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Giant Clams – Master Engineers of Solar Energy and Efficiency

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (mauricio-santos)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (europeana)

It is well known that answers to many questions can often be found in nature. Have you ever heard that there are natural solar systems that can serve as examples of efficient use of sunlight? Recently, researchers from Yale University discovered an interesting and highly useful process that occurs in giant clams living near tropical reefs.

Inside these clams live small algae, which are actually like plants. The algae use sunlight to produce food, allowing them to grow. Through a process known as photosynthesis, sunlight provides the energy needed to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen, as it usually functions. The sugar produced in this way serves as food for the algae, while the algae provide nutrients for the clam.

Instead of generating electricity from sunlight as solar panels do, giant clams use sunlight to efficiently provide energy for their internal algae. However, the clams do this in a highly efficient way, which could be replicated to generate electricity and make solar panels even more efficient. ,

Giant clams have a unique way of using sunlight. This process can be described as follows: sunlight reaches the giant clam as a large beam of light. However, before the light reaches the algae, it passes through a special layer in the clams called iridocytes, which breaks and disperses the light in all directions.

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The light evenly illuminates all the algae inside the clam instead of falling on just one spot. This process allows the algae to utilize almost all the light that reaches them.

Research from Yale University suggests that there is another trick involved. Clams are highly adaptable – during the day, they stretch to make better use of sunlight. When the light is stronger, the clams expand; when it is weaker, they contract. Ordinary plants do not have such capabilities, nor do solar panels. Scientists could potentially use this natural trick to develop even better and more efficient solar panels in the future.

The research team also mentioned that they had developed a model to calculate the quantum efficiency of the clams – a measure of how well the system can convert light into electrical energy. The initial model showed a quantum efficiency of 42 percent, but when the researchers included the dynamic adjustment of the clams – i.e., their stretching – the quantum efficiency jumped to 67 percent. By comparison, the quantum efficiency of green leaves in a tropical environment is only about 14 percent.

Therefore, clams are an excellent example of how to convert sunlight into energy most efficiently.

Energy Portal

How Modern Aircraft Flights Affect the Climate

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Blake Guidry)

The aviation industry faces significant challenges due to climate change, prompting continuous efforts to find innovations and improve existing technologies. However, the complexity of various impacts on accelerating climate change leads to more demanding solutions for their mitigation.

While solutions for halting one issue are being found, there is a concern that these measures could lead to other negative impacts.

How do modern aircraft flights affect the climate? Modern airplanes are designed to fly at higher altitudes compared to older commercial aircraft. The reason for increasing flight altitudes is that it reduces fuel consumption, as the air at such altitudes is thinner and provides less aerodynamic resistance. This simultaneously reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

However, while higher altitudes reduce fuel consumption and mentioned emissions, they exacerbate another problem related to climate change – contrails.

Contrails, or condensation trails, are visible trails of condensed water vapor created during an aircraft’s flight from its exhaust gases. Specifically, these trails form when warm and moist gases from an aircraft’s exhaust pipes come into contact with colder air. The vapor then condenses and forms droplets or ice crystals, which become visible in the sky as aircraft trails. As conditions at higher altitudes are different, with significantly lower temperatures and higher humidity in the atmosphere, these trails last longer before dissipating. Consequently, the longer they persist, the more they contribute to atmospheric warming, as they trap heat like clouds.

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These conclusions are based on a study conducted by scientists from Imperial College London, published in Environmental Research Letters. The study analyzed over 64,000 cases of contrails, using satellite data and flight information to investigate how different types of aircraft affect the formation and duration of these trails.

Although the study suggested that reducing solid particle emissions in exhaust gases could affect the duration of contrails, this remains a hypothesis. The reason is the numerous factors that influence the duration and intensity of these trails, making the study a mere introduction to further research needed to find more effective solutions to this problem.

Katarina Vuinac

Night Light – Cause of More Resistant Tree Leaves and Biodiversity Loss

Photo-ilustration: Unsplash (Dmitry Ratuchny)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jan Huber)

Light pollution, a pressing ecological issue that currently affects over 80 per cent of the world’s population, is a topic of urgent concern. Despite this, the full extent of its impact on plants and animals, and the resulting changes in ecosystems, remains a mystery. This has spurred experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing to delve deeper into this issue.

In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science, scientists aimed to answer why the leaves of plants in urban areas are less damaged by insects than the leaves of trees in nature. The answer lies in urban night lighting, which, over time, has led to changes in the key functional traits of leaves, making them tougher and more resilient.

It is known that there are similarities between natural and artificial light, with artificial light typically having a limited spectrum, specific wavelengths, and illumination compared to natural light. Therefore, excessive night lighting over a prolonged period can prevent a plant from adapting. Scientists suspected that plants exposed to high levels of artificial light would focus more on defense than growth, producing tougher leaves with more chemical defense compounds and fewer nutrients.

