IEA Encourages Turkey to Deepen Energy Market Reforms

03.10.2016

Since the last IEA in-depth review in 2009, Turkey has made significant progress in reforming its energy sector. Completing the reforms will allow Turkey to tap into its renewable and energy efficiency potentials, latest IEA report says.

With rising energy demand, increasing oil and gas imports, and an energy mix largely relying on fossil fuels, Turkey has a unique opportunity to tap into renewable energies, save energy and diversify its fuel mix, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest survey of Turkey’s energy policies.

In its review, Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Turkey 2016 Review, the IEA called on the government to swiftly adopt an energy efficiency programme and create a one-stop-shop for the deployment of renewable energy in the country.

Turkey’s energy sector has attracted substantial interest in the investor’s community thanks to privatisation and electricity market reforms. The country should continue down this path and reform its energy markets. During the last decade, electricity market reforms have advanced. The liberalisation and privatisation of electricity generation and distribution triggered a private investment boom (generating capacity doubled between 2007 and 2014) and secured energy access for its population.

“To attract more investments, the liberalisation of the energy markets needs to progress further,” said Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director.

The report highlighted three avenues for reform: strengthening the independence of the system operators and regulatory authorities; abolishing market distortions in favour of market pricing; and continuing to invest in more flexible and modern gas and electricity infrastructure. These pillars are critical for securing stable and reliable electrical power supplies and ensuring sustainable economic growth, and ensuring much needed diversification, according to the IEA.

Turkey has a unique geographical location and is an important energy player in its region. The country’s regional integration is advancing, thanks to the construction of the Transanatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and the connection to the European electricity grid (ENTSO-E) with the Turkish Transmission System Operator for Electricity (TEİAŞ) becoming an observer of ENTSO-E. “Turkey’s contribution is vital for regional and European energy security,” Dr Birol said.

With the drop in gas prices and the rise in the global LNG trade, the IEA also sees an important opportunity for Turkey to reform its natural gas market. Natural gas accounts for 40% of Turkey’s electricity generation; and gas demand has more than doubled in one decade, outpacing electricity growth. The review highlights the need for competition, diversification and investments in the gas infrastructure, given Turkey’s proximity to major resources and private sector interest.

One major issue to be addressed, however, is the country’s high import dependency on oil and gas and the fast increase in carbon dioxide emissions, which have more than doubled since 1990. Commendably, Turkey has for the first time set an emission reduction goal.

However, the plan to double coal-fired electricity supply by 2019 will require further investment in clean coal technologies and the swift refurbishment of old plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb air pollution in Turkey. “With more energy efficiency and renewable energy, cleaner coal and nuclear can be part of a secure and low carbon mix, but the legal frameworks must be put in place to ensure high standards of environmental performance and safety,” said Dr Birol.

The report encourages the government to build on the Vision 2023 and set out a longer term energy policy agenda up to 2030 to guide private energy investments. Clear and long-term targets for renewables and energy efficiency, faster permitting procedures and enhanced grid integration rules can ensure long-term sustainable economic growth in Turkey.

Source: iea.org

World’s First Radar for Offshore Wind Power now Delivers Data

03.10.2016

Dong Energy recently started receiving three-dimensional data from the advanced BEACon radar located at the Westermost Rough Wind Farm on England’s east coast. “This is a huge step forward for wind insights,” explains Nicolai Gayle Nygaard, BEACon Technical Manager at Dong Energy:

“We’re getting minute-by-minute 3D images of the wind flow through the wind power plant. This is a game changer for the industry. We’re no longer limited to measuring the wind at just one point, now we can document the wind field across the entire wind power plant and coastal domain. Conventional measurement technologies are like using a torch in a dark room – you have a limited view. With the new radars, the entire room is flooded with light. We get new insights that provide valuable information for the design and operation of future wind power plants,” he says.

Source: dongenergy.com

Water Crisis in Bangladesh

03.10.2016

With a population of over 15 million people, Dhaka – the capital of Bangladesh – is considered a mega-city and shares many of the water management problems common to other major cities.

While efforts are made to sustain water quantity and quality in city water supplies, Dhaka pumping has caused groundwater levels to drop more than 200 feet over the last 50 years and these levels continue to decline at a rate of up to 9 feet per year.

