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First-Ever Global Renewables Summit Announced to Drive Action to Triple Renewable Power by 2030

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (karsten-wurth)
Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

The Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) and Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the governments of Barbados and Kenya, the European Commission, the COP28 and COP29 Presidencies, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University – SIPA announced the Global Renewables Summit, the first-ever high-level public-private summit to discuss the progress, opportunities, and challenges of tripling renewable energy globally by 2030. The Summit will be held in New York from 23-25 September on the margins of the 79th UN General Assembly High-Level Week.

Following the first Global Stocktake adopted at COP28, and captured in the historic UAE Consensus, which calls for tripling the world’s renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency gains by 2030 and ensuring deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with a pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C in a nationally determined manner, the Summit will serve as a platform to advance key areas of action to scale-up renewable deployment this decade, especially in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). The organising partners represent a unique coalition of governments, private sector, philanthropy, international organisations, and academia and demonstrates the collective momentum and drive to accelerate the pace and scale of the transition to renewable energy.

“The historic global renewable target was not plucked from the air. IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook projected the need to triple renewable power capacity to over 11,000 GW globally by 2030 for a 1.5°C aligned pathway. Now, we must build on the success of COP28 and mobilize action. As global custodian, IRENA will monitor progress and provide recommendations across energy transition priorities and this first-ever Renewables Summit is an important milestone to maintain momentum and drive implementation towards 2030,” said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

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“Transitioning from coal and other fossil fuels to renewable energy is key to solving the climate crisis,” said Antha Williams, who leads the environment program at Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“The world must triple renewable energy by 2030. The deployment and investment levels in emerging and developing economies remains far below the scale and pace needed. Rapidly scaling up deployment in these countries is crucial to curb emissions and protect people’s health and our economies from the worst effects of climate change. Bloomberg Philanthropies look forward to bringing together world leaders and experts to exchange insights and mobilise action to help achieve a clean energy future for all,” she added.

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

“At COP28, a coalition of private sector, civil society, governments, and multilateral organisations collectively secured a global target to triple renewables by 2030. Now, it’s time for action. Renewable technologies are mature and competitive, and the industries are ready to deliver, but the right policy frameworks and implementation are now urgently required. We are honoured to co-host this unique public-private summit with some of the leading organisations in the world to ignite a worldwide race to the top, accelerating action on finance, permits, grids, and supply chains to unleash the full potential of renewables,” said Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance.

The Summit will feature an opening segment with participation of governments followed by high-level multi-stakeholder roundtables on key topics including access to finance, supply chains, permitting and grid infrastructure. The Summit will provide a space for governments to deliberate on the target of increasing global energy storage six-fold by 2030 and to consider including sectoral renewable energy targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions due in 2025. The organising partners will also present announcements and reports in support of the tripling renewables target.

You can read the entire text here.

Source: IRENA

Negative Bidding Continues to Burden Offshore Wind Development

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Nicholas Doherty)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Levan Badzgaradze)

Germany and the Netherlands have recently issued the results of their latest offshore wind auction. They awarded a total capacity of 6.5 GW. That’s good for Europe’s energy transition. But the auction design in both countries included negative bidding. This puts unnecessary additional pressure on offshore wind developers – with adverse consequences for the wider wind energy supply chain and Europe’s electricity consumers.

Germany and the Netherlands have recently awarded 6.5 GW of new offshore wind projects. Germany awarded 2.5 GW and the Netherlands 4 GW. To put this in context the EU has 19 GW of offshore wind in operation today.

The auctions in both countries used negative bidding, where wind farm developers bid the amount of money they’re ready to pay for the right to build a wind farm – and the higher the price you bid the more likely you are to win. Most other countries in Europe use Contract for Difference (CfD) auctions where developers bid the amount of revenue they think they need, and the lowest bid wins.

If you win a negative bidding auction your revenue will be whatever is the wholesale market price of electricity. If you win a CfD auction your revenue will be whatever you bid in the auction, and if the market prices are higher than the agreed strike price, you pay the difference to the Government.

The negative bidding amounts are a straight add-on to the costs of developing an offshore wind farm. It’s extra money the developer has to pay which they don’t pay in a CfD auction. Project developers have to pass on these costs. Either to the wind energy supply chain which is still recovering from supply disruptions and cost increases. And/or to electricity consumers in the form of higher electricity prices.