Studies indicate that the intensity of night lighting has exceeded the threshold of plant adaptation, leading to changes in their physiological responses.

“Leaves that insects do not damage can make people happy, but not insects. Herbivory is a natural ecological process that maintains insect biodiversity,” said one of the study authors, Dr. Shuang Zhang, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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As herbivores (primarily insects) find it increasingly difficult to access food in urban areas, their survival is at risk. The reduced number of insects further endangers the survival of birds and other species that feed on them, ultimately leading to dramatic biodiversity loss and ecosystem changes.

“The decline in insect numbers is a global pattern observed in recent decades. We should pay more attention to this trend,” said Zhang, noting that night light might also contribute to the reduced number of insects by making them more visible to predators.

Experts warn that the high intensity of night light is detrimental to the flow of energy from urban plants to higher trophic levels, posing a potential threat to maintaining biodiversity (e.g., arthropod diversity, bird diversity) in urban ecosystems. However, further research will be needed to fully understand the effects of artificial light.

Milena Maglovski

Safe Travels in Europe With Charge&GO

Foto: Charge&GO
Photo: Charge&GO

A well – established network of chargers is a prerequisite for safe and secure travel with an electric vehicle. Strategically located chargers along highways, busy traffic routes, and in cities facilitate drivers in planning their trips. With a mobile application that enables a quick and easy search for electric chargers and payment for charging sessions, every journey becomes a real pleasure. Charge&GO strives to make travel easier for its users, both in Serbia and across Europe. The company is actively expanding its network of chargers to be well-prepared for the summer season and tourists traveling to the seaside with their electric cars.

New DC chargers are ready, operational, and listed on the Charge&GO app. Recently, a 60-kilowatt charger was installed in the parking lot of the BIG shopping center in Rakovica. There are plans to install several more chargers, which are also located in the parking lots of BIG shopping centers throughout Serbia. There are also chargers at OMV gas stations. A 120-kilowatt charger is available on the bypass road near Surčin, while on the other side of the highway, also at an OMV gas station, there is a 150-kilowatt electric charger. By the year-end, the number of available chargers will be increased, with the Charge&GO Company playing a significant role in this progress.

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How to find a charger abroad?

When it comes to traveling abroad, Charge&GO app users have access to more than 400,000 chargers that are part of Hubject, the largest European e-roaming network. The process of accessing these chargers is very simple, allowing users to start charging with the help of the map, RFID card, and the app. Users will find the nearest charger abroad quickly and easily. Navigation opens by clicking on the icon of the desired charger, showing detailed directions to the requested location. To use these services, the user has to sign a contract, and the whole procedure is greatly simplified.

A request for this service should be sent to podrska@chargego.rs. After signing the contract, users will immediately have access to a map full of AC and DC chargers across Europe upon leaving our country. With the expansion of the charger network, Charge&GO is also expanding its app’s availability beyond our country’s borders. Therefore, they have created a multilingual and multi-currency platform that supports different regulations in individual markets. Electric car drivers will no longer need to switch apps when crossing from one country to another; they will use only Charge&GO, which is easy to manage and compliant with all regulations in each market where they offer services.

Photo: Charge&GO

What is Charge&GO?

Charge&GO is the first regional platform and mobile application with a network of chargers that enables quick and easy charging of electric vehicles. The platform provides electric vehicle drivers with an efficient charging service, with each session automatically billed to the user’s account. Platform users can see a detailed overview of all charging sessions, completed payments, and account top-ups. Additionally, the Charge&GO customer service center is available at all times for any kind of assistance and to resolve any uncertainties.

Prepared by Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

Encouraging Competitiveness in Buying and Selling Electricity

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Thomas)
Photo: courtesy of Mersudin Gredić

As an energy entity responsible for organizing and managing the electricity market in Montenegro, the Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator (COTEE) continuously works to improve this segment while following trends and changes in the market of the region and Europe to create  an  open, transparent and non-discriminatory market environment as possible. COTEE creates conditions for a better and more competitive electricity market. Together with the electricity exchange, COTEE should enable energy entities with surpluses or electricity deficits to sell and buy it, respectively, while facilitating competitiveness and transparency of the entire process in Montenegro. We spoke with Mersudin Gredić, the Executive Director of COTEE, about the COTEE’s operating principles, how individuals can relieve themselves of the cost of renewable energy sources (RES), and how producers can get better market conditions, the advantages of guaranteed purchase of electricity, the development of solar energy, electricity trading in Montenegro and plans for the next period.

Q: How do the processes related to improving the electricity market in Montenegro affect renewable energy sources?

A: The development of the electricity market, which is our prerequisite for joining the European Union, as well as the harmonization of national regulations with the European ones, have a positive effect on the development of renewable energy sources, which is evidenced by the great interest of investors in the development of new projects in this area.

