New Study Reveals the Best Locations for Building Solar and Wind Power Plants

14.12.2024

In an era of rapid transition to renewable energy sources (RES), deciding where to build a solar farm or wind power plant is crucial for maximizing resource utilization and reducing costs. A new study, published in the prestigious journal Cell Reports Sustainability, offers an innovative approach to planning by combining precise weather data, energy modeling, and local geophysical conditions.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found that coordinating the placement of solar farms, wind power plants, and energy storage systems can significantly reduce costs and enhance the availability of clean energy. By using weather data and regional modeling, the team analyzed 138,271 potential locations for RES installations in three U.S. regions—New England, Texas, and California. The results showed that spatial and temporal complementarity of renewable sources can reduce storage needs and increase system efficiency.

When discussing the construction of large-scale facilities, the focus is often on national goals, such as achieving 30 percent of energy from wind and 20 percent from solar. However, the researchers emphasize that their planning method can help determine the exact locations for building each renewable energy facility, instead of simply stating that a city needs a certain number of wind or solar farms.

“By leveraging the natural variability of renewable resources, we can achieve a better balance between energy supply and demand, which was not possible with traditional planning approaches,” said Lijing Qiu, one of the study’s authors.

Key Findings of the Study:

Spatial Complementarity: Locations with high wind potential at night can compensate for the lack of solar energy, while daytime winds in other regions complement nighttime resources.
Temporal Variations: Focusing on short-term weather changes during 24-hour cycles allows for better alignment of energy production and demand.
Reduced Need for Storage: Precise planning can significantly lower the need for expensive energy storage systems.

The researchers stated that their framework is highly flexible and can easily be adapted to any region to calculate local geophysical and other conditions. In Texas, for example, peak winds in the west occur in the morning, while along the southern coast, they occur in the afternoon, naturally complementing each other.

Saurabh Amin, the lead researcher of the study, noted that significant savings were achieved by analyzing relatively short-term variations within 24-hour cycles.

“This study demonstrates that there is, in fact, hidden potential for cost savings in utilizing local weather patterns, which can lead to financial reductions in storage costs,” Amin said.

Milena Maglovski

Ecological Vision – Good Health of People and Nature

14.12.2024

Foto-Grad-Bijeljina2 — Photo: City of Bijeljina

The city of Bijeljina focuses on its citizens’ needs and is working on various projects to improve the quality of life in Semberija in the long term.

As part of the strategic concept of Green BijeljINa, the city strives for sustainable ecological development, with particular attention given to non-motorized forms of movement, which positively contributes to human health and environmental protection. We talked about the city’s activities, plans, and challenges with Ljubiša Petrović, the Mayor of Bijeljina.

Q: What would you highlight as the most important achievements in Bijeljina related to ecology, energy independence, or sustainable development?

A: In the past nearly four years, the city of Bijeljina has actively worked on improving the situation in various areas related to ecology, energy independence, and sustainable development. Significant efforts have been made to green public spaces through campaigns such as April – Month of Cleanliness and Green BijeljINa, during which, along with intensive planting across the city, actions were taken to clean roadways and other public areas, including the removal of illegal dumpsites. Based on the Decree on the Establishment and Functioning of the Co-financing Mechanism – Model for Co-financing Measures to Improve Energy Efficiency in the Housing Sector, a public call for financial support for the implementation of energy efficiency improvement measures in the housing sector was launched for the first time in 2023 in Bijeljina. This call was aimed at individual households and homeowner associations to replace their existing systems with environmentally friendly ones, such as water-to-water and waterto-air heat pumps, with the support of the City Administration. A similar call for 2024 is currently underway, with 300,000 convertible marks (approximately 153,000 euros) allocated for this purpose. In addition, the city of Bijeljina signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a company to conduct testing and research on geothermal energy sources in the Semberija region. This company will independently carry out the research phase, examine existing boreholes, and produce a study on the use of geothermal resources in the city of Bijeljina. The gas system installation is also in progress. The local community has fulfilled all its administrative and financial obligations, and the Srbijagas Company is responsible for further strategic steps.

IN FOCUS:

Q: What does the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan entail?