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The auction results

The results of the latest German auction were:

  • TotalEnergies will pay 1.958bn euros to develop the N-11.2 site which has a capacity of around 1.5 GW. So they’re paying 1.3m euros per MW.
  • EnBW will pay 1.065bn euros to develop the roughly 1 GW N12.3 site. That’s 1.1m euros per MW.

The results of the latest Dutch auction were:

  • UK-based SSE Renewables and the Dutch state pension fund APG and ABP will pay €40mn to develop the 2GW IJmuiden Ver Alpha site. That’s 20,000 euros per MW.
  • Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners will pay 800mn euros to develop the 2GW IJmuiden Ver Beta site. That’s 400,000 euros per MW.

Germany and the Netherlands both used negative bidding in their previous offshore wind auctions already. The Netherlands previously applied a cap on the bids which equated to 70,000 euros per MW – their cap is higher now. Germany doesn’t apply a cap. The winners of their previous auction, BP and Total Energies, are paying 12.6bn euros for the right to develop 7 GW – which equates to 1.8m euros per MW.

Negative bidding also means higher financing costs than you get with wind farms that are awarded in a CfD auction. The latter have fixed revenue, so banks feel much more comfortable offering more debt finance. But projects awarded in a negative bidding auction have variable revenue – the market price of electricity. So they need to rely more on (more expensive) equity finance – though they can mitigate this by signing PPAs with offtakers.

“Negative bidding increases the costs of offshore wind. Costs that have to be passed on to consumers and the wind energy supply chain. It may be a short-term gain for finance ministries. But it’s a long-term cost for society”, says WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson.

Non-price criteria

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

The Dutch auction made extensive use of non-price criteria. For the Alpha site these were about biodiversity protection. For the Beta site it was system integration. The winning bidders made significant commitments to invest in these respective areas. Vattenfall and CIP have among other things committed to build a 1 GW electrolyser facility in Rotterdam which will run on renewable electricity from the Beta site. And the Alpha wind farm is designed as a “living laboratory” – more than 75 per cent of the wind turbines in the wind farm will have artificial reefs for muscles and other maritime animals.

“The Dutch auction shows the European wind industry has a great offering on ecology and system integration. We are building new wind farms and creating lasting value for Europe’s environment and energy system”, says Giles Dickson.

The German auction used price criteria only.

What’s the money used for?

In Germany 90 per cent of the money raised from negative bidding will be used to reduce the grid levies. The other 10 per cent are used to support maritime biodiversity and sustainable fishing practices. OK. But building these wind farms requires a strengthening of Germany’s offshore wind supply chain and an expansion of port capacity. The German Government should consider putting some of the money into that as well.

Source: WindEurope

ABB Investing 35 Million Dollars in New U.K. Earthing and Lightning Protection Factory

Photo: ABB
Photo: ABB

Lightning strikes and electrical surges disrupt critical operations and cause billions of dollars in damage to structures and equipment each year. With growing reliance on electronics and data centers, ABB is investing more than 35 million dollars (27 million pounds), in a greenfield facility in Nottingham, United Kingdom, to meet increased demand for Furse® earthing and lightning protection solutions. The new state-of-the-art site is expected to open in early 2025 and will integrate advanced technology, flexible automation, R&D and testing, and digital processes to boost production capacity and enhance efficiency and sustainability.

More than 100 employees will relocate to the new 9,500 m2 facility from the existing 6,300 m2 ABB Installation Products Nottingham foundry, which has continually operated for over a century in the area where Furse originated in 1893. In addition to an expanded footprint, the site will be constructed in line with the BREEAM Excellent rating for sustainable building standards and include efficient equipment and technology, photovoltaic rooftop cells, electric vehicle charging stations, and processes centered on reducing waste and energy. The space will be designed to support collaboration and training, accelerate R&D, and drive automation to serve European customers and increase available inventory globally.

Worldwide, an estimated 1.4 billion lightning flashes occur annually, equal to over 42 strikes each second. Even indirect lightning strikes up to a kilometer away can create transient overvoltages and have devastating consequences such as fire, shock hazards, equipment damage and costly outages, resulting in downtime and financial losses. Furse solutions from ABB Installation Products are engineered to provide reliable earthing, lightning risk, and electronic systems and surge protection, helping safeguard structures and the electrical systems within. The products are used in more than 20 countries across a broad range of applications and environments, from data centers and medical facilities to essential infrastructure, utilities and renewable energy.