An often-overlooked consequence of these actions in mega-cities is the associated effect on the water quality and supply to surrounding peri-urban or rural communities, where water resources are stressed and surface pollution from toxic metals, organic materials and other pollutants, is widespread.

This is particularly problematic in Bangladesh, where naturally occurring arsenic in shallow (less than 200 feet) groundwater threatens the health of tens of millions of people. High levels of arsenic exist in areas surrounding Dhaka, and there people use deep (greater than 500 feet) groundwater, which is low in arsenic.

Khan and Michael’s work shows that even in water-rich systems like those in the Bengal Basin, pumping to supply water to mega-cities can threaten regional groundwater resources by inducing fast transport of the contaminants, specifically arsenic, a known carcinogen, to deeper areas of the aquifer, even outside the city limits where it can contaminate deep wells used for arsenic mitigation.

“It is an environmental justice problem because the people who benefit from the city water supply are not the people whose wells are at-risk of contamination – arsenic contamination only exists outside of the city. There, if a community’s well becomes contaminated because of what’s happening in Dhaka, they may not have another source of safe water,” said Michael, Unidel Fraser Russell Chair for the Environment and associate professor of geology, which is housed in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment.

Source: sciencedaily.com

Bangalore’s Airport to Become a Leader in Solar Energy Production

03.10.2016

Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport plans to become the largest solar-producing airport in India, aiming to generate 14.6 MW of solar power. The airport announced in December that it will source 40 percent of its electricity from solar energy, offsetting approximately 17,000 tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of more than 3,200 passenger vehicles each year. The airport is now deciding upon a developer to execute the project.

The commitment is the next step in India’s push to transform its airports and achieve national and state-wide renewable energy commitments to diversify the electricity supply and mitigate emissions. Just last year, the city of Kochi’s Cochin International Airport became the first airport in the world to run completely on solar power. More cities will need to take note of the potential of airport solar if the country is to achieve its ambitious commitment to 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022.

Why Solar Energy for Airports?

Air transport is often associated with high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft, but airports themselves also create a significant impact. Heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, chillers and lighting systems all contribute to an airport’s electricity consumption, which can amount to 100-300 GWh per year, the same as 30,000 to 100,000 households, or a small city.

Solar can be a good renewable energy solution for airports, as airports typically have a lot of buildings and open land available for solar PV panels. As the case of Bangalore’s airport shows, in addition to the on-site options, off-site generation of solar energy with the electricity being wheeled across a transmission and distribution network is also possible. This makes solar technology an effective tool for cutting airport operating costs, supporting small business development, reducing greenhouse gases and achieving renewable energy goals. Furthermore, airports are well-defined communities that can be easily studied and benchmarked.

Source: renewableenergyworld.com

Volkswagen ID: More Details of All-Electric Concept Car at Paris Motor Show

30.09.2016

Two days ago, Volkswagen held one of the first press conferences at the Paris Motor Show, unveiling the first of several electric cars from different makers.

Its Volkswagen I.D. Concept is a preview of a high-volume battery-electric hatchback that will hit the market in 2020, priced “par with comparably powerful and well-equipped Golf models,” the company said.

And it’s one of several vehicles that VW says will take the company toward its goal of selling 1 million electric cars a year by 2025—or about 10 percent of its current global sales.

Volkswagen released six concept renderings and a handful of details yesterday, and the official reveal of the car didn’t provide a huge amount of new information.

It did mention the next generation of the Volkswagen e-Golf as having a range of up to 186 miles (on the European test cycle), which will likely translate to 110 to 130 miles on U.S. EPA range estimates.

That confirms earlier reports that an updated 2018 VW e-Golf will get a boost in battery range to take it over 100 miles of rated range.

But if the next e-Golf is “tomorrow,” VW said, the I.D. Concept represents “the day after tomorrow.”

That means that it will have 400 to 600 kilometers (250 to 375 miles) of range (again on the European cycle)—but will also have to compete with a Chevy Bolt EV, a second-generation Nissan Leaf, possibly a Tesla Model 3, and other mass-priced electric cars on the market well before it.

One interesting detail, however, was that unlike the current Nissan Leaf and the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt EV, the I.D. Concept has its electric motor mounted in the rear, powering the rear wheels—like the BMW i3.

The lithium-ion battery pack, for which VW did not specify a capacity, is mounted under the car’s floor.