A: This plan is designed and developed as a strategic direction for the city of Bijeljina towards modern urban mobility concepts for the 2020–2025 period. It is the first integrated plan of its kind and one of the few in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It outlines three goals: a safe, inclusive, and functional city tailored to every individual, a place of healthy and comfortable living, and smart solutions and innovations aimed at sustainable development. The primary goal of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is to build a system that will provide citizens with a promising future in terms of mobility and accessibility. Bijeljina aims to establish itself as a dynamic and thriving environment, promoting environmental protection and contributing to a healthier and safer environment for all residents and traffic participants. The emphasis is on non-motorized forms of movement, pedestrians, cyclists, individuals with limited mobility, and the city’s residents in general. The focus is, therefore, on people and their needs. The Sustainable Urban establishing an efficient, low-emission public transport system. It also aims to introduce innovative measures to reduce the use of private cars for urban travel, which will lower greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and congestion.

Q: What has been achieved with the Local Ecological Plan for the period from 2018 to 2028?

A: The Gromiželj protected habitat was cleaned of municipal waste during the April – Month of Cleanliness campaign. An initiative has been sent to the line ministry to transfer management rights over this protected habitat to the city of Bijeljina. A sanitary protection program for the Grmić drinking water source in Bijeljina has been in place from 2016 to 2024, with plans for a new sanitary protection program underway. Between 500 and 1,000 saplings are planted each year. Since the beginning of 2024, several children’s playgrounds with landscaped green areas have been built, and there are plans to construct a new city park, Knez Ivo od Semberije. The size of areas where waste is collected and transported has increased, and the city now has 100 percent coverage in organized municipal waste collection. According to the Republic’s Regulation on Measuring Stations and Sites, a unified system for monitoring air quality has been established. Traffic remains a dominant air pollutant. A significant measure implemented by the City Administration is prioritizing public transport over private cars, specifically by introducing organized public transport. Consequently, a Public Transport Study has been completed, and preparations for technical documentation and approvals for new pedestrian and cycling paths are underway. From 2018 to 2024, approximately 20 kilometers of new water supply networks have been built, about one kilometer of the existing water supply network has been reconstructed, and around 30 kilometers of new sewage networks have been constructed.

Interview by Jasna Dragojević

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

EU Updates Environmental Standards for Forges and Foundries

12.12.2024

čelik — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Francisco Fernandes)

The European Commission has published updated environmental standards aimed at reducing the impact of industrial facilities, including forges and foundries, on the environment. These changes are part of the Industrial Emissions Directive, a cornerstone of the EU’s broader plan to reduce industrial pollution in line with the goals of the Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Circular Economy framework.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Karan Bhatia)

Adopted in 2010, the Industrial Emissions Directive serves as the foundation for regulating approximately 75,000 industrial and agricultural facilities across the EU. Its goal is to integrate and enhance pollution controls while promoting resource efficiency. A key component of the Directive is the Best Available Techniques (BAT), which represent the most effective and economically viable methods for reducing pollution.

The BAT conclusions were developed through a detailed process involving industrial stakeholders, EU public authorities, and environmental organizations. These conclusions directly influence the operating permit conditions for facilities, setting stringent standards for emissions, resource use, and waste management.

The BAT conclusions apply to a range of activities within the metal industry. For the ferrous metal sector, this includes forge operations utilizing hammers with energy exceeding 50 kilojoules per hammer and thermal power above 20 MW, as well as the operation of ferrous metal foundries with production capacities exceeding 20 tonnes per day. Regarding non-ferrous metal processing, BAT conclusions apply to the smelting and alloying processes of non-ferrous metals, including recycled materials, as well as the operation of non-ferrous metal foundries with a melting capacity exceeding four tonnes per day for lead and cadmium or 20 tonnes per day for other metals.

The new standards specifically target around 1,000 foundries and 25 forges utilizing hammers in forging processes—large industrial hammers or mechanical hammers used to shape metal—with specific requirements coming into effect immediately for new facilities, while existing ones have a four-year period to comply.