Q: How can individuals be relieved of the cost of RES and producers having better market conditions?

A: In its 2023 decree, the Government of Montenegro additionally reduced the fee for the production of electricity from RES by 50 per cent to take a responsible approach to consider the needs of individual citizens. In this way, individual producers must pay a significantly reduced fee to improve their overall economic standard. This year, we did not have requests from privileged producers to enter the market from the feed-in tariff. Several privileged producers who entered the market in the previous period returned to the incentive system this year. This indicates that the privileged producers assessed that now is not the moment to enter the market due to low electricity prices.

IN FOCUS:

Q: How would you assess the current development of solar energy and solar power plants in Montenegro, and what are your plans? How is the implementation of the SOLARI 3000+ and 500+ projects going?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Thomas)

A: Five solar power plants with an installed capacity of 2.2315 MW are included in the incentive system. Since we have many sunny days, there is great potential for developing solar power plants. Implementing these projects has multiple benefits and indeed represents a significant parameter for the overall development of the energy sector and overall economic progress.

When it comes to the SOLARI 500+ and 3000+ projects, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore is the chief project partner in carrying out project activities. The company recognized that the projects would be in the best interest of both individuals and legal entities in ensuring the use of this type of energy. In line with its business policies, the company implements these important projects. Development projects related to renewable energy sources contribute to accomplishing not only energy goals but also environmental protection goals, one of Montenegro’s strategic goals.

Q: How is electricity traded in Montenegro, and what are you planning to do in the coming period following the Energy Law?

A: Our country has an excellent connection with the Western Balkan and EU countries (undersea cable with Italy), which has helped Montenegro be viewed as one of the more interesting countries in this part of Europe. This good position was further boosted by the launch of the day-ahead market a little more than a year ago by the Electricity Exchange. Following the adoption of the new Law on Energy and the National Energy and Climate Plan, the obligations and plans of energy companies will be better specified in the coming period, and this segment’s development will increase.

Interview by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

Can Government Partnerships Support Responsible and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains?

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Shane McLendon)

As governments look to transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate the deployment of clean energy, policy makers are dedicating more attention to securing supplies of critical minerals.

Materials such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential to components in many fast-growing clean energy technologies, such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. As demand for them grows, government-to-government partnerships focused on mineral supply are becoming an increasingly popular policy tool, helping establish frameworks of cooperation between producing and consuming countries. However, many of these arrangements are described in broad language without supporting details. By making partnerships more concrete and transparent, governments could send an important signal about how they will ensure that new mining projects are developed responsibly.

Strategic partnerships on critical minerals are often struck between the government of a major consumer market and that of a major critical mineral producing country – such as those between the European Union and the Democratic Republic of Congo and between the United Kingdom and Zambia. There have also been a growing number of partnership announcements between consuming countries, such as the agreement between the United States and Japan.

Thus far, these deals have typically been motivated by economic and national security concerns and ostensibly lay the groundwork for future collaboration or investment incentives. They are rarely binding, but often reference high-level intentions to collaborate on:

  • Identifying projects to prioritise for financing.
  • Supporting open, competitive markets.
  • Building capacity and transferring knowledge through technical assistance programmes.
  • Facilitating cooperation on research, development and innovation.
  • Developing domestic processing capacity to ensure producing countries can add value to raw materials before they are exported.

Many of these partnership agreements also incorporate or reference a commitment to responsibly and sustainably manage supply chains. Delivering on this promise would require advancing the sustainable development ambitions of low- and middle-income producer countries and mitigating the risk of environmental, social and governance failures, which can cause harm and ultimately lead to supply disruptions. By prioritising transparency, incorporating criteria that require sustainable and responsible practices, and ensuring that affected communities and stakeholders are systematically consulted when negotiating and implementing these partnerships, countries can work together to strengthen secure critical mineral supply chains in a cooperative and responsible manner.

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Enhanced transparency on the content and implementation of strategic partnerships can help build credibility

Government-to-government partnerships on critical minerals raise expectations of new investment, with an increase in funding for projects that embed higher environmental, social and governance standards and support producing countries’ development ambitions. Yet information on the content of partnership agreements, the projects they may support, and the feasibility of such plans is not always publicly disclosed, making it difficult for stakeholders to fully assess the potential benefits and costs.

Research from the Natural Resource Governance Institute found that in about two-thirds of partnerships on critical minerals, no information is disclosed beyond an initial press release. Meanwhile, the strategic partnerships identified by the IEA in its Critical Minerals Policy Tracker are mostly preliminary agreements or Memoranda of Understanding that lack details about follow-up steps and implementation.

More proactive disclosure on the objectives of strategic partnerships, the terms of the agreements and their implementation could help to build credibility among trading partners, industry actors, civil society and the public. This would also align with the global emphasis on improving transparency in the extractive sector, as highlighted in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard and in industry commitments, such as the one on contract transparency by members of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). The need for stakeholders to have sufficient transparency is also recognised in certain legislative frameworks, such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and the EU Global Gateway Strategy. However, policy makers will need to ensure this is carried forward at the implementation stage.

