malta (15.1 percent).

Source: Eurostat

One year since the European Wind Charter: Lots achieved, lots more to do

Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

In her 2023 State of the European Union speech, Ursula von der Leyen addressed the challenges facing Europe’s wind industry and announced a Wind Power Package to address key bottlenecks:

  • Faster permitting;
  • Better auction design; and
  • Support for skills, finance, and the supply chain to ensure Europe remains a leader in wind energy.

The Commission then presented a Wind Power Package (or “Action Plan”) with 15 specific measures to strengthen Europe’s wind industry. The measures did not require new legislation. They could be taken immediately – by the Commission, the European Investment Bank, by national Governments and by the wind industry itself. Exactly one year ago 26 Energy Ministers and 300 companies from the wind industry then signed the European Wind Charter, committed to take the actions set out in the Wind Power Package.

What’s happened?

Most of the 15 measures have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. And they are having a positive impact on the wind industry:

  • Public financial institutions are giving more support to the wind supply chain and logistics. The European Investment Bank (EIB) have set up and started using their (initially) 5bn euros counter-guarantee facility for wind. This makes it easier for private banks to issue the performance bonds needed when turbine manufacturers sell turbines to wind farm developers. It’s unlocking projects that may not otherwise be happening. The EU Commission has started giving grants through the EU Innovation Fund to wind turbine manufacturing and development facilities. It awarded 220m euros to 6 facilities in the latest Innovation Fund Call.
  • Many Member States have given public financial support and guarantees to investments in new factories making wind energy equipment and in ports and other infrastructure that’s vital to wind. On the back of this – and the EU and EIB funding and financing – Europe’s wind and grid equipment supply chain are now developing 30 new factories across Europe – see the map below. Over the past 12 months alone the industry has invested 11bn euros in new manufacturing facilities. By the end of next year Europe will be able to manufacture 9.5 GW of offshore wind and 22.5 GW of onshore wind turbines a year. Europe is currently building around 20 GW of new wind farms every year.
  • Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

    Spain and Germany have replicated the European Wind Charter in national charters and action plans. In March (at the WindEurope Annual event in Bilbao) the Spanish Government and wind industry signed a Spanish Wind Charter – with 6 key actions, including improved auction design and the ramping up of manufacturing capacity. In October Germany introduced a 5-Point Wind Action Plan with a heavy focus on measures: to ensure a level playing field between German/European wind equipment manufacturers and non-European competitors; and to strengthen the cyber and data security of Germany’s wind farms and wind industry.

  • Germany has also set a great example to other countries in its approach to permitting new wind farms. They’ve been the first country to fully apply the new EU legal principle that the permitting of wind is in the “overriding public interest” – and the other new EU permitting rules. And they’re now permitting 6 times as much onshore wind as they were 5 years ago – with over 12 GW permitted this year alone.
  • With more new wind farms permitted, Germany is now getting lots more projects through its wind energy auctions. They’ve successfully auctioned 11 GW of new onshore wind this year. And Governments across Europe are auctioning record volumes of new wind which bodes well for the industry. 19 GW of new offshore wind was awarded across Europe in 2024.
  • And many countries have launched their first ever wind energy auctions this year. Romania have just awarded 1 GW of onshore wind CfDs. Estonia and Norway both did their first offshore wind auctions. Poland are about to run their first CfD auction for offshore wind. And Slovakia are developing their first wind farms.
  • And 2024 is set to be a record year for renewables PPA deals with corporate electricity consumers, with 11 GW of new deals signed.

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More needed still from the EU and Governments

The European Wind Charter has helped improve the situation in Europe’s wind industry. But further policy and public financial support is needed. Europe is expected to build more new wind farms in the coming years than it has done in recent years. Wind is 20 percent of Europe’s electricity consumption today. We expect it to be around 30 percent by 2030. But the growth is not enough to meet the EU’s ambitious energy security targets. We expect wind capacity in the EU to grow from 225 GW today to 350 GW by 2030 – the EU target is 425 GW.

What’s still holding back wind?