In addition to imposing stricter environmental requirements, the new regulation simplifies the process of issuing and enforcing environmental permits. The standardized reference values provided by the Directive make it easier for Member States to adopt and integrate these norms into their national legal frameworks, ensuring greater consistency and efficiency in environmental protection.

Through stringent requirements, the EU aims to minimize the negative environmental impact of industrial activities while simultaneously encouraging technological advancement and environmental responsibility among industrial stakeholders.

Energy portal

Black Days for the Black Brew: How Climate Change Impacts Coffee Production

12.12.2024

Coffee is much more than a beverage – it’s a symbol of meeting with good friends, an essential part of family gatherings, or a moment stolen just for ourselves, the first sip that kick-starts the day… So, the news of its uncertain fate has echoed worldwide, with whispers that droughts caused by climate change are the main culprit threatening to forever take away our favorite brew.

But let’s start from the beginning. It is well-known that coffee thrives where there is no frost, with plenty of sun and water – in temperate and tropical climates. These very regions faced harsh weather conditions in 2024, including countries that produce the largest share of coffee for the global market – Brazil and Vietnam.

Droughts and wildfires have drastically reduced coffee yields, which has directly impacted its price. By the end of November this year, the price of Arabica coffee reached a record 3.35 dollars per pound, a staggering 71 percent increase over the course of the year.

The consultancy firm StoneX estimates that Brazil’s Arabica production will drop by 10.4 percent next year. Although this decline will be partially mitigated by increased Robusta coffee production, the country’s overall coffee production is still expected to decrease by 0.5 percent.

As Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer, it’s no surprise that the market is now facing a serious crisis. The country has long struggled with extreme deforestation in the Amazon, which diminishes the ability of natural ecosystems to absorb and recycle rainfall. Adding wildfires to the mix, the result is a record-breaking drought that has lasted two years, devastating Brazilian agriculture.

According to data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), by 2050, land suitable for coffee cultivation in Central America could decrease by up to 89 percent due to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall.

When it comes to the slightly less popular Robusta coffee, Vietnam is the world’s largest producer, but this country has also faced unfavorable climatic conditions recently. Vietnamese coffee producers warn that, due to climate change, the country’s agricultural areas could be halved by 2050.

For instant coffee lovers, whose main ingredient is Robusta, this is bad news, as Vietnam’s production has already dropped by 10 percent this year.

Although the data presented here isn’t encouraging, there is hope that coffee production will recover in the coming years. Occasional good news can be found on various platforms – for instance, Colombia’s Arabica production rose by 37 percent in November 2024 compared to the same month last year.

Furthermore, beyond the worst-case scenario in which coffee production ceases altogether, there is also the possibility that, due to climate change, coffee production will simply shift to more optimal regions (perhaps one day even to Serbia – who knows?).

Either way, it has become clear that the fight for coffee is also a fight against climate change, and I remain hopeful that these black days for the black brew will soon come to an end.

Whether my connection to coffee stems from love or mere necessity (a day without it usually ends in a headache), I must admit that waking up one morning without that familiar taste and aroma would be hard to bear.

Milena Maglovski

Alarming Growth of Soil Salinity

11.12.2024

zemlja-zemljište — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Abhishek Pawar)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Justin Zhu)

According to the latest global assessment by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there has been a significant increase in the percentage of land affected by salt, now covering nearly 1.4 billion hectares worldwide, which represents more than 10 percent of the Earth’s total surface area. These findings were presented at the International Forum on Land and Water 2024 in Bangkok, where leaders from around the world gathered to discuss issues of soil degradation and water supply.

Salinized land, or soil that contains a high level of soluble salts, is becoming an increasing global problem. These salts, including sodium, magnesium, and calcium, accumulate in the soil to levels that hinder plant growth and reduce soil fertility. In its report, “Global Status of Salinized Land,” the FAO notes that this is the first such comprehensive study in the last fifty years that examines the extent and impact of soil salinity in detail.

The problem of soil salinity is particularly pronounced in ten countries, including Afghanistan, Australia, Argentina, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United States, Iran, Sudan, and Uzbekistan, which together account for 70 percent of the globally affected land. Salinity is estimated to already affect 10.7 percent of all arable land, which includes both irrigated and rain-fed crops.