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“This important investment builds on 130 years of Furse technology, enabling us to remain at the forefront of earthing and lightning protection and deliver solutions that improve safety and reliability for our customers. As part of our global growth strategy, we continue to expand our capabilities and capacity, further strengthening ABB’s manufacturing footprint and supply chain and regionalizing production of high-demand electrical solutions customers, installers and distribution partners need,” said Khalid Mandri President, ABB Installation Products Division. “Building this site in Nottinghamshire further reinforces our commitment to the industries we serve and to the community where we have operated for more than a century and want to continue to be a leading employer.”

Photo: ABB

The UK investment adds to more than 165 million dollars in ABB Installation Products global expansions and improvements since 2020 to increase manufacturing capacity, drive innovation and sustainability, and bring needed products closer to customers. ABB Installation Products currently has six locations in Europe in Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and the UK where it employs more than 100 associates in Nottingham who develop, test and produce a broad range of Furse solutions. The new campus will occupy nearly five acres in Fairham Business Park, within close proximity of ABB’s existing Wilford Road site and is accessible for employees, customers, suppliers and distribution partners.

“We are continually advancing solutions across electrification, and the earthing and lightning protection lifecycle. Our new facility is a leap forward in design and technology, positioning us for the future while enabling us to preserve resources and reduce energy and water consumption aligned with circularity and sustainability priorities across ABB’s operations,” stated Andrea Castella, Europe Region Leader, ABB Installation Products.

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

Source: ABB

The Upward Trajectory That Should Concern Us

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Markus Spiske)
Photo illustration: Pixabay

“And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth”, reads the eleventh verse of the Bible’s Book of the Prophet Haggai.

Droughts, accompanied by extreme heat, destroyed crops, livestock, and even human lives. They were once attributed to the wrath of God and other higher powers. Although today we have a better scientific understanding of these weather phenomena, one thing is certain—the survival of the human race has always depended on weather conditions, and our planet has probably never experienced what I call “climate heaven”.

If that’s the case, why all the hysteria about climate change? Every summer, the media is flooded with news about heat waves and extreme heat, which should not surprise us because summer should be warm, with the difference that these phenomena have been attributed to climate change in recent years.

This can serve as a weak argument to deny that climate change even exists, and one that would probably be made by some fossil fuel advocate while happily counting dollars made from the sale of those fossil fuels.

Unfortunately for all of us (especially the oil profiteers), climate change is very real, and here is the irrefutable proof.

New records are broken every year

News about the relentless heat wave, which has engulfed almost all of North America and Europe, is updated hour-on-hour. The temperatures in the United States recently reached 43 degrees Celsius, and in Mexico – up to 52!

Europe is not far behind when it comes to extreme heat. The media reports that Romania and Serbia are currently the hottest countries on the continent, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius.

Fortunately, everyone is well aware of how to deal with extreme heat – plenty of fluids, avoiding being outside when the weather is the hottest and refraining from strenuous physical activity. Nothing a good air conditioner and a chilled drink can’t solve, right?

While this is somewhat true, the bigger problem is figuring out what will happen next year.

The United Nations said 2024 could break the previous record from 2023, the hottest year on record. Last year, the average global temperature was 1.48 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, and scientists expect that this year, for the first time in history, the global temperature will exceed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

One more thing – May 2024 marked the twelfth consecutive month in which the average global temperature was the highest recorded since measurements were taken. Coincidence? I would say – climate change!

A new scientific study indicates that climate change increases the chance of heat waves by up to 35 times. Even though we would certainly experience high heat because, as I said, it’s normal to have it in summer, climate change caused by greenhouse gases makes them longer, more intense, and even more frequent.

If we allow this continued warming of the planet to the point of no return, what will happen to all living things, and what about humans?

It is clear why we should not look for an explanation for the occurrence of frequent heat waves and other weather problems in the past but rather look to the future and rightly fear it.

Milena Maglovski

Charge&GO Pushes the Boundaries of E-Mobility

Photo: Charge&GO
Photo: Charge&GO

Charge&GO continues to expand its network of chargers, accelerating the pace as the summer season approaches. The charging infrastructure is the foundation on which the future of electromobility is built, which is why improving the charger map in Serbia and the region is entirely in line with global trends.