  • Permitting: too few countries are applying the excellent new EU rules;
  • Grid bottlenecks: Europe isn’t expanding and modernising its transmission and distribution networks quickly enough. That’s delaying new projects and causing growing amounts of energy from existing wind farms to be curtailed; and
  • The slow pace of electrification: many industrial consumers want to electrify their factories with wind but are struggling with the business case.

Source: WindEnergy

Electric Trucks Without Drivers – A Future Already on the Roads

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik - AI)

The idea of fully autonomous vehicles is not something we’re hearing about for the first time. Perhaps we’ve seen them in video clips or heard about them in discussions about the future of transportation. However, at least here in the Balkans, we don’t often get to see them live on the streets of our cities. Instead, challenges related to infrastructure and buying a second-hand gasoline car seem closer to our reality. Most of us also harbor a dose of skepticism—how will such vehicles handle all situations on the road? What if the technology fails?

But the world is changing, perhaps faster than we think. In Selmer, a small town in the U.S. state of Tennessee, autonomous trucks are already transporting goods daily between a factory and a warehouse, albeit in specific and controlled conditions. Seven such trips are completed each day from Monday to Thursday.

Not only do these trucks not require a driver’s presence behind the wheel, but they are also electrically powered. Diesel-powered trucks are responsible for 25 percent of global CO2 emissions in transportation, making these vehicles even more sustainable. Built in various sizes, they can be adapted to meet different transportation needs.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s widespread skepticism about the safety of this technology. However, Einride, a company specializing in digital, electric, and autonomous transport technology, emphasizes that this technology has been in development for over 10 years and has been tested for every possible scenario.

Before I delve deeper into the safety aspects of these trucks, I’d like to share another thought. When I first read about an autonomous truck, it reminded me of one of the greatest fears often associated with artificial intelligence—will it replace humans? Will we lose jobs and income? However, I was pleasantly surprised by the company’s statement, which explained that truck drivers will have the opportunity to work from home, in shifts, and near their families, instead of being thousands of kilometers away. This brings two significant benefits. First, the drivers’ workstations will be located near their homes—perhaps even in their homes. Second, although they won’t physically operate the trucks, they won’t lose their jobs, as they’ll be trained to oversee autonomous driving using computers or other technologies.

This also adds an extra layer of security, as we know that such vehicles, despite being autonomous, still have human supervision.

Every new technology brings numerous advantages but also potential challenges. Sometimes, innovative ideas presented to us may conceal unintended consequences. Nevertheless, if we aim to move towards a more sustainable world for both nature and humanity, it’s important to monitor its development and implementation, always with a degree of caution.

 

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Katarina Vuinac

Global Coal Demand is Set to Plateau Through 2027

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Eduardo Jaeger)

After reaching a new high in 2024, global demand for coal is set to level off in the coming years as a surge in renewable power helps to meet soaring demand for electricity around the world, according to an IEA report out today.

Coal 2024 – the new edition of the IEA’s annual coal market report, which analyses the latest trends and updates medium-term forecasts – shows that global coal use has rebounded strongly after plummeting at the height of the pandemic. It is poised to rise to 8.77 billion tonnes in 2024, a record. According to the report, demand is set to stay close to this level through 2027 as renewable energy sources play a greater role in generating power and coal consumption levels off in China.

The electricity sector in China is particularly important to global coal markets, with one out of every three tonnes of coal consumed worldwide burned at a power plant in the country. In 2024, China continued to diversify its power sector, advance the construction of nuclear plants and accelerate its huge expansion of solar PV and wind capacity. This should help limit increases in coal consumption through 2027, according to the report, though it also highlights a number of key uncertainties in its analysis.

Electricity use in a number of countries, including China, is growing at a strong pace due to a combination of factors, including the electrification of services like transport and heating, rising demand for cooling, and increasing consumption from emerging sectors such as data centres. Additionally, weather patterns could drive fluctuations in coal consumption in the short term. According to the report, coal demand in China by 2027 could be up to 140 million tonnes higher or lower than forecast due to weather-related variability in renewable generation.