The drivers of this problem are numerous and include natural processes exacerbated by human activities such as inadequate drainage and excessive use of fertilizers, as well as climate changes that contribute to rising sea levels. As sea levels rise, saline seawater infiltrates river streams and groundwater flows, thereby increasing the salt concentration in the soil adjacent to seas and oceans.

Insight into the seriousness of the situation has led the FAO to propose a series of strategies for sustainable management of salinized areas and to organize global action aimed at stopping the destruction of land.

Energy portal

Safety of Electric Vehicles – Challenges and Opportunities

11.12.2024

hush-naidoo-jade-photography-khyXa-tNTtU-unsplash — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Hush Naidoo Jade)

Electromobility is already present and is an integral part of the path towards climate neutrality. Although trust in this technology is not yet fully established, this is a natural process of adaptation and familiarization with innovations. Every innovation brings numerous opportunities and potential challenges. Gaining knowledge is crucial to make the most of it and minimize risks. Milan Milojević, Head of the Vehicle Department at the Road Traffic Safety Agency, explains how the public, future users, and professionals working with these vehicles are gradually becoming familiar with the new technology and what the Agency is doing to provide necessary training and preparation.

Q: Can you tell us more about the Electric Vehicle Safety project presented by the Road Traffic Safety Agency?

A: With the growing popularity of environmental protection in the Republic of Serbia, great efforts are being made to reduce exhaust emissions, especially those that increase the greenhouse effect and directly contribute to global warming. With the continuous development of society and the economy, more and more people are turning to alternative and renewable energy sources. In the transportation sector, a large number of vehicles use alternative fuels such as LPG, CNG, and others. With the development of the automotive industry, electric and hybrid vehicles are being introduced, offering a promising compromise between the necessary reduction of exhaust emissions and fuel consumption. However, electric vehicles represent a completely different technology than internal combustion engines. This means there are new challenges for traffic safety, primarily related to the characteristics of high-power electrical equipment.

The Electric Vehicle Safety project aims to, through various educational forms such as expert gatherings or appropriate literature, introduce electric and hybrid vehicles to all parties involved in handling these vehicles as part of their job. These include primarily emergency services like firefighters, emergency medical services, and the police.

IN FOCUS:

Q: The Road Traffic Safety Agency is also preparing guidelines for the safer use of electric and hybrid vehicles. Can you tell us more about these guidelines?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Markus Spiske)

A: Four guidelines for the safe use of electric and hybrid vehicles have been created as part of the project. The first guideline is intended for emergency services to help them handle these vehicles after traffic accidents. The second guideline pertains to preparing electric and hybrid vehicles for technical inspection and is meant for their owners. The third guideline provides instructions for service technicians and tire repairers when working on these vehicles. The fourth guideline covers technical inspection procedures for electric and hybrid vehicles in categories M1, N1, and L.

In addition to creating the guidelines, the Road Traffic Safety Agency organized an expert gathering focused on electric vehicles for 120 technical inspection controllers. The second expert gathering on the same topic is underway, bringing together another 400 controllers.

Q: Do technicians undergo special training to work on electric vehicles? What equipment is available for this purpose?

A: The number of electric vehicles is increasing yearly, and these vehicles have not yet been singled out as a category in the Rulebook on Technical Inspections. Therefore, no legal regulation requires controllers to attend and complete training related to these vehicles. Given the significant increase in the use of electric cars, the Road Traffic Safety Agency believes it is necessary and valuable to provide answers to many questions related to this area.

As already mentioned, electric vehicles represent a completely different technology from internal combustion engines, and new challenges related to the characteristics of high-power electrical equipment significantly complicate the job for controllers.

In addition to the usual personal protective equipment prescribed by the Rulebook on Technical Inspections and other legal acts related to occupational safety and health, electrical protective gloves, high-resistance insulating footwear, and eye protection are recommended for work on high-voltage systems. Of course, this additional equipment should be used following instructions to ensure its effectiveness.