Read the full text here.

Source: IEA

When Ecology and Energy Transition Aren’t on the Same Team

Photo illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

A green future is on the horizon! We will drive electric cars, solar panels will shimmer on our rooftops, and picturesque fields and meadows will be complemented by wind turbines gently spinning, almost as if to tell us, “There will be enough clean energy for everyone.”

It’s easy to fall in love with this romantic picture. Just imagine – no more air pollution, no more traffic noise, electricity bills getting lower, and the standard of living improving.

But will this romanticized picture elude us?

We know that energy transition is impossible without the key raw materials used in the production of batteries, solar panels, wind turbines… The demand for lithium, cobalt, and other precious resources has skyrocketed after the world market cried out for green technologies.

Thus, mining has gained a new dimension and is now among the key players in the game for climate neutrality. However, when mining is in play, ecology must not be benched.

A new study published by researchers from the University of Cambridge warns us that mining activities “in the service of the energy transition,” as well as oil and gas extraction, threaten the survival of 4,642 species of vertebrates and many more invertebrates and plants.

The greatest risk to species comes from mining materials fundamental to our transition to clean energy. These mines are often located in the world’s most valuable biodiversity hotspots, which are unique habitats for many species on the planet.

Moreover, the threat to nature is not limited to the physical locations of mines. Species living far away can also be affected by polluted waterways or deforestation, which is used to construct necessary roads and other infrastructure.

Among all vertebrate species, fish (up to 2,053) are particularly at risk from mining, followed by reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The level of threat seems to be related to where a species lives and its way of life: species inhabiting freshwater habitats and those with small ranges are particularly endangered.

New mines will undoubtedly be opened, and it is up to us to choose what is more important—accelerated energy transition or the protection of nature and species.

Although countries generally impose stricter environmental criteria on the entire industry, including mining, I wouldn’t rely too much on that. In critical raw materials, many countries and companies see a unique opportunity for economic growth, and it is clear that all those environmental protection measures significantly reduce the productivity of mines.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Some might say that the destruction of nature and the loss of certain species is the price we must pay to finally rid ourselves of fossil fuels and step into a greener future. After all, humans have always cleared forests for expanding cities and agriculture, so why should mines be an exception?

But this must not be our excuse. If we are already talking about a green future, we must be better than the generations that brought the planet to the boiling point.

We will never overcome the climate crisis if we continue to destroy nature and biodiversity. Moreover, long-term mining for energy transition could put us in an even worse situation than fossil fuels.

Therefore, if we must choose between mines and nature – let’s choose carefully.

Milena Maglovski

EU Tightens Measures on Industrial Emissions

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The European Union has made significant progress in its environmental protection policy by updating the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), which comes into effect on August 4, 2024, and has evolved into the Directive on Industrial Emissions and Livestock Emissions. As its name suggests, the revised directive is a key part of the European Green Deal, aiming to drastically reduce emissions from large industrial plants and intensive livestock farming.

Over the past decade, the original Industrial Emissions Directive has set standards for controlling pollution from industrial sources. However, two years ago, the European Commission proposed revising the directive to keep up with current trends and modernize it.

The updated directive brings several changes. First, it introduces stricter emission limit values and extends its application to additional sources of pollution, including metal mining and large- scale battery production. According to the European Commission’s website, this broader scope is expected to significantly reduce emissions of PM2.5 particles, SO2, NOX, and NMVOC, aiming for a 40 percent reduction by 2050 compared to 2020 levels, according to the European Commission’s.

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In addition, the directive mandates electronic permitting, simplifies administrative processes, and tightens conditions for granting derogations. It also introduces harsher penalties for non- compliance, including fines of at least 3 percent of annual EU turnover for the most severe violations.

Regulations for the largest pig and poultry farms with the highest pollution levels, which account for about 30 percent of such farms in the EU, have also been expanded. These farms will now be subject to a simplified permitting system, reducing administrative burdens while maintaining effective environmental management. Smaller and organic pig farms are exempt from these new obligations.

Moreover, the directive will enhance transparency through the Industrial Emissions Portal, which began operating on May 22, 2024. This portal provides comprehensive data on industrial installations and simplifies operators’ electronic reporting.

Member states have 22 months to transpose the revised directive into national law, while the European Commission will adopt secondary legislation to assist in its implementation. Data reporting on the Industrial Emissions Portal is expected to start in 2028.

Implementing the revised directive is expected to reduce emissions of key air pollutants by 40 percent by 2050 compared to 2020 levels.