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“The rapid deployment of clean energy technologies is reshaping the global electricity sector, which accounts for two-thirds of the world’s coal use. As a result, our models show global demand for coal plateauing through 2027 even as electricity consumption rises sharply,” said IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security Keisuke Sadamori. “However, weather factors – particularly in China, the world’s largest coal consumer – will have a major impact on short-term trends for coal demand. The speed at which electricity demand grows will also be very important over the medium term.”

In most advanced economies, coal demand has already peaked and is expected to keep decreasing through 2027. The pace of decline will continue to depend on the enactment of strong policies, such as those implemented in the European Union, and the availability of alternative power sources, including cheap natural gas in the United States and Canada.

Meanwhile, demand for coal is still increasing in some emerging economies where electricity demand is rising sharply along with economic and population growth, such as India, Indonesia and Viet Nam. In emerging economies, growth is mainly driven by coal demand from the power sector, although industrial use is also going up.

Coal prices today remain 50 percent higher than the average seen between 2017 and 2019. Coal production reached an all-time high in 2024, though growth is expected to flatten through 2027 as structural changes take hold.

International trade of coal by volume is also set to reach a record in 2024 of 1.55 billion tonnes. However, looking ahead, global trade volumes are set to shrink, with thermal coal seeing the biggest decline. According to the report, Asia remains the centre of international coal trade, with all of the largest importing countries in the region, including China, India, Japan, Korea and Viet Nam, while the largest exporters include Indonesia and Australia.

Source: IEA

Charging Infrastructure as the Foundation of E-Mobility

Foto: Charge&GO

Changes in the world, especially in science and technology, are occurring rapidly. Such transformations have not bypassed the automotive industry. A revolutionary shift in transportation can be summed up in one word—e-mobility. However, this is not a phenomenon without historical roots. The ideas behind electric vehicles, specifically a series of inventions from batteries to electric motors, date back to the 19th century when true pioneers created the simplest models of cars and carriages powered by electric motors. After decades, these early visions have become everyday topics in modern discourse on sustainable transport.

Photo: Charge&GO

In Serbia, e-mobility began developing intensively during this century. The first electric vehicles in the country appeared relatively recently. Still, thanks to rapid technological advancements and growing demand, they have become increasingly common, particularly since the start of this decade. The development of charging infrastructure, government support, and the availability of electric models from an increasing number of car manufacturers have driven this trend.

Charge&GO is a pioneering company in Serbia in the field of e-mobility. Its development began in 2017 with the installation of its first chargers, followed by work on an app and platform. The company launched the first regional platform and mobile app with a network of chargers, enabling quick and simple charging of electric vehicles, which is essential for popularizing e-mobility. Currently, the company operates 27 AC and 83 DC connectors. The number of registered users exceeds 3,500 and grows daily.

Most installed chargers are located in and around Belgrade, but the network is rapidly expanding to meet user needs. Chargers have been activated recently at three new locations—Nova Crnja, Kikinda, and the OMV station at Ada Ciganlija—carefully chosen based on user demand. These new locations indicate that infrastructure development is not solely focused on Belgrade, signaling an increasing demand for chargers across various parts of Serbia. Due to its geographical position, particularly during the summer, Serbia often serves as a transit country, highlighting the need for local infrastructure, as evidenced by the growing number of foreign drivers each year.

IN FOCUS:

How to Access the Chargers

Installing chargers through Charge&GO begins with contacting their expert engineering team. The company caters to both individuals and businesses. Choosing a suitable charger depends on the type of vehicle, available power capacities at certain locations, such as gas stations and shopping centers, the installation site, and other factors. Charge&- GO operates on a turnkey principle, taking responsibility for all installation phases, from planning to project completion.

Charge&GO acts as a system integrator for renowned manufacturers like ABB, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Kostad, ensuring the quality and reliability of the installed chargers. Besides installation, the company offers annual maintenance services to extend the lifespan of chargers and ensure safe charging for users. Maintenance contracts have been signed with numerous companies with which Charge&GO has partnered.