But putting the 125-kilowatt (168-horsepower) motor in the rear, under the load bay, gives the car’s designers far more flexibility in design, permitting a shorter and lower nose.

It also makes frontal crash protection easier to engineer, by providing a larger crush space without having to accommodate the large and uncrushable metal object that is a front-wheel-drive car’s engine and transmission unit.

Not having an engine up front also allows for deeper front wheel wells that accommodate a tighter turning circle than comparable front-wheel-drive cars. The I.D. has a turning circle of just 32.5 feet, VW says.

The VW I.D. Concept also gives a preview of a fully automated driving mode that Volkswagen expects to roll out in 2025.

When the car is driving itself, the company says, the steering wheel will retract fully into the dashboard, opening up for more space for the driver to converse with passengers comfortably.

The production version of the I.D. will be the first vehicle built on VW’s new MEB modular architecture, designed specifically for electric vehicles.

It is characterized by a long wheelbase with short overhangs, a tight turning circle, a flat battery pack under the floor, and a multi-link rear axle mounted in a subframe.

For continual coverage of all the launches and news from the show, check back regularly with our Paris Motor Show news page.

Source: greencarreports.com

The Earth Is Leaking Oxygen from Its Atmosphere, and We Can’t Figure Out Why

30.09.2016

In case your week was going well so far, we’re here to bring you calmly crashing back down to Earth again.

Now we’ve been reassured that this news is nothing to lose sleep over, but you might want to take a few deep breaths.

It turns out that the Earth’s atmosphere is slowly leaking oxygen in a “clear trend” and scientists don’t really know why.

In fact, atmospheric oxygen levels have dropped 0.7% over the past 800,000 years, which scientists had not predicted happening.

Princeton University geologist Daniel Stolper said: “We didn’t know whether oxygen would be going up, down, or flat. But it turns out there is a clear trend.”

Although oxygen levels have fluctuated over the history of the planet, given enough time that leak could make the planet uninhabitable.

And let’s not forget that by burning carbon, we are making things worse for ourselves: “We are consuming oxygen at a rate a factor of a thousand times faster than before. Humankind has completely short-circuited the cycle by burning tons of carbon,” said Stolper.

Scientists were able to measure oxygen levels by looking at ice cores in Greenland and Antarctica that have trapped air bubbles from the past million years.

They offered a couple of reasons that this might be the case: long-term climate change and the erosion rates of the ice – which causes more fresh ice to be exposed and oxidised, causing more oxygen to be consumed.

The team says that this decline is consistent with changes in weathering fluxes of organic carbon, which are driven by either: “Neogene cooling or increasing Pleistocene erosion rates”.

They’ve got it under control.

Source: huffingtonpost.co.uk

Serbia has remarkable wind-based energy generation potential

30.09.2016

Energy portal had chance to meet in Novi Sad Mr Henk van den Dool, ambassador of Netherlands in Serbia. We talk to him during the fair “International days of energetics and investment” which were held in March. He presented energy sector of his country at the opening ceremony of the international conference Perspective & Challenges in Energy sector. In the summer of 2015, Henk van den Dool was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade. He is also accredited to Montenegro. The main areas of expertise and interest of Ambassador Van den Dool are European Integration, Human Rights and transformation processes in Central and Eastern Europe. Since Serbia has many challenges to solve in process of EU integration, his opinion about energy sector is very useful.

EP: Can you please compare The Netherlands and Serbia, speaking of renewable sources of energy, and due to this comparison tell us what should we change here in Serbia?

Mr. Dool: The Netherlands has a strong, innovative energy sector, and the government wants to further strengthen its competitiveness. This is good for the Dutch economy and will thus contribute to economic recovery. The government has therefore identified energy as a priority sector. In the area of green energy, the approach focuses on the development and profitability of renewable energy technologies. Innovation is essential for making renewable energy competitive, and business can benefit by selling these technologies on the domestic and international market. The emphasis must therefore move towards stimulating innovation and move away from promoting renewable energy through expensive and ineffective operating grants for unprofitable technologies.