Interview by Katarina Vuinac

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

How Renewing Old Wind Turbines Contributes to Greater Energy Production Efficiency

09.12.2024

vetar — Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

Wind energy is not a new way of producing renewable energy, as the first commercial wind farms began to be built in the second half of the 20th century. Consequently, a growing number of wind turbines in Europe are nearing the end of their operational lifespan. It is important to note that older technology is less efficient compared to modern models.

Replacing outdated wind turbines with newer, more efficient ones is one way to revitalize aging wind farms. According to an analysis by WindEurope, renewing existing wind turbines could reduce the number of turbines in a wind farm by 25 percent, while more than tripling the wind farm’s output and quadrupling the output per turbine.

This improvement is attributed to several factors. First, modern turbines feature longer rotor blades, increasing the total swept area and enabling the capture of more wind.

Second, modern models have better capacity factors—representing the ratio of actual energy production to the maximum possible capacity of a wind turbine. Thus, newer turbines can produce more energy more efficiently compared to older models, which were unable to maximize their potential.

Third, advanced blade design improves efficiency in converting wind’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. Simply put, modern designs adapt better to changes in wind speed and direction. Fourth, new models operate more efficiently even in low-wind conditions. These are just some of the advantages of modern turbines.

Thus, fewer modern turbines are required to produce the same amount of energy compared to older models.

However, this concept is not yet widely adopted in European Union countries. Wind farm renewal is not evenly distributed among member states. For example, over half of all renewal projects are located in Germany. Although Germany is the largest wind energy market in Europe, this also highlights how other countries are not doing enough to reap the benefits of renewal.

For instance, Spain, the second-largest onshore wind energy market in Europe, accounts for only 3 percent of total renewal projects. The connection process to the grid for renewal projects is so complex that developers often prefer to keep older turbines in operation. In France, the problem lies in restrictive regulations on turbine height, which prevent the installation of newer and more efficient onshore wind turbines.

Overall, many member states still lack effective strategies for wind farm renewal.

The importance of renewal also lies in the fact that the oldest wind farms were built in the most favorable locations for wind, which would maximize the benefits of wind energy if they were renewed.

Katarina Vuinac

Second Hottest November in History Signals Climate Record

09.12.2024

thermometer-temperatura-sunce-leto-vrućina — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The European Commission-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service has released its latest monthly climate bulletin. Data for November 2024 confirm a concerning trend of global warming, suggesting that this year is likely to become the hottest year on record.

The global average temperature in November reached 14.1°C, which is 0.73°C above the 1991–2020 average and 1.62°C above the pre-industrial average. The global surface temperature has exceeded the 1.5°C threshold in 16 of the past 17 months. This makes November 2024 the second hottest November in history, following the record-breaking November of 2023.

In Europe, the average November temperature was 5.14°C, 0.78°C above the 1991–2020 reference average, but far from ranking among the top ten warmest Novembers. The most significant temperature anomalies were observed in northern Russia, northeastern, and southwestern Europe, while southeastern parts of the continent recorded below-average temperatures.

From January to November 2024, the global temperature was 0.72°C above the 1991–2020 average, marking the highest value ever recorded for this period. This is 0.14°C warmer than the same period in 2023, making it almost certain that 2024 will become the hottest year in recorded history.

Record-High Sea Surface Temperatures

Sea surface temperature (SST) continued to oscillate at alarmingly high levels. November 2024 recorded an average SST of 20.58°C, making it the second highest after November 2023. Although signs of a transition to neutral or La Niña conditions have appeared in the eastern and central Pacific, vast portions of the ocean are still experiencing extremely high temperatures, indicating deeper climate disruptions.

November brought diverse precipitation patterns. While the southern Balkans, Greece, and northern Scandinavia experienced above-average rainfall, much of western and central Europe was drier than average. Outside Europe, heavy rains impacted the United States, Australia, South America, and the Philippines, where typhoons caused significant damage. On the other hand, drought conditions affected the southwestern United States, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, the Horn of Africa, and southeastern China, leaving many areas in severe drought.

Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Service, warned that although individual months exceeding 1.5°C do not violate the Paris Agreement, they underscore the urgent need for ambitious climate action.