As repeatedly demonstrated, adopting electric vehicles and building adequate infrastructure are inextricably linked. The widespread use of electric vehicles is only possible with a robust accompanying network of chargers. The success of e-mobility in Serbia, as elsewhere, depends on the balanced development of both segments. This year’s European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) report highlights the imbalance issue. Between 2017 and 2023, electric car sales in the EU grew three times faster than the rate of charger installations, prompting estimates that the EU will need to install chargers eight times faster annually by 2030 to meet its goals. Such data underscores the argument that sustaining electric vehicle growth becomes challenging without a proportional increase in the charging network. Therefore, companies like Charge&GO are vital pillars of e-mobility adoption.

Prepared by Milica Vučković

The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine ECOLOGICAL TRANSPORT

Recycling Battery Metals Could Supply Up to a Quarter of Europe’s Electric Cars by 2030 – Study

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

Recycling could enable Europe to cut its reliance on EV battery mineral imports by up to a quarter by the end of the decade, a new study finds. Materials from end-of-life batteries and gigafactory scrap have the potential to build up to 2.4 million EVs locally in 2030, according to the research by Transport & Environment (T&E). But the EU and the UK will not be able to harness this potential unless they secure recycling projects that are at risk of being cancelled, T&E said.

Recycling spent cells and production scrap could provide 14 percent of the lithium, 16 percent of the nickel, 17 percent of the manganese, and a quarter (25 percent) of the cobalt that Europe will need for electric cars in 2030, the study finds. These could then rise dramatically, and the region has the potential to be almost self-sufficient in cobalt for electric cars in 2040.

Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and emobility supply chains at T&E, said: “If Europe delivers on its recycling plans, it can slash its reliance on imported critical metals. The expected volumes of locally recovered materials can enable Europe to build millions of clean electric vehicles locally.”

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Recovering battery materials will also replace the need for primary ores. The research finds recycling EV minerals in Europe could avoid the need to build 12 new mines globally by 2040: four lithium, three nickel, four cobalt, and one manganese. This would also reduce the potential negative impacts on water, soil and biodiversity from those mines.

As well as reducing both extraction and imports of raw materials, recycling in Europe could cut the carbon footprint of sourcing lithium by almost a fifth (19 percent) compared to extracting it in Australia and refining it in China. This is due to Europe’s cleaner electricity grid. But to reap the economic and sustainability benefits, Europe needs to scale up its recycling industry. Almost half of the recycling capacity that has been announced for the region is on hold or uncertain to go ahead, according to the report.

T&E called on the EU and the UK to urgently prioritise support for recycling across their policies and funding programmes. The EU’s upcoming proposal for a Circular Economy Act should support the scaling of local recycling factories while also restricting exports of battery waste and simplifying the shipment of end-of-life battery materials within Europe.

Julia Poliscanova: “Neither the EU nor the UK are ready to capture the recycling opportunity. Almost half of the planned recycling capacity is at risk due to high energy costs, a shortage of technical expertise or a lack of financial support. It’s time to start treating battery recycling like another clean tech and prioritise it in our policy and grant making.”

Source: T&E

IEA Launches New GPT Tool to Explore Flagship Energy Data and Analysis Using Artificial Intelligence

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Matthew T Rader)

The IEA today released a new, AI agent for users to explore the 2024 edition of the Agency’s flagship World Energy Outlook – allowing anyone curious about the report’s findings to more easily dig into its data, analysis and projections.

The GPT tool, built on Microsoft Azure using Copilot Studio, was first announced at the IEA’s Global Conference on Energy & AI held in Paris earlier this month.

The agent – powered by an AI model that has been trained on the full World Energy Outlook 2024 (WEO-2024) report – can answer questions about energy trends using natural, conversational language. For example, a user can ask, “What are the expectations for growth in global electricity demand over the next decade?” and quickly receive an answer based on the report’s analysis.