I am often saying that The Netherlands is a very efficient country compared to many other countries, including Serbia. The main reason for our resource efficiency is that we were forced to cope with very limited resources for a long period of time, and at the same time we strived to be as independent as possible from external suppliers. The EU integration process is very precise when it comes to legislative framework adjustments, and Serbia has progressed significantly in this sense. The main challenge in Serbia is the implementation of existing legislation, and in this sense, more focus on this aspect would be beneficial. Serbia has accepted its 2020 targets and is still far from the threshold of 27%. This means that developers in all renewable sectors should be supported more by more efficient and transparent administrative procedures, while at the same time efforts to save energy in public and private consumption should be stimulated.

EP: Since wind power plants are very developed in Netherlands, is there maybe a plan for some investment in Serbia in the future period, and what companies are planning to invest in Serbia?

Mr Dool: The Netherlands has embraced a courageous vision: by 2050, the country will have a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy system. As part of this, the Dutch aim to cut CO2 emissions by half, and to generate some 40 percent of our electricity from sustainable sources such as wind at sea and biomass by that time. The Dutch have leading expertise in offshore wind energy, co-combustion of biomass in coal-fired power plants, methods to pre-treat biomass, the use of landfill gas, and the use of heat pumps combined with heat and cold storage. The Netherlands distinguishes itself from other countries with its offshore know-how, which is vital for wind projects at sea. For instance, the Princess Amalia offshore wind farm is the largest of its kind in the world outside the 12-mile limit, and is also built in the deepest water. Also, the largest European wind turbines testing site is located in the Netherlands, near Lelystad.

Serbia has remarkable wind-based energy generation potential as well. The entire south Banat and large parts of eastern Serbia have been recognized as good areas for wind parks development. It is enough just to look over Danube at the Djerdap gorge and to see how much electricity generation is taking place at the Romanian side of the shore. The wind projects in Serbia have been facing challenges since the beginning, regardless the nationality of investors. These challenges were mainly related to very slow adoption and implementation of regulations and rulebooks, quite frequent change of some of the regulations, low level of coordination with the developers and financing institutions. Still, I think it is very important to highlight that a part of our investors, Serbia would highly profit from more wind power in its portfolio. Being highly dependable on water and coal is perhaps not the safest strategy. It is enough to look just few years back when the floods paralyzed Serbian energy system. So more diversified means more free and safe future.

EP: What would be your advice about using of biomass and biogas? Can you describe in numbers and facts how it is developed in Netherlands?

Mr Dool: As part of our approach to a more sustainable energy system, the Dutch are fully embracing energy from organic sources, specifically biomass, waste, biofuels, the Jatropa plant and algae. Biomass accounts for almost two-thirds of the sustainable energy currently used in the Netherlands, while the government is aiming to produce 30 percent of its energy using biomass by the year 2030. It is the simplest of all the sustainable options to integrate into energy management. Obtaining bio-energy from biomass may involve combustion, gasification, fermentation, or the production of liquid biofuels. The most important bio-energy sources are biomass additives and fuel in power plants, biofuels for motor vehicles, and energy from waste incineration plants.

Similarly, green gas comes from biomass, which refers to biological material that can be used for fuel or industrial production processes. Green gas can be generated either by fermenting biomass or through gasification, which involves expositing biomass to pure oxygen and/or steam. Gasification is suited to large-scale uses, is not only CO2 neutral, but actually extracts large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. The Netherlands is soon expected to be a home to some of the first large scale Zero Emission Power Production (ZEPP) plants, and here I am talking about fully climate-neutral commercial gas-fired electric power plants.

The real biomass market in Serbia does yet not exist, but I see developments in this direction which is good. Let me remind you that Serbia has way more arable land than my country and that the biomass potential is enormous. People simply have to see how it works, and I am happy to announce that very soon we are going to have a brand new cogeneration plant of about 1 Mw in village of Botos near Zrenjanin. Our government contributed financially to the development, and the plant is developed by Dutch company HOST. This project is supposed to serve as an example of successful practice where agribusiness meets energy generation, and ultimately becomes more profitable and resource efficient.

EP: What is the future of energetics in Balkans and Europe according to your opinion, since there are many challenges in field of fossil fuels and gas?

Mr Dool: Diversification, cooperation, efficiency and renewable energy. I think these four elements together form the winning formula which holds for all the countries in the Balkans. The standard forms of energy generation such as coal are definitely part of that mix and I am not implying they should be closed down, but I would be good if coal extraction and combustion would be additionally modernized and less hazardous for the environment. Beyond coal there are also water, wind, biomass and natural gas. Using even 30% of the potential in each of these sectors would completely change the energy outlook of any of the countries in the Balkans.