Energy Portal

Investing In Sustainable Management of RES

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (tim-van-der-kuip)
Photo: Courtesy of Milena Popović Martineli

Serbia will accomplish the green transition of its energy sector through the increase of renewable energy sources, the improvement of power grids and energy storage, the promotion of fuels with zero carbon dioxide emissions, and the gradual abolition of fossil fuels. The goal is to transform the sector into a sustainable, efficient, and inclusive system that is adapted and resistant to climate change, with a significant increase in energy efficiency and respect for the principles of a fair transition. We talked with Milena Popović Martinelli, Climate Strategy Delivery Principal for the Western Balkans, about the support provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), challenges created by the energy transition, and plans.

Q: What challenges is the green transition facing, and how does the EBRD support Serbia’s effort in this transition?

A: One of the EBRD’s key priorities in Serbia is to support the acceleration of the energy transition while ensuring the security of the energy supply and boosting economic growth and social development. The EBRD is engaged in many complex aspects of decarbonization, too. We invest in renewable energy sources, and in March of this year, we supported the Pupin project, a 94.4 MW wind farm. Pupin is the second phase of the development of the Kovačica wind farm (which we also co-financed back in 2017) and is the first to obtain financing among bidders at the first market premium auctions. We also support the reconstruction of the Vlasina hydropower plant to extend its useful life and increase the installed capacity, which is significant both for the supply and the balancing of renewable energy in the country.

We recognize that the energy sector is affected by climate change and support our clients in aligning their business models and operations with low-carbon and climate-resilient development principles. While acknowledging the Electric Power Industry of Serbia’s (EPS) role in the country’s effort to decarbonize, the EBRD provides support to the company in developing a decarbonization action plan in accordance with national green ambitions, as well as assessing the impact that climate change may have on business.

Furthermore, through our just transition initiatives, we support the Serbian government in understanding the impact of the energy transition on the most affected regions and communities. We are working to identify and prioritize specific interventions to ensure the transition is fair and inclusive.

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Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michael Fortsch)

Q: How interested are investors in investing in renewable energy sources in Serbia?

A: The Serbian renewable energy market has proven very competitive, and investors recognize its potential. An adequate regulatory framework, with a clearly defined plan and goals, is a prerequisite for creating a favorable business environment. The Serbian market demonstrated that it meets the key criteria related to market premium auctions, at which bids for electricity from wind turbines significantly exceeded the available quota, were competitive, and well below the maximum price. With Serbia’s three-year plan to allocate 1,300 MW of capacity at auctions and the goal of reaching a 45 per cent share in electricity production from renewable energy sources by 2030, we expect that many will carry out new investments in the market.

Q: Are there other aspects of the transition that you consider significant to which the EBRD will pay special attention in the coming period?

A: Renewable energy production is key to decarbonizing the energy sector, but a successful transition requires a holistic approach that also focuses on other priority areas. There is a consensus and a deep understanding of energy demand, which can be seen in implementing energy efficiency projects in public and residential buildings. The EBRD stands out as an international financial institution that pays special attention to the energy rehabilitation of residential (multi-family) buildings, including buildings with the worst energy performance.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, we are preparing a Public ESCO Project, an innovative format with significant impact and coverage that will be implemented on millions of square meters. As part of the first public call for the project implementation, energy rehabilitation will include up to 1.1 million square meters of residential buildings connected to district heating in 14 Serbian cities. The Public ESCO Project will enable the simultaneous implementation of energy efficiency measures in the most energy-inefficient residential buildings throughout the country. It will be the basis for transitioning from flat-rate billing to billing only for the consumed heat. It will contribute to significant energy savings, reduce emissions and pollution, and improve air quality in numerous towns in Serbia.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (American Public Power Association)

Q: What help and support does the EBRD provide in preparing and implementing auctions for solar and wind power plants?

A: With the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the EBRD played a significant role in conducting auctions to allocate market premiums. We supported the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy in the implementation of competitive procurement for renewable energy projects and regulatory reform in the energy sector to facilitate the implementation of auctions, which culminated in the successful allocation of 400 MW of wind capacity and 25 MW of solar capacity in the summer of 2023. The first auctions for allocating market premiums based on the format of bilateral contracts for price difference will help develop over 700 MW of new green energy capacities in Serbia. The auctions were conducted in line with the best European practices. The transition to market premiums enables better cost management and significantly benefits the entire energy system. As for the next round, we can expect that the capacities will be determined in accordance with the three-year plan that sets a quota of 300 MW for wind power plants and 100 MW for solar power plants.

Interview by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

The Fashion Industry Lags in Achieving Climate Goals

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The fashion industry remains one of the world’s top polluters and shows no serious tendencies to change its business models and make them more sustainable.

Members of the global movement Fashion Revolution, which promotes human and environmental rights and sustainable fashion goals, have released a new report titled “What Drives Fashion”. The report analyzes 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands and ranks them based on their climate and energy-related data transparency.