The company Charge&GO recently added new chargers for electric CHARGE&GO PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES OF E-MOBILITY vehicles to its network and announced exciting plans for this year, especially for tourists going to the sea via North Macedonia in an electric car this summer. Some of the new chargers are already operational and available to users, while the rest will soon be on the Charge&GO map.

A 120-kilowatt charger was recently installed at the OMV gas station on the bypass near Surčin, while a 150-kilowatt charger will be put into operation on the other side of the highway, also at the OMV gas station, by the end of April. Some time ago, a 45-kilowatt charger was put into operation at the OMV gas station in Zaječar. That’s not all; the plan is to install another 60-kilowatt charger in the parking lot of the BIG shopping center in Rakovica this spring.

To conclude, two DC chargers, one in the vicinity of Belgrade and the other in Zaječar, are already online, and the other two will be operational as soon as possible.

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Safe travel throughout Europe

When developing infrastructure, the standardization of chargers is essential, which is why the European Union is working to solve this issue to facilitate international travel. When it comes to traveling to other countries, one of the company’s innovations is that registered users have a roaming platform, the largest of its kind in Europe.

With the help of this platform, of which Charge&GO is a part, numerous companies that provide electromobility services across the continent are connected in one place. At the same time, drivers are assured of easy use of chargers not only in our country and region but also abroad. Charging authorization is done via an RFID card that is already enabled for users, making the process simple and efficient. For these services, it is necessary to sign a contract whereby the procedure is not complex and is easily achievable if the request is sent to podrska@ chargego.rs. After this, the user will immediately have an ample map available when leaving our country, and there are hundreds of thousands of chargers of various companies, whereby the application will provide drivers with a simple display of arrival to the desired place.

With the continuous expansion of the network of chargers, the company Charge&GO extends the availability of its application beyond the borders of our country.

Photo: Charge&GO

– By the beginning of the summer, the Charge&GO network will also be available in North Macedonia, with a customized version of our application for the Macedonian market – explains Tamara Zjačić, the company’s deputy director.

When the application opens on the Macedonian market, it should display a map with 10 DC chargers that will be available to drivers by mid-June.

Charge&GO is growing and expanding month by month. By the end of the year, the number of chargers will increase drastically both at the company level and throughout the country, which is why the number of electric vehicles could exceed expectations. According to certain forecasts, there should be around 3,500 fully electric vehicles in Serbia by the end of the year, although now that number is between 2,500 and 2,700 cars. Exact information on the number of registered electric vehicles is not publicly available, although a register exists in the Ministry of Interior. Data on the number of registered electric vehicles would greatly help companies such as Charge&GO since determining infrastructure needs would be easier and more precise if the number of e-vehicles and their popularity among drivers is known.

The existence of supporting infrastructure is inevitable for the further popularization of electric cars. First, it is crucial to increase the number of charging stations along highways and in urban areas, which the company Charge&GO is constantly working on.

Prepared by Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURE CONSERVATION.

First Net-Zero Academy to Train 100,000 Workers in the EU Solar Photovoltaic Value Chain

Foto-ilustracija: People house photo created by senivpetro - www.freepik.com
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (mrganso)

The Commission has launched the European Solar Academy, the first in a series of EU Academies to be set up under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) to have in place the necessary skills along the net-zero technologies value chains. The role of NZIA academies is to develop learning content and programmes together with the industry, to ensure that sufficient skills and workforce in the value chain.

It is estimated that in the solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing sector alone, some 66,000 skilled workers will be needed by 2030 for the EU to meets its ambitious renewable energy targets while ensuring industrial competitiveness. The Solar Academy aims to train 100,000 workers in the solar photovoltaic value chain over the next three years to address the current labour and skills gap in the sector.

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Following the successful model of the European Battery Academy, launched in 2022 for the battery value-chain, the Solar Academy will design learning content, together with the industry and relevant parties in the solar PV value chain.  The Solar Academy will also develop learning credentials, which will certify the skills that people have acquired in its training courses, thus also boosting the mobility of the workforce across the Single Market. The deployment of the programmes is done via local partners. These can be Vocational and Educational Training (VET) providers, businesses, universities or other education and training providers with whom the Academy signs a contract to deliver its programmes.

The Commission is supporting the launch of the European Solar Academy with  nine million euros from the Single Market Programme. The project will be implemented by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) via its Knowledge and Innovation Community, EIT Innoenergy.