Obviously, some countries have more potential in wind than water, or biomass than wind. More cooperation and grid connectivity would help countries to even easier balance their energy demands in short term, would provide more security and incentives to private investors, and would reinforce mutual cooperation and support in the region. So cooperation and interconnections are crucial. I am pleased to see that some steps in this direction have been made, and that countries of the region are cooperating on joint projects within and outside of the region. The Netherlands is more than willing to continue supporting Serbia on its EU integration path, especially in area of energy, sustainability and water management technologies.

Interviewed by: Vesna Vukajlović

Discuss disaster risk reduction at OSCE-supported meeting in Sarajevo

30.09.2016

A two-day regional disaster risk reduction meeting, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and hosted by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), concluded today in Sarajevo.

The meeting gathered some 30 representatives from municipal civil protection units of Vlorë in Albania, Goražde in BiH, Ulcinj in Montenegro, Bajina Bašta in Serbia, ministries of security and interior, Aarhus Centres and OSCE field operations in the South-Eastern Europe.

Participants shared a wide spectrum of achievements within the project, ranging from preparation of municipal disaster risk reduction plans, making improvements to frameworks for industrial and gas-related accidents to revisions of flood and fire protection plans. They agreed to co-operate in addressing local disaster resilience challenges.

“Sustainable and responsible management of natural resources reduces the risk of disaster and conflict, and provides an environment for stability and development,” said Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Environmental challenges often know no borders, and so it is only through joint efforts and close co-operation that we can advance our resilience in the face of such crises.”

Director of Co-operation at the Embassy of Switzerland in BiH Barbara Dätwyler-Scheuer said: “Investing time and resources in emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction as well as disaster management need to be priority at all administrative levels.”

Wolfgang Thill, Deputy Head of Mission at the Austrian Embassy in BiH, said: “We want to make sure that in case of natural disasters existing tensions are not aggravated. What we need in this respect is sustainable management of natural resources and the involvement of civil society, so that natural disasters can be avoided, or at least their consequences mitigated.”

Participants agreed to Joint Recommendations of the meeting, underlining their commitment to cross-border co-operation in tackling shared challenges.

The meeting concludes the South-Eastern Europe component of the OSCE project on disaster risk reduction and security in the OSCE area, which is implemented with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation and the Austrian Federal Government.

Source: osce.org

ABB to Divest Cable Business to NKT Cables

30.09.2016

NKT Cables is acquiring ABB’s global high-voltage cable system business with a total enterprise value of 836 million euros (US$934 million). High voltage cables are key components in sustainable energy networks, used for transmitting large amounts of electricity over long distances. The business is part of ABB’s Power Grids division, which is currently undergoing a strategic review.

NKT Cables designs, manufactures and supplies power cables for low-, medium- and high-voltage solutions mainly in the Alternating Current (AC)-area. It has major production facilities in Europe and China as well as sales offices around the world, and employs around 3,200 people. In 2015, revenue was 1.2 billion euros.

“We are combining two strong cable portfolios rooted in a shared Nordic heritage that will be more competitive on a larger scale under NKT Cables’ ownership, while maintaining access to supply through a long-term strategic partnership,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “The combination of our niche cable system business with the strength of NKT Cables demonstrates our commitment to active portfolio management, a key element of our Next Level strategy.”

ABB’s high-voltage cable technology and manufacturing as well as service footprint is highly complementary with NKT Cables’ activities, making the combined business ideally suited to serve the rising global demand for long-distance power transmission cable systems. The combined operational scale and reach of the two businesses is expected to lead to even better service for global customers.

“ABB’s high-voltage cable business will add considerable strength to our portfolio and bring us a world-class manufacturing operation. We will leverage the technology, domain competence and highly skilled workforce to grow this business,” said Michael Hedegaard Lyng, President and CEO of NKT Cables. “We look forward to ramping up our long-term partnership that will serve future projects all around the world.”