The research revealed that the fashion industry significantly lags in achieving climate goals and still heavily relies on fossil fuels. This is an urgent situation, as 86 percent of companies lack a public goal to phase out coal, and 94 percent lack a public goal for renewable energy.

Nearly a quarter of the world’s largest brands do not disclose any data on the decarbonization of their operations, indicating that addressing the climate crisis is not a priority for them.

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For 145 brands (58 percent), it is unclear what progress they have made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, less than half (47 percent) of brands disclose their commitment to science-based emission reduction targets, while 42 per cent reveal their progress toward these goals. Regarding the source of electricity needed for production processes, fashion companies are also reluctant to share data. Less than half (43 percent) of brands are transparent about their electricity procurement at the operational level, and even fewer (10 percent) at the supply chain level. However, since the factories of major fashion brands are mostly located in countries that heavily rely on fossil fuels, it is clear that renewable energy sources have little (if any) share in powering the fashion industry.

Even so-called sustainable clothing can still be produced using fossil fuels. The fashion industry’s impact on the climate is primarily examined through the lens of the materials used in our clothing rather than the production processes behind them. While 58 percent of brands disclose goals for using sustainable materials, only a small percentage reveal the energy sources in their supply chain, meaning sustainable clothing could still be produced in factories powered by fossil fuels.

According to the latest data, the value of the fashion industry is estimated at over 770 billion dollars, making it one of the most prosperous industrial sectors. As the fashion industry expands, so does the demand for fossil fuels, indicating that fashion brands must urgently turn to renewable energy sources to contribute to a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to the Fashion Revolution movement.

Milena Maglovski

Is China on the Brink of an Era of Maximum Nuclear Energy Development? – Where are New Reactors Emerging?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ondrej Bocek)

When it comes to the state of energy in China, coal still dominates, accounting for more than half of the total electricity production. However, nuclear energy plays an increasingly significant role, especially in coastal areas where the fastest economic development occurs, primarily due to geographical advantages. For instance, in 2021, China produced 8,636 TWh of electricity, with coal contributing 5,432 TWh. But this picture is set to change.

As in other countries, the demand for electricity in China is also growing. The country has a modest net export balance of electricity, but its consumption is high, reflecting rapid industrial growth. To tackle environmental challenges, China has set ambitious goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources. According to WNA data, China plans to source 20 percent of its primary energy consumption from non-fossil sources by 2030.

China’s five-year plan (2021-2025) aims to reach 70 GWe of nuclear capacity by the end of 2025. Nuclear energy has a strategic role in China, especially, as mentioned, in coastal areas far from coal mines. China has collaborated with and utilized nuclear technology from several countries, including France, Canada, Russia, and the USA. The Westinghouse AP1000 technology from the USA has been particularly influential, leading to the development of the CAP1400 and CAP1000 reactors based on this technology. However, today, China has advanced nuclear technology after years of cooperation and technology transfer with the countries above, and it has implemented this experience in several domestic nuclear reactors and technologies. China has a policy of exporting nuclear technology, particularly the Hualong One reactors, which became a major export product in 2015, as the World Nuclear Association (WNA) noted.

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China’s nuclear energy capacities are on a significant growth trajectory, with 56 operational reactors and dozens more under construction. The country’s nuclear energy expansion is evident in the construction of several new nuclear blocks, marking a substantial increase in its nuclear capabilities.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Construction has begun on units 5 and 6 at the Ningde plant in Fujian province. These units are part of the second phase of the Ningde nuclear energy project and feature Hualong One reactors, a type of third-generation nuclear technology developed in China. Construction officially began on July 28 with the pouring of the first concrete. According to World Nuclear News, these new units will add to the four existing reactors at the site.

Construction has also started on units 1 and 2 at the Shidao Bay plant in Shandong province. The first concrete for Unit 1 was poured on July 28, marking the start of construction. The new units will be Hualong One reactors, entirely built with Chinese technology. The project will include four reactors, with the first two blocks expected to be operational by 2029.

In Liaoning province, construction has started on units 1 and 2 at the Xudabao plant. These units will use CAP1000 reactors based on the Westinghouse AP1000 design. China’s share of clean energy increases with each new reactor, ensuring a stable energy supply.

Energy Portal

Key Enablers to Triple Renewables by 2030: Skills and Capacities

Photo-illustration: Freepik (senivpetro)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has pointed out that reaching over 11 Terawatts of installed renewables capacity as set at COP28 would necessitate overcoming identified structural barriers. One of those barriers is related to the evolving energy transitions needs that demand skilled workforce.

Well-skilled workforce filling in a broad range of occupational profiles determines the success of renewables expansion. IRENA already estimated that with the efforts to triple installed renewables capacity under its 1.5°C Scenario, renewable energy sector jobs will also triple from 2021 levels to about 40 million worldwide by 2050.