Milena Maglovski

Alternative Fuels – the EU’s Path to Climate Neutrality

08.12.2024

saobraćaj — Photo-illustration: Pixabay (NoName_13)

Transport is an indispensable part of modern life. It connects us to the world—allowing us to carry out daily tasks, travel on holiday, and keep store shelves stocked with goods. Life without cars, trucks, ships, or planes would be unimaginable.

However, as crucial as their role is, means of transport can seriously harm another equally important aspect of our lives—our health, the environment, and even the future of our planet.

In the European Union, transport emissions have risen by over a quarter since 1990. Without serious intervention, the transport sector alone could account for nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to the latest analysis from the organization Transport & Environment (T&E).

As outlined in the EU’s strategy, the path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires urgent action. Since 2007, when transport emissions peaked, the sector has been reducing emissions at a rate three times slower than the rest of the economy.

It’s also essential to consider that the transport sector in Europe is continuously growing. According to data from the European Environment Agency (EEA), between 2000 and 2019, demand for transport increased significantly: passenger traffic by 20 percent, air traffic by as much as 86 percent, road transport by 18 percent, and freight transport by 22 percent.

The biggest polluters remain cars with internal combustion engines, which account for more than 40 percent of total emissions in the transport sector. A zero-emission target has been set for cars and trucks by 2035, meaning that by then, all new cars and vans sold in the EU should be electric. On the other hand, rail transport is considered the most environmentally friendly way to travel, apart from cycling. This fact is strengthened by the ongoing electrification of railway lines. According to Eurostat, the number of electrified railway lines has increased by about 30 percent since 1990.

IN FOCUS:

Infrastructure for Alternative Fuels

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sophie-Jonas)

On 12 October 2023, the European Union implemented Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on introducing infrastructure for alternative fuels, with its application beginning on 13 April 2024. This regulation replaces the previously applicable Directive 2014/94/EU. Under the new regulation, various targets for member states will be introduced gradually until 2035. This initiative is part of the Fit for 55 package, aimed at reducing the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, with the overarching goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The Regulation sets mandatory national targets for EU member states regarding the introduction of publicly accessible infrastructure for alternative fuels, particularly electricity and hydrogen. This infrastructure applies to passenger vehicles, docked ships, and stationary aircraft, emphasizing trans-European networks. The regulation divides targets according to transport type and fuel type, with specific goals set for each category to ensure adequate charging and energy supply infrastructure and promote sustainable transport development.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

For electric vehicles and vans, member states must ensure the installation of publicly accessible charging stations proportional to the number of registered vehicles. The total output power for each registered electric vehicle should be at least 1.3 kW, while for hybrid vehicles, it should be at least 0.80 kW. Additionally, publicly accessible charging stations along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) must be provided. By the end of 2025, each charging point with an output of at least 400 kW, including at least one point of 150 kW, should be located at least every 60 kilometers on the core TEN-T network in each travel direction. By 2035, each station along the network should have a minimum output of 600 kW and include at least two charging points of 150 kW. To meet these standards, output power at stations will gradually increase from 2025 to 2035.

Prepared by Katarina Vuinac

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

ABB Acquires Solutions Industry & Building to Expand its Cable Protection Systems

08.12.2024

ABB announced today it has acquired Solutions Industry & Building (SIB), a leading manufacturer of construction industry building products and premium cable glands used to protect critical electrical equipment in industrial, railway and hazardous environment applications. The acquisition of SIB strengthens ABB’s presence in rail, mining, OEM and specialty markets across Europe, the Middle East and North America. Financial terms were not disclosed.

In addition to a full range of electrical installation equipment and connection systems for the construction market, SIB designs, manufactures and sells premium cable glands, couplings and accessories in brass, stainless steel and plastic for the electrical, railway, shipping and mining industries, as well as certified products for hazardous environments such as oil and gas applications. The acquisition brings nearly 100 employees to ABB and will expand the ABB Installation Products portfolio of premium cable protection solutions and complement its specialty brands, including PMA® cable protection, Harnessflex® cable management systems and Adaptaflex® conduit systems.