ABB’s cable system business offers turnkey solutions including design, engineering, supply, installation, commissioning and service. It had adjusted standalone revenues of US$524 million in 2015, employs around 900 people, and has state-of-the art manufacturing and R&D capabilities for high-voltage submarine and underground cables in Karlskrona, Sweden. The transfer of assets also includes a new, cutting-edge cable-laying vessel, currently under construction. With experience of over a century, the business serves a range of applications and has commissioned hundreds of alternating current and direct current links around the world.

“As part of the strategic partnership, ABB and NKT Cables will work together on future projects to access market opportunities in areas like sub-sea interconnections and Direct Current (DC) transmission links”, said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Grids division. “This transaction will simplify and focus the Power Grids portfolio.”

The transaction is anticipated to close in Q1 2017, subject to regulatory clearances and fulfilment of the closing conditions. Goldman Sachs acted as exclusive financial advisor to ABB and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as legal advisor.

ABB will report on the progress of its Next Level strategy, including the strategic portfolio review of its Power Grids division, at its upcoming Capital Markets Day on October 4, 2016.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leading global technology company in power and automation that enables utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.

Serbian Energy Minister Antić opens 8th Oil Forum

30.09.2016

Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Antić, opened the 8th Oil Forum, which took place on 28-29 September in Belgrade. Welcoming the Forum on behalf of the Government of Serbia, Mr Antić thanked the Secretariat for organizing this important event and for the support it provides to the Contracting Parties in fulfilling their commitments.

The Secretariat outlined the current state of play with respect to the transposition process of the Oil Stocks Directive in the Contracting Parties. The Secretariat presented a proposal for a General Policy Guideline concerning a Roadmap on Implementation of Certain Deadlines of the Oil Stocks Directive 2009/119/EC in the Energy Community. The Forum agreed that the adoption of the Roadmap was a priority for all Contracting Parties. The Roadmap should be regularly updated with a view to meeting all the intermediate deadlines necessary to achieve the full implementation of the Oil Stocks Directive by the 2023 deadline.

The European Commission briefed the Forum on the ongoing public consultation aimed at collecting views and suggestions from stakeholders and citizens for the purposes of the ongoing evaluation of the Oil Stocks Directive. Based on the results of the public consultation and other information available, the Commission will issue a mid-term evaluation of the Directive in early 2017.

Source: energy-community.org

Solar PV Poised to Boom in Africa Thanks to Declining Costs

30.09.2016

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. – The business case for solar photovoltaic (PV) in Africa is stronger than ever thanks to rapidly declining technology costs, according to a new report released today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Solar PV in Africa: Costs and Markets, estimates that installed costs for power generated by utility-scale solar PV projects in Africa have decreased as much as 61 per cent since 2012. Today, installed costs for these projects are as low as USD 1.30 per watt in Africa, compared to the global average of USD 1.80 per watt.

“In recent years, solar PV costs have dropped dramatically and will continue to do so with further declines of up to 59 per cent possible in the next ten years,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “These cost reductions, coupled with vast solar potential on the continent, present a huge opportunity for Africa. Both grid-connected and off-grid solar PV now offer a cost-competitive means to meet rising energy needs and bring electricity to the 600 million Africans who currently lack access.”

Mini-grids utilising solar PV and off-grid solar home systems also provide higher quality energy services at the same or lower costs than the alternatives, finds the report. Stand-alone solar PV mini-grids have installed costs in Africa as low as USD 1.90 per watt for systems larger than 200 kW. Solar home systems – which have tripled in Africa between 2010 and 2014 – provide the annual electricity needs of off-grid households for as little as USD 56 per year, less than what they currently pay for poor quality energy services.

Global capacity additions for solar PV have increased six-fold since 2009, a trend that is now beginning to materialize in Africa. More than 800 new megawatts (MW) of solar PV capacity was added in Africa in 2014 – doubling the continents cumulative capacity – and another 750 MW was added in 2015. IRENA estimates that with the right enabling policies, Africa could be home to more than 70 gigawatts of solar PV capacity by 2030.

“Africa’s solar potential is enormous, with solar irradiation levels up to 117 per cent higher than in Germany – the country with the highest installed solar power capacity,” said Mr. Amin. “It has never been more possible, and less expensive for Africa to realize this potential.”

Solar PV in Africa: Costs and Markets, provides an overview of the most comprehensive costing data available on solar PV in Africa. It reviews market opportunities and challenges. and recommends actions to collect more robust data for future analysis.