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The first-of-its-kind tool is being launched as  a beta version today. The IEA will continue to test and develop the agent over the coming months as it interacts with website users. It is part of the IEA’s wider efforts to make its data and statistics more freely available, including through a growing library of data explorers.

You can try the GPT tool here. The page includes key tips for getting the most out of the AI agent. For instance, clarifying IEA scenarios, regions and timeframes helps to produce the most accurate and relevant responses. The tool is also available directly on the WEO-2024 report page.

Since AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies, users seeking detailed or official interpretations of WEO-2024 data and analysis should refer to the full report or contact the IEA.

Source: IEA

Technology Breakthroughs are Unlocking Geothermal Energy’s Vast Potential in Countries Across the Globe

Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

With global electricity demand set to grow strongly, new technologies are opening up the massive potential of geothermal energy to provide around-the-clock clean power in almost all countries around the world, according to a new IEA report.

The report, The Future of Geothermal Energy, finds that geothermal energy could meet 15 percent of global electricity demand growth between now and 2050 if project costs continue to decline. This would mean the deployment of as much as 800 gigawatts of geothermal capacity worldwide, delivering annual output equivalent to the current electricity demand of the United States and India combined.

Geothermal energy offers abundant, highly flexible and clean electricity supplies that can support variable renewable technologies such as wind and solar while complementing other low-emissions sources like nuclear. Today, geothermal meets about 1 percent of global electricity demand. However, based on a new first-of-its-kind country-level analysis, conducted in collaboration with Project InnerSpace, the IEA report shows that next-generation geothermal technologies have the technical potential to meet global electricity and heat demand many times over.

Importantly, geothermal energy can draw upon the expertise of today’s oil and gas industries by using existing drilling techniques and equipment to go deeper under the earth’s surface to tap into vast low-emissions energy resources.

“New technologies are opening new horizons for geothermal energy across the globe, offering the possibility of meeting a significant portion of the world’s rapidly growing demand for electricity securely and cleanly,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “What’s more, geothermal is a major opportunity to draw on the technology and expertise of the oil and gas industry. Our analysis shows that the growth of geothermal could generate investment worth 1 trillion dollars by 2035.”

Conventional geothermal remains a location-specific, niche technology today with most of the installed capacity in countries that have either have volcanic activity or straddle tectonic fault lines, which make resources easier to access. Current leaders in the space include the United States, Iceland, Indonesia, Türkiye, Kenya and Italy. But new technologies are making the outlook for geothermal truly global, opening up the potential to benefit from it in nearly all countries.

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The report highlights that more than 100 countries have policies in place for solar PV and onshore wind, but only 30 have such policies for geothermal. Moving geothermal up national energy agendas with specific goals, backed support for innovation and technology development, can go a long way to reducing project risk perception and unlocking new investment.

Clear, long-term regulatory visibility for investors will help mitigate risks in early-stage development and provide visibility on investment returns, which in turn will improve the cost competitiveness of geothermal projects. By doing so, the report finds that costs could fall by 80 percent by 2035 to around 50 dollars per megawatt hour (MWh). This would make geothermal the cheapest source of dispatchable low-emissions electricity on a par with existing hydropower and nuclear installations. At such price levels, geothermal would also be highly competitive with solar PV and wind paired with battery storage. The report finds that the total investment in geothermal could reach 1 trillion dollars by 2035 and 2.5 trillion dollars by 2050. If next-generation geothermal grows strongly in the coming years, employment in the overall geothermal sector could increase sixfold to 1 million jobs by 2030, according to the report.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The oil and gas industry can play a key role in making geothermal more competitive. Up to 80 percent of the investment required in geothermal involves capacity and skills that are transferrable from existing oil and gas operations. The oil and gas industry can also benefit from tapping the potential of geothermal energy. Not only is it an opportunity to develop new business lines in the fast-growing clean energy economy, but it can also serve as a hedge against commercial risks related to projected future declines in oil and gas demand.