Founded in 1922 and headquartered in Boulay-Moselle, France, SIB was held since 2019 by Galiena Capital, a French Investment fund. SIB’s century-strong heritage and long-standing relationships with top energy, transportation, industrial and construction partners have made it an industry leader in the French market. In 2023, the company generated revenues of approximately 27 million dollars (25 million euros) and currently serves more than 2,000 customers worldwide.

“The need for safe and reliable electrification solutions continues to grow, and the addition of SIB brings an industry-leading portfolio and century of expertise to expand our capabilities and product range in highly specialized markets,” said Khalid Mandri, President, ABB Installation Products Division. “Bringing together this team will strengthen our offering and complementary portfolios as part of our ongoing strategy to invest in opportunities that accelerate growth, extend our reach in key markets and provide our customers high-quality, innovative solutions.”

SIB Chairman Gilles Lherbier said, “This marks a significant milestone in SIB’s long history and provides a strong platform to build on our combined expertise and extend our connection and protection products as part of a highly respected global company like ABB.”

Building on its long history of pioneering in electrification, ABB Installation Products creates solutions to safely connect and protect electrical systems that power businesses, cities, homes and transportation. With more than 200,000 products under 38 premium brand names, ABB Installation Products, formerly Thomas & Betts, solutions are found wherever electricity is used around the world and in space.

Source: ABB

Transformation Of Transportation In Serbia

07.12.2024

Image-by-Stevan-Aksentijevic-from-Pixabay — Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Stevan-Aksentijevic)

I n recent years, Serbia has taken significant steps towards modernizing its transportation infrastructure, focusing primarily on constructing new roads and enhancing the highway network. These initiatives not only improve connectivity between settlements and regions but also open doors for local economic development and attract investments. Miroslav Alempić, Assistant Minister for Road Transport, Roads, and Traffic Safety, shared insights on new projects and plans for the development of electromobility.

Q: What are the main benefits of constructing new roadways and connecting to the highway network? How does this impact the local economy and regional connectivity?

A: The main benefits of building new roads and connecting to the highway and expressway networks include rerouting transit and freight traffic away from populated areas, reducing exhaust emissions, congestion, and noise, shortening travel time for goods and passengers, and significantly increasing safety for road users. A quality road network also attracts transport and transit flows through Serbia, which generates significant revenue. This makes our road network attractive to the economies of other countries for transport and logistics centers across Serbia, enabling freight operations to be centralized, thus bringing substantial revenue and employment growth to our country.

Additionally, constructing a new highway network brings new economic and industrial facilities and centers to Serbia and its local economy, creating new jobs and boosting its development. A well-developed road network provides a broader labor market, allowing employees to live up to 100 kilometers from their workplace without issues reaching their jobs. Fast roads enable people to travel efficiently and quickly to their workplaces.

New roads also enhance the connectivity of villages, towns, cities, and regions, promoting greater mobility for people, goods, and all types of travel.

IN FOCUS:

Q: Can you tell us about the Green Stations project on Serbia’s highways?

A: The Green Stations project envisages the construction of supporting facilities at existing rest areas and parking lots to serve highway users. The project envisions constructing 16 green stations along the highway. Each location will include a building with a restaurant, store, and restroom, covering a total area of up to 100 m². Next to the building, there will also be a children’s playground.

Each green station will be equipped with fast EV chargers, ranging from five to 16 units of 180 kW each, with two connectors per unit for simultaneous charging. In the first phase of this project, five chargers are planned for installation at each green station. The planned locations include Bikovo, Lovćenac, Čenej, Kovilj, Šepšin, Markovac, Bobovište, Čokot 2, Prevalac, Ljig, Martinci South, Buđanovci and Toplik.

Considering this project’s complexity, which requires designing and constructing the necessary infrastructure, each location needs a 1 MW substation, connections to the power grid and water supply, and fiber optics, which require significantly more time to complete than locations with existing installations.

According to the project schedule, six green stations with 30 fast chargers are planned to be completed and operational by December 1, 2024. The remaining 10 are expected to be completed by the end of April 2025.