This Academy is the latest Commission initiative supporting the EU’s efforts to reach its ambitious targets under the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU Plan while ensuring that the industry is resilient and competitive on the global stage.

Source: European Commission

Iberian Lynx Rebounding Thanks to Conservation Action

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The Iberian Lynx has improved from Endangered to Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, continuing its dramatic recovery from near extinction thanks to sustained conservation efforts.

“As the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species celebrates its 60th anniversary, its importance cannot be overstated as the most complete source of information on the state of the world’s biodiversity. It is an essential tool that measures progress towards halting nature loss and achieving the 2030 global biodiversity goals. The improvement in the Red List status of the Iberian lynx shows that successful conservation works for wildlife and communities alike,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.

The conservation status of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) has improved from Endangered to Vulnerable, with the population increasing exponentially from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022. Today, the total population, including young and mature lynx, is estimated to be more than 2,000.

Conservation efforts for this keystone species have focused on increasing the abundance of its prey, the Endangered European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), protecting and restoring Mediterranean scrub and forest habitat, and reducing deaths caused by human activity. Expanding the species’ genetic diversity through translocations and an ex-situ breeding programme has been key to increasing numbers. Since 2010, more than 400 Iberian lynx have been reintroduced to parts of Portugal and Spain. The Iberian lynx now occupies at least 3,320 km2, an increase from 449 km2 in 2005.

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However, the Iberian lynx remains threatened, mainly due to potential fluctuations of the European rabbit population if there are further virus outbreaks. The Iberian lynx is also susceptible to diseases from domestic cats. Poaching and road kills remain threats, particularly where high traffic roads cut-through the lynx’s habitat. Habitat alterations related to climate change are a growing threat.

“The greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation, this success is the result of committed collaboration between public bodies, scientific institutions, NGOs, private companies, and community members including local landowners, farmers, gamekeepers and hunters, and the financial and logistical support of the European Union LIFE project,” said Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, Coordinator of the LIFE Lynx-Connect project, which led the conservation action for the Iberian lynx.

“There is still a lot of work to do to ensure that Iberian lynx populations survive and the species recovers throughout its indigenous range. Looking ahead, there are plans to reintroduce the Iberian lynx to new sites in central and northern Spain.”

In its first Green Status of Species assessment – the global standard for measuring species recovery and assessing conservation impact – the Iberian lynx is Largely Depleted. However, its high Conservation Legacy reflects the impact of conservation efforts to date, and “enough suitable habitat remains that the species could reach Fully Recovered status in 100 years, assuming conservation efforts continue with maximum efficacy.”

Source: IUCN

Renewables and Grid Flexibility Would Slash Electricity Prices by a Quarter by 2030, by a Third by 2040

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (_leoneil)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (seagul)

Boosting renewables, electrification and flexibility would structurally ease electricity costs for consumers, increase European competitiveness, and reinforce the business case for solar.

New modelling shows that electrification and flexibility can slash average day-ahead energy prices by 25 per cent by 2030, and by 33 per cent by 2040, compared to 2023. At the same time, the solar capture prices will be 71 per cent greater in 2030 compared to the baseline, and 54 per cent higher by 2040, supporting the sustainable growth of solar project developers.

Beyond benefit for consumer and developer, electrifying and flexing the system means system-wide cost savings – 30 billion euros saved by 2030 per year, and 160 billion euros save by 2040 per year.

“It is time to take the next step in energy transition. We need a flexibility revolution, surrounding renewables with grids, storage and electrification. The new political cycle is an opportunity to build the new energy transition agenda. We call on EU leaders to implement the existing electricity market regulation, set new targets for renewables and flexibility to 2040 and adopt an EU electrification action and investment plan as soon as possible”, said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.

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SolarPower Europe’s new report, Mission Solar 2040: Europe’s Flexibility Revolution, maps out three scenarios through the coming decades; solar-as-usual (SAU), solar + flexibility (SF), and solar + flexibility + electrification (SFE). Compared to SAU, the SFE scenario reduces curtailment – solar energy wasted – by 66 per cent in 2030 and 49 per cent in 2040. The more efficient utilisation of solar energy leads to gains across the economy.