Source: irena.org

Oslo’s Radical “Climate Budget” Aims to Halve Carbon Emissions in Four Years

29.09.2016

Oslo’s leftist city government issued its first “climate budget” on Wednesday aiming to halve greenhouse gas emission within four years in one of the world’s most radical experiments to slow global warming.

The budget, setting out annual goals to choke off emissions from cars, homes and businesses in the Norwegian capital, adds to a scheme announced last year to ban private cars from the city center.

“We’ll count carbon dioxide the same way as we count money,” Vice Mayor Robert Steen told Reuters of the targets for halving emissions by 2020.

Left-wing parties, led by Steen’s Labour Party, won a majority in the city council in 2015 for a four-year term and have set about using wide powers to re-design the capital of a nation run by a right-wing government.

Under Wednesday’s plan, Oslo will raise tolls for cars to enter the city, cut parking spaces, phase out fossil-fuel heating in homes and offices by 2020, shift the bus fleet to renewable energy and build ever more bicycle lanes.

Seth Schultz, of the C40 Cities organization in New York which groups 86 cities working to address climate change, said he did not know of such a radical plan by any other major city.

“Integrating carbon into the financial budget is new,” he said. More and more cities, from Buenos Aires to Beijing, are laying out plans to curb emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Oslo council agreed earlier this year to halve emissions from Oslo to 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2020 from 1.2 million in 1990, and even more steeply from current levels around 1.4 million. It also aims for net zero emissions by 2030.

Wednesday’s climate budget outlines how. Even if the plan falls short, Steen said it will be worth the effort to highlight the risks of climate change such as heatwaves and rising seas.

Glen Peters, of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo, said the projected cuts would be unprecedented. “It will be a stretch,” he said.

No country had cut emissions by more than about five percent a year, a rate achieved by France when it shifted to nuclear power from fossil fuels in the 1970s, he said.

Governments in rich countries project it will take decades to halve national emissions, which are a larger task that a city faces.

Parts of Oslo’s plan also depend on funds from the national government. Oslo has been experimenting with capturing carbon from an incinerator burning municipal waste, but a full-scale project might cost 2 billion Norwegian crowns ($246 million).

“When we can finds solutions in Oslo maybe we can help other cities,” Vice Mayor Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, of the Green Party, told Reuters.

Source: reuters.com

Pacific Ethanol to Install 5 Megawatt Solar Energy System at Madera Plant

29.09.2016

Obnovljivi izvori energije — Foto: Pixabay

Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States, announced it is installing a 5 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) power system designed and built by Borrego Solar Systems at Pacific Ethanol’s Madera, California plant. The solar PV system is expected to reduce Pacific Ethanol’s operating costs and improve its carbon score.

Neil Koehler, the company’s president and CEO, stated: “The integration of solar power at our Madera plant underscores our commitment to optimize our plant assets, lower the carbon intensity of our ethanol and reduce our operating costs. We are proud to build the first ever commercial solar electricity system at a U.S. ethanol plant. Pending the completion of interconnection agreements with our local utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., we expect to begin operating the solar PV system at full capacity in early 2018.”

About Pacific Ethanol, Inc.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX) is the leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States. With the addition of four Midwestern ethanol plants in July 2015, Pacific Ethanol more than doubled the scale of its operations, entered new markets, and expanded its mission to advance its position as an industry leader in the production and marketing of low carbon renewable fuels. Pacific Ethanol owns and operates eight ethanol production facilities, four in the Western states of California, Oregon and Idaho, and four in the Midwestern states of Illinois and Nebraska. The plants have a combined production capacity of 515 million gallons per year, produce over one million tons per year of ethanol co-products such as wet and dry distillers grains, wet and dry corn gluten feed, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, corn germ, corn oil, distillers yeast and CO2. Pacific Ethanol markets and distributes ethanol and co-products domestically and internationally. Pacific Ethanol’s subsidiary, Kinergy Marketing LLC, markets all ethanol for Pacific Ethanol’s plants as well as for third parties, with over 800 million gallons of ethanol marketed annually based on historical volumes. Pacific Ethanol’s subsidiary, Pacific Ag. Products LLC, markets wet and dry distillers grains.

For more information please visit www.pacificethanol.net.