Q: Besides the Green Stations project, what additional steps are you planning to take to develop electromobility in Serbia?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (anton-luk)

A: In parallel with the implementation of this project, PE Roads of Serbia is expanding its network of EV chargers along the highway network. Alongside the eight existing chargers, they have installed 10 new fast chargers this year, which are currently connected to the Elektroprivreda Srbije power grid. Plans are in place for Roads of Serbia to install 16 more chargers on the highways by spring 2025 at the latest. In addition to highway installations, chargers are being placed throughout Serbia in public buildings and spaces, particularly in new developments, following amendments to the Planning and Construction Act.

The start of electric car production in Serbia, combined with incentives for purchasing and using them, will significantly accelerate the expansion of the charging network. The Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure is drafting a new law on alternative fuel infrastructure, primarily focusing on EV charging infrastructure. This law will define the goals for establishing infrastructure and the optimal number of charging and refueling stations for alternative fuels (EV chargers, hydrogen, and liquid methane). It will also set minimum requirements for constructing this infrastructure, determine standard technical specifications, and outline requirements for user information, payment, and record-keeping, aiming to develop an organized infrastructure to increase electromobility in Serbia.

Q: As the number of registered electric vehicles grows yearly, is the Ministry considering any support or subsidies for electric vehicle drivers?

A: According to official data, by the end of August 2024, 3,629 fully electric and 28,523 hybrid vehicles were registered in Serbia. The total number of registered vehicles is about three million, of which 2,452,064 are passenger cars.

The government is already subsidizing the purchase of electric cars, which is an excellent incentive to increase the presence of these vehicles on the road. This subsidy program is managed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The following steps by the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure involve creating additional benefits for EV drivers, such as lower tolls, free or discounted parking, and exemptions for driving in city areas where vehicles with internal combustion engines are banned. They are also working on amending the Law on Road Traffic Safety to introduce new green license plates with a special designation for electric vehicles.

Interview by Milica Radičević

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

Forests vs. Coal – What Are Montenegro’s Climate Challenges?

07.12.2024

crna gora, planine — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (nenad-radojcic)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (viktoriia-kondratiuk)

The recent Country Climate and Development Report – Montenegro, published by the World Bank, examines the country’s path toward achieving climate goals, emphasizing the need for strategic investments and the implementation of effective policies.

Like other Western Balkan countries, Montenegro faces climate challenges despite having the highest GDP per capita among the six countries in the region (WB6) based on purchasing power parity (PPP), primarily thanks to its tourism sector. While tourism and transport drive economic growth, they are also accompanied by increased energy activity and carbon intensity, exceeding the European average. This is largely due to the reliance on the Pljevlja coal-fired power plant and inefficient energy practices across various sectors.

Despite advancements in wind energy development and a significant utilization of hydro potential, Montenegro’s geographical position still leads to a heavy reliance on coal, which, combined with dense traffic, affects the overall air quality.

While the country has reduced its total greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, primarily due to its extensive forest areas, achieving climate targets remains challenging without substantial further investments and reforms.

According to last year’s data from the Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce, forests cover 802,500 hectares, accounting for 57.64 percent of the territory, while forest land spans 139,500 hectares, making up 10.02 percent of forest-covered areas.

Within the Western Balkans, Montenegro lags in developing a national energy and climate strategy. However, in 2020, it took a pioneering step in carbon management by introducing an emissions trading scheme (ETS). Montenegro is the only country in the region with a CO2 tax, but the prices remain much lower than those under the EU ETS, while the system faces challenges such as market liquidity.

Natural disasters also impact Montenegro’s climate, due to significant climatic variability. Between 1991 and 2013, Montenegro experienced six major floods and several earthquakes, with potential earthquake magnitudes posing a significant threat to 60 percent of the population. Floods alone cause an average annual damage of $90 million, according to the report, while broader economic impacts of natural disasters could potentially reduce GDP by up to 5.1 percent under certain climate scenarios. To address these challenges, billions in investments are required in the coming decade to meet expectations by 2050.

The report forecasts that most of Montenegro’s future electricity production will come from wind and solar energy, complemented by its existing hydroelectric capacity.

It also highlights the need for human and financial capital, as well as more favorable accompanying regulations. Some solutions include green bonds, access to public-private partnerships (PPP), and leveraging EU funding opportunities.

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