Charging Infrastructure as the Foundation of E-Mobility

18.12.2024

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.

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.

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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

17.12.2024

NOVO , punjač — 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.”

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

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

16.12.2024

geotermalna energija — 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.

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.

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

15.12.2024

Foto-Ljubivoje-Maričić — 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

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.

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“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

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.

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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

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