Source: renewableenergyworld.com

IEA urges Japan to decarbonise its energy supply

29.09.2016

Japan should balance and diversify its energy mix through a combination of renewable and nuclear energy and efficient thermal power generation, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today in its latest review of Japan’s energy policies, stressing this would help the country build a more secure, affordable, safe and decarbonised energy system.

Japan’s energy policy has been dominated in recent years by its efforts to overcome the impact from the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear accident. The accident resulted in the gradual shutdown of all of Japan’s nuclear power plants. This in turn led to a significant rise in fossil fuels use, increased fuel imports and rising carbon dioxide emissions. It also brought electricity prices to unsustainable levels.

Speaking at the launch of the IEA’s report in Tokyo, IEA Deputy Executive Director Paul Simons acknowledged that since the Fukushima accident, Japan’s energy system has shown great resilience. “The traditional focus on security of supply has worked,” Mr Simons said. “The future challenge, however, is more about climate change. Japan should take concrete steps to meet its 2030 climate target and to cut emissions significantly more by 2050.”

The IEA report encourages Japan to increase low-carbon sources of power supply. Renewable energy supply should become more cost-effective over time. It should also have a broader technological and geographical focus. Nuclear power should gradually be restored but only once the highest safety standards are met and public trust is regained.

The report also highlights Japan’s long tradition of effective policies and measures related to energy efficiency. These include the voluntary action plans in industry and the Top Runner Programme for appliances, equipment and vehicles. Japan is also adopting gradually stricter building codes and introducing Net Zero Energy requirements for buildings. Both renewables and energy efficiency contribute to increasing energy security.

The IEA applauds Japan for its commitment to energy innovation. The country is not only a major importer and consumer of energy, but also a recognised leader in energy technology development. “Globally, new technologies will be needed to significantly reduce CO2 emissions beyond 2030,” Mr Simons said. “With its strong science and technology base, Japan can make a virtue out of this necessity.”

The IEA also urges Japan to fully implement its intended electricity and gas market reforms. It will be essential to ensure that the regulator and competition authority are adequately resourced. Additional infrastructure is needed in the electricity sector for creating a well-integrated national grid, and the market should be designed to give strong signals to locate generation where it is most valuable to the whole system. In the long term, a fully independent transmission system operator should be established.

Source: iea.org

Airlines Support ICAO on Cusp of Historic Emissions Agreement

28.09.2016

Montreal 27.9. – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments at the 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to agree a global market-based measure to help the aviation industry manage its carbon footprint.

At the top of the agenda for the ICAO Assembly is the proposal for the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

“The global aviation industry has turned out in force to encourage governments to make history by agreeing to implement CORSIA. This will be the first global agreement of its kind for an industrial sector. We are committed to carbon neutral growth from 2020. CORSIA, along with measures to improve technology, operations and infrastructure, will keep aviation at the forefront of industries responsibly managing their climate change impact,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

IATA member airlines passed resolutions at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2013 and again in 2016, calling on governments to implement a global market-based measure (GMBM) to help manage aviation’s carbon footprint. The GMBM must focus on real emissions reductions (not revenue raising for governments), take into consideration differing circumstances of airlines based on maturity of markets, and not distort competition.

“We have a pragmatic compromise in the current CORSIA proposal. And with some 60 states already committed for the voluntary period, momentum is building. We still need more states to demonstrate their leadership and commitment to sustainability by joining,” said de Juniac.

A GMBM must be implemented as part of the package of measures in the industry’s four-pillar strategy on climate change. The GMBM is a critical gap-filler until improvements in technology, operations and infrastructure can fully realize the industry’s sustainability goals. These goals are:

An average fuel efficiency improvement of 1.5% annually to 2020

Carbon neutral growth from 2020

Reducing net 2050 carbon emissions to half 2005 levels

Security

Security will also feature prominently at the Assembly in light of UN Security Resolution 2309 passed on 22 September 2016. Under the leadership of ICAO, the Security Council reinforced the importance for national governments to invest in measures to keep aviation secure in light of evolving terrorist threats.

“The terrorist menace is hovering over our world, including the aviation industry. It is encouraging to see governments addressing the threats to aviation security at the highest international levels. We fully support ICAO’s leadership in helping states to meet their responsibilities on security. Keeping our passengers and crews safe from harm is a top priority for aviation. We look forward to contributing our operational expertise to help in any way that we can,” said de Juniac.

Source: IATA

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