With a flexible, electrified system, more solar can be added to the grid. By the end of this decade, the EU could reach 1.2 TW of solar, much higher than the 750 GW EU Solar Strategy goal. By 2040, the EU could host 2.4 TW of solar, meeting 39 per cent of the bloc’s growing power demand.

Critically, ramped-up solar deployment would empower the decarbonization of the economy – driving down emissions the equivalent of over 550 MtCO² per year by 2040 compared to current forecasts.

Source: SolarPower Europe

Global Solar Installations Almost Double in 2023 But Leaves Emerging Economies in the Dark

Photo-illustration: Pexels (Kelly)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (_leoneil)

2023’s new solar installations would cover more than half of India’s annual electricity needs or more than Brazil’s entire consumption. Compared to Europe, the annual installations would exceed the total yearly electricity consumption of Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Czechia, Austria, Portugal, and Greece – combined.

SolarPower Europe’s annual Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2024-2028 reveals growth rates not seen in over a decade, since 2010 when the global solar market was only four per cent of what it is today.

Solar continues to soar amongst its renewable colleagues, installing 78 per cent of the total renewable energy installed around the world in 2023. This is reflected in the IEA World Energy Investment (WEI) 2024 report, which demonstrates that investment in solar PV in 2023 surpasses all other energy sources combined.

“The world has truly entered its solar age. The sky is no longer the limit. How far solar can go will be determined by equitable global access to financing, and the political will to deliver flexible energy systems fit for the renewable reality”, said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.

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Looking to the future, the world is set to reach more than two TW of total solar capacity this year, having only reached the one TW level in 2022. However, between 2024 and 2028, year-on-year growth is expected to slow in the face of high interest rates, an energy crisis resolved – for now, and grids around the world struggling to keep up with renewable demand.

Michael Schmela, Director of Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe said, “It’s all just a little bit of history repeating – the world revises its solar estimates upwards and we get a glimpse at the vast potential of solar. By 2028, we could be installing more than 1 TW of solar a year. It’s now about setting targets in line with reality, and addressing the familiar challenges – permitting, regulations enabling profitable business models, and the new frontier – system flexibility, through vast amounts of battery storage capacities.  The sector is ready to deliver the decarbonised energy system, and policymakers must wake up to the climate and energy security solution on their doorsteps”, said Michael Schmela, Director of Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe.

For now, it seems that China will determine the rate of global solar growth, though it continues to be one of the most dynamic, and difficult to predict, markets. In 2023 alone, China installed 57 per cenr of global capacity – 253 GW – equivalent to the levels installed globally in 2022. On the manufacturing side, a massive scale-up of capacity have led to solar panel price collapses of around 50 per cent last year, and a growing consolidation of the solar manufacturing industry in the country.

Source: SolarPower Europe

Čelinac gets two Solar Power Plants

Photo: MT-KOMEX BH
Photo: MT-KOMEX BH

The municipality of Čelinac is located not far from Banja Luka. One part of the territory extends at an altitude of 800 meters; in the largest part of the municipality, the altitude ranges from 300 to 600 meters. The lowest point, with an altitude of 196 meters, is at the mouth of the river Jošavka into the Vrbanja. The area and the large number of sunny hours are highly suitable for constructing solar power plants. That is why it is not surprising that in this region, there is a great interest in clean energy, and there are more and more solar power plants that enable energy independence for the owners.

On the hills of the Markovac settlement, the company MT-KOMEX BH completed the construction of the solar power plants Markovac Jungići and Markovac Jungići 1. These solar power plants have a total power of 280 kWp and were built on an area of 3,000 m2. According to estimates, their annual production will amount to 360 MWh, which provides the investor with energy security. The company constructed these solar power plants using solar panels from Canadian Solar. They installed 420 panels, each with a power of 660 W.

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Likewise, five Fronius inverters, each with a power of 50 kW, were installed.  The investor decided to entrust the construction of solar power plants to MT-KOMEX BH, which consists of an expert team of engineers and installers. They have many years of experience in designing and building solar power plants. In addition, engineers have all the necessary certificates and regularly complete the required training. They provide services from creating a project for a power plant, obtaining permits, and delivering the necessary materials, technology, and labor to the site. The company’s hard-working installers are there to set up and install panels from reputable manufacturers, followed by installation of inverters and other necessary infrastructure.