At a time when the digital economy and artificial intelligence applications are growing strongly, the report highlights geothermal’s potential to help power the increasing number of large data centres that underpin the tech sector. With next-generation geothermal offering a stable and essentially inexhaustible power source, large technology companies are already signing power purchase agreements with new projects.

However, permitting and administrative red-tape are proving a major barrier to geothermal projects, which can take up to a decade to fully commission. The report suggests governments could simplify permitting processes by consolidating and accelerating the administrative steps involved. They could also consider dedicated geothermal permitting regimes separate from minerals mining. Policies and regulations enforcing robust environmental standards are critical for the sustainable development of geothermal projects.

Source: IEA

Green Projects – TENT A Gets A Solar Power Plant

Photo: Ljubivoje Maričić

T he Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plants (TENT) are a critically important pillar of Serbia’s energy system and a major stakeholder in Southeastern Europe. With a total capacity of 3,429.5 megawatts, TENT produces more than half of Serbia’s electricity, ensuring supply stability and security.

A branch of Elektroprivreda Srbije known as TENT includes four thermal power plants and a railway transport division. One of these is TENT A in Obrenovac, which has six units and a capacity of 1,765.5 megawatts. Beyond its essential role in electricity supply, TENT is now positioning itself as a participant in environmental initiatives, a unique stance for a thermal power plant.

Clean Energy

Photo: Courtesy of Saša Đorđević

Change is underway in the traditional thermal energy sector as a new era of electricity production begins. The Nikola Tesla A plant complex will initiate green energy production by building the first photovoltaic plant within a branch of Elektroprivreda Srbije.

Solar panels will be installed on five of the most suitable external structures at TENT A and TENT Railway Transport—on the storage facility for hazardous and non-hazardous waste, the Remote Traffic Control Center, and the storage area for machinery and spare parts.

The first kilowatt-hours of clean energy from this 948-kilowatt solar plant are expected by early December, and annual production is anticipated to exceed 1 GWh. All generated energy will support the plant’s internal consumption, contributing to significant energy savings and reducing the complex’s environmental footprint.

The plant will host over 1,400 solar panels manufactured by Swiss Solar, each with an individual power output of 670 Wp. The project is being managed by a consortium led by MT-KOMEX, with Čačak-based Elektrovat and subcontractor DB Kop Josipović. IMP Automatika is handling the implementation of the supervisory control system.

IN FOCUS:

Photo: Ljubivoje Maričić

“When this project is completed, it will provide several benefits. The primary benefit is improving the energy performance of the entire complex. We will generate green kilowatts to meet our internal needs, which will reduce emissions and positively impact the overall carbon footprint of TENT’s energy production.

This solar plant will generate green energy in a sector traditionally impacted by fossil fuel use. Our public image is changing significantly, and we continue working on this every day. Besides this project, numerous other projects are underway, both here in the thermal power plants and across Elektroprivreda Srbije, aimed at improving energy performance and reducing environmental impact,” explained Saša Đorđević, Head of Energy Efficiency. This solar plant, which will begin producing clean electricity this year, is the first in a planned series to be built at other branches of Elektroprivreda Srbije in the future. Constructing a renewable energy facility on the roof of a thermal power complex signals a clear shift toward the energy transition Serbia is undergoing.

Environmental Transformation

TENT A’s flue gas desulfurization plant, inaugurated this year, is one of the most significant environmental projects in European thermal power plants. It was achieved through the collaboration of Serbian and Japanese experts.

This plant significantly reduces annual sulfur dioxide emissions, bringing them in line with European standards. The project employs wet flue gas desulfurization technology using lime as the primary material. A key feature of this technology is that it produces gypsum as a by-product. Instead of being released into the atmosphere, sulfur dioxide is converted into gypsum through an absorber process, advancing TENT A towards a circular economy. Annual gypsum production is expected to reach approximately 250,000 tons.

Construction of a similar plant is also underway at the TENT B location. The same technology will be implemented for both units, extending emission reduction and recycling strategies to other parts of the thermal power complex.

Prepared by Milica Vučković

Read the whole story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ECOLOGICAL TRANSPORT

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