These jobs will require matching skills and education. Today, many countries are already facing shortages in tradespeople such as electricians and grid engineers. The same applies to the workforce responsible for overseeing the energy sector; policy makers, energy planners, regulators and system operators.

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This situation calls for the development of institutional and human capacities through concerted action in education and skills building. To avoid significant skills gaps and to match the supply produced by the education sector with the projected demand of industries, countries pledging to reach the shared renewables target should proactively coordinate efforts.

IRENA suggests governments to take the following urgent actions: Anticipate labour market disruptions and address workforce gaps, prepare new labour market entrants; upskill and reskill existing workers and allocate greater resources and training to energy sector governance (e.g. policy makers, energy planners, regulators).

Source: IRENA

From Grass to Electricity with the Help of Digesters

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Jonas Weckschmied)
Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (JanNijman)

Over the years, growing dominant crops on land can lead to various environmental consequences, such as loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, farmers are advised to revert parts of their land back to meadows, but whether this will bring them economic benefits is questionable.

Experts from Iowa State University offer a solution that, they say, will benefit everyone—farmers, businesses, and ultimately, society as a whole.

The solution involves using grass biomass to produce natural biogas, a subject the research team at the mentioned university has been studying for six years.

Professor of Ecology and Natural Resource Management Lisa Schulte Moore and her colleagues have modeled the economic feasibility of gas production from grass in various environments and from different perspectives.

Their work focuses on optimizing and expanding the use of anaerobic digesters—facilities where the natural process of organic matter biodegradation occurs without oxygen. Captured in tanks, the biogas can be processed into fuel that has the potential to replace petroleum-based natural gas and be used to power electric generators. “To replace natural gas with resources that revitalize sustainable agriculture, we must be able to quantify how much energy we can produce and demonstrate that it can be profitable and environmentally friendly,” said study co-author Mark Mba-Wright.

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Renewable Natural Gas as the Most Cost-effective Option

In a study published in the journal BioEnergy Research, researchers modeled how a network of digesters in Ames, Iowa, could meet the city’s heating and electricity needs. According to their estimates, installing 10 digesters at various locations using livestock manure, biofuel byproducts, food waste, wastewater, and grass as feedstock would be enough. The fact that renewable natural gas has proven to be the most cost-effective option can help city leaders make informed decisions, said Mba-Wright.

In another study, scientists analyzed two hypothetical digesters using grassy biomass. They concluded that these facilities would generate a combined profit of over $400 million under the best conditions over their expected 20-year lifespan. Researchers also claim that during these two decades, 45 million gigajoules of renewable natural gas—about 12.5 billion kilowatt-hours—would be produced, with an 83 per cent lower carbon footprint compared to natural gas derived from fossil fuels. Experts say emissions would also be lower than those from corn-based ethanol or soybean-based biodiesel.

Milena Maglovski

Germany: As Solar Capacity Grows, Equipment Production Declines

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (atimedia)
Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

Germany is making significant progress in developing renewable energy sources. The German Federal Statistical Office—Statistisches Bundesamt—confirmed this by providing data on solar energy capacity.

As reported, in April 2024, about 3.4 million solar systems were installed on rooftops and parcels in Germany, with a total maximum capacity of approximately 81,500 megawatts. Compared to the same month in 2023, the number of systems increased by 29.8 percent, while the installed capacity grew by 20.5 percent.

This data includes nearly all solar installations contributing to public power grids and equipped with electricity meters that measure the amount of power generated. However, the statistics do not include smaller installations, such as so-called balcony solar systems. For clarification, these solar systems are designed for use in private households and are typically installed on balconies or small yards.

The success of these solar systems is truly remarkable, as evidenced by the record-breaking growth in solar-generated energy within the total electricity production. Last year, an astounding 53 million megawatt-hours of electricity were fed into the grid from solar sources, making up an impressive 11.9 percent of total production.

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Import, Export, and Production

Germany recorded a significant decline in solar system imports during the first five months of 2024. Specifically, from January to May, the value of imported solar cells and modules decreased by 66 percent, and the value of solar system exports also dropped by about 64 percent.

In 2023, China was Germany’s leading source of imports, accounting for 86.4 percent of the total. In comparison, the Netherlands and Vietnam followed with 5.4 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively, representing significantly smaller import shares. As for exports, most were to European countries, with Australia at the forefront with 17.8 percent, followed by Italy with 11.4 percent and Switzerland with 9 percent.

Germany also experienced a significant decline in the production of solar modules in the first quarter of 2024, dropping by over 50 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Additionally, the production of solar collectors decreased by around 67 percent.

Energy Portal

Solar Energy in Serbia and the Countries of the Region

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michael Fortsch)
Photo-illustration: Freepik (senivpetro)

Solar energy has recorded significant development in recent years, with a 40 per cent growth rate in the European Union alone. Globally speaking, countries that participated in last year’s United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28) set an ambitious goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. Considering this, the results of the Renewable Energy Sources 2023 annual report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) should be mentioned. The importance of solar energy for achieving this goal is validated by the fact that solar capacities make up three-quarters of the total renewable energy capacities.

In the Republic of Serbia, the Electric Power Distribution of Serbia’s official website contains registers that provide insight into information about connected solar power plants and consumers in our country. The register of connected power plants that use renewable energy sources (updated on May 15) shows that 375 such power plants have a total installed capacity of 254,936.09 kW. Of that number, over 160 are solar power plants. 814 are operated by prosumers who are not households or residential communities, and their total installed power is 33,558.23 kW. These are registered in the Prosumer Registry (updated on May 24). Regarding the Prosumer Registry, where prosumers are residential communities (updated on February 7), three residential communities operate RES plants, which have a total installed power of 69.5 kW. Finally, the Prosumer Registry of households (updated on May 24) consists of 2,278 households that operate RES plants with a total installed power of 18,489.16 kW. 

IN FOCUS:

The same website shows that the number of electricity prosumers has increased by about seven times in the past year and a half. Currently, the total installed power of RES power plants operated by prosumers is about 52 MW and many requests for new connections to the power grid are being processed. On May 21, 2024, there were 1,588 requests from industrial prosumers for connection to the grid, i.e. 415.6 MW of solar capacity, and 437 requests from households and four residential communities. Regarding solar power plants, the Ministry of Mining and Energy announced on May 28, 2024, that in that month alone, the total capacity on the grid exceeded 100 MW for the first time.

Regional countries 

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Available data indicate that 1,671 electricity production facilities have been set up. The registry of the Energy Regulatory Commission shows that in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, electricity production from solar power plants is done in 1,082  production facilities with a total installed capacity of 128,451  MW and an expected annual production of 231,517.66  MWh. According to the available data provided by the relevant power distribution operators, 589 small solar power plants are connected to the power grid in the Republic of Srpska. Of this number, 47 are prosumers, and the total power of these facilities is about 102 MW. 

Montenegro – At the moment, over 4,200 consumers in Montenegro operate 43,500 KWp or 43.5 MW of installed power worth of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of households and commercial buildings.

Prepared by Katarina Vuinac

Read the story in the new issue the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

The Global Climate Finance Centre and IRENA Join Forces to Accelerate Global Climate Finance

Foto ilustracija: Unsplash (Micheile Henderson)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jason Blackeye)

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC), an independent entity focused on catalysing climate investments and solutions globally, announced a strategic partnership to scale-up climate finance and renewable energy initiatives globally.

The GCFC helps create an ecosystem that enables investments into low-carbon, sustainable and resilient projects by bringing together cutting-edge research, market innovations, capacity-building programs, and practical initiatives to scale up climate investments globally, particularly focusing on emerging and developing markets.

This collaboration will harness the synergies between IRENA and GCFC across various workstreams, including market intelligence, capacity building, practical platforms, and collaborative initiatives. Together with other key stakeholders in the climate space, the partnership aims to drive innovative solutions that enhance the scale, accessibility, and affordability of climate finance globally.

The partnership will include joint work along the following three work streams:

  • Research and innovation: The Parties will work together to conduct market research and analysis to produce thought leadership and innovative solutions for key topics driving present and future global climate finance flows, including de-risking mechanisms, green industrialization opportunities, carbon markets, and policy innovations, among others.
  • Capacity-building and technical assistance: Both institutions strive to increase the adoption of climate solutions by strengthening local capabilities. Their joint work will include building strong frameworks for renewable energy and associated infrastructure policies and regulations, and financial skills needed to develop project pipelines, among others.
  • Practical coalitions and project pipeline financing: The Parties will work jointly to advance partnerships and practical initiatives with natural synergies. This will include, but is not limited to, their respective work on supporting African countries in energy transition via IRENA’s Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (“APRA”) and the GCFC-hosted Africa Green Investment Initiative (“AGII”). The Parties will also collaborate to co-create and co-host events, including workshops and matchmaking ‘deal rooms’, to share knowledge, connect climate investors with investment opportunities, create and strengthen partnerships, and advance innovative renewable energy finance solutions to improve the uptake of global climate investments.

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Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, said: “Despite the remarkable political momentum established by the UAE Consensus and a universally compelling business case for renewables, progress on the energy transition remains uneven across regions, largely due to a lack of access to affordable financial resources. This strategic partnership with GCFC aims to address this disparity by strengthening finance flows, building capacities, and fostering innovation where it is needed most.”

Mercedes Vela Monserrate, CEO of the Global Climate Finance Centre, said: “By joining forces with IRENA, the Global Climate Finance Centre is taking a significant step forward in accelerating the flow of climate finance and propelling renewable energy initiatives around the world. United by a global vision for climate action, this collaboration seeks to empower countries and communities to implement effective climate solutions and build a more sustainable future.”

Source: IRENA

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