Finally, there is a check of readiness for commissioning – all these phases are contained in the phrase “turnkey” and are, therefore, the entire team’s responsibility. The company firmly believes that solar energy and green kilowatts will only experience expansion in these areas, evidenced by numerous inquiries from business people and citizens about the installation of solar panels both on roofs and on the ground. This is contributed significantly by the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Serbia, have more hours of solar radiation than many other European countries. Also, there are large areas that are not used on which solar panels could be installed.

The engineers and installers of MT-KOMEX BH are ready for all the challenges that business in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings. They work every day to promote renewable energy sources, answer all clients’ questions, and find the best and most efficient solution.

Prepared by Jasna Dragojević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURE CONSERVATION.

With Luxen Solar to a Healthier Environment

Photo: Luxen Solar
Photo: Luxen Solar

We live in a time when we face major global challenges to prevent further environmental pollution and ensure a healthy and environmentally clean environment. Every individual must contribute to this goal, as well as every company, regardless of the industry they operate in.

As a renewable energy company, Luxen Solar not only produces the latest generation solar panels that ensure a quick and efficient transition to clean energy but also tries to contribute in every way to the global goal of preserving the environment, in accordance with the United Nations 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals, REACH regulations, and RoHS directives.

Environmental protection awards

In 2023, Luxen Solar received three environmental protection awards – the highest state recognition for its contribution to the development of the green industry, recognition for special contribution in the process of green production and recognition for intelligent transformation and production.

“As a company that has its own factory, Luxen Solar pays special attention to the health of its workers and the environment in which panels are produced. Chemicals are one of the main pollutants in production plants. Luxen Solar strictly adheres to the RoHS directive on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, as well as the EU’s REACH regulation related to the registration, evaluation, approval, and restriction of chemicals. The company also requires compliance with the same regulation from its suppliers, who are obligated to submit a report that the products Luxen Solar purchases from them do not contain dangerous substances, neither for the health of the workers nor for the environment”, the company says and adds: ”As part of our efforts, we take into account all aspects relevant to environmental protection and sustainable development. These include energy and resource management, quality control, data and information security, the environmental impact of production, business ethics, recycling and the use of recyclable materials, wastewater management, respect for human rights, social responsibility and other aspects related to environmental protection and sustainable development following national and EU regulations“, the company states.

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‘Green’ factory

Photo: Luxen Solar

In Luxen Solar’s immediate environment, we have installed street solar lights and PV carports for charging electric vehicles and scooters of our employees. The annual production of the carports is equivalent to saving almost 57 tons of CO2, which can be translated to using 13 passenger vehicles for one year or almost 20 tons of recycled waste instead of the waste that ends up in landfills.

Solar rooftop installation with our TOPCon state-of-the-art modules of the latest LECO (laser enhanced contact optimization) technology will contribute to a saving of 246 tons of CO2, 120.000kg of burned coal or 85 tons of recycled waste instead of the waste that is deposited on landfills.

The company’s new 210mm production line, guided by artificial intelligence and characterized by high precision, speed, smart data processing, 24-hour monitoring, and quality control, enables an increase in production speed by 30 per cent and efficiency of used equipment by over 10 per cent.

Luxen Solar

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURE CONSERVATION.

French Auction Results are not the new Benchmark for Floating Wind in Europe

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Grahame Jenkins)

Last month France published the results of its 250 MW floating offshore wind auction off South Brittany (AO5). The winning bid was awarded at 86 euros /MWh – a record-low for floating offshore wind. But Governments must not think this is a new benchmark for floating wind development in Europe.

On 15 May France published the results of Europe’s first commercial scale floating offshore wind auction to date. The auction was competitive. 10 consortia prequalified and 6 ultimately submitted bids. The winning bid was awarded at 86 euros /MWh– well below the 140 euros /MWh ceiling price.

Floating wind is a relatively young industry. The technical and commercial risks are still pretty high. As of today Europe has 208 MW of floating wind in operation, spread mostly across 4 small wind farms. It is too early to tell what the price range for large scale floating wind is going to be in Europe.

The specifics of the French tender

Prices for floating wind are going to vary greatly across Europe – between countries but also from site to site. This French tender was unique in many ways.

First, project developers didn’t have to pay for the grid connection, neither for the export cables nor for the offshore substation. The French Transmission System Operator RTE will build and operate the grid connection and cover the costs. Second, the site conditions were extremely good with strong wind speeds and favourable water depths. Third, the Contract for Difference (CfD) offered is robustly indexed to inflation, taking into account different raw material prices. The actual price that’s paid when wind farm is built will be higher than 86 euros /MWh.

“We congratulate the winners. But Governments around Europe must not be mistaken, this auction was unique: the 86 euros /MWh winning price is not the new benchmark for floating wind in Europe”.

“Governments must consider the specifics of this particular auction when defining their auction budgets and ceiling prices. Don’t take the 86 euros /MWh bid price as a benchmark. Otherwise you might find yourself in a similar situation to the UK last year. The UK’s 2023 offshore wind auction had a low ceiling price because they made the wrong assumptions about costs – and nobody bid,” says Giles Dickson.

More:

France must change its auction design

In the South Brittany tender the price criterion made up 75 per cent of the total assessment of the different bids. 5 per cent was based on the robustness of the contractual and financial arrangements. The remaining 25 per cent were determined by award criteria linked to social and territorial development as well as environmental protection and sustainability.

It’s good France is using pre-qualification and non-price award criteria. And that they’re offering extensive indexation.

But the non-price criteria used in the South Brittany auction were not optimal:

Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

The French energy regulator (Commission de Regulation de l’Énergie) has said the 5 per cent robustness criteria should be reinforced in future auctions. WindEurope agrees and urges Governments to make this “ability to deliver” a binding pre-qualification criterion, as per the EU’s Net Zero Industry Act. Bidders scoring low on this criterion should be excluded from the auction.

The South Brittany auction encouraged bidders to build their project with as few turbines as possible. This pushed bidders to plan their projects with wind turbines of 20 MW and more – turbines that don’t exist in the current market. This increases the project risk. And the risk of bidders having to go for non-European turbine, in turn threatening Europe’s energy security and undermining France’s Offshore Sector Deal targets.

The award criteria used in the South Brittany auction failed to ensure the necessary differentiation between bids. On the social-territorial development criteria all bidders scored the maximum, effectively increasing the weight of the price criterion in differentiating the single bids.

It is important that these changes come in as soon as possible. France is running two more floating wind tenders of 250 MW each (Med I+II). And they’ll launch three more offshore wind auctions later this year. Two of them will be bottom-fixed auctions of 1 GW and 1.5 GW (AO7, AO8). The third one will be a floating wind auction of 2.5 GW (AO9). Another auction of up to 8-10 GW of capacity (AO10) could also be prepared later this year.

The South Brittany auction opens the door for big volumes of floating offshore wind to come. Europe could have 3 GW of floating offshore wind by 2030 if the relevant auctions are completed by the end of 2025.

Source: WindEurope

Climate Change Reduce the Numbers of Migrating Birds

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Maurice Schalker)

Climate change is altering the living conditions to which we have adapted, and this particularly affects wild species that have evolved over centuries to adapt to their natural habitats.

Researchers from the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois conducted a study on the impact of climate change on birds, and their findings were published in the journal Science Direct.

Analyzing bird populations between 1980 and 2015 alongside climate data from the same timeframe, researchers discovered a moderate decline in both the overall number and diversity of birds, with a more significant decline observed in migratory species and birds adapted to specific ecosystems.

Co-author of the study, Lui Chen, an assistant professor at the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong, notes that common birds like sparrows, which inhabit a wide range of habitats across North America, are less affected by climate change. According to the analysis, populations of common bird species decreased by about 2.5 per cent during the period from 1980 to 2015.

More:

Endemic species, such as the spotted owl and woodpecker, are much more affected by climate change because they require specific habitat conditions, making them highly vulnerable to any environmental changes. Chen explains that climate change was responsible for approximately a five per cent decline in the population between 1980 and 2015, with losses predicted to reach up to 16 per cent by the end of the century.

When it comes to migratory birds, although these species have the ability to move to more favorable locations, climate change can alter the living conditions at their final destination.

“These birds have generational patterns of migration. They will migrate regardless of obstacles and don’t know what awaits them at the other end. It might be too hot or too dry,” said study co-author Prof. Madhu Kana, adding that climate change can impact food supply along their migration route.

It is evident that climate change has a significant negative impact on birds, prompting Kana to emphasize that this underscores the need for more serious efforts to mitigate the climate crisis as soon as possible.

Milena Maglovski

Algae Offer Great Potential for Energy Production

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Shane Stagner)

The idea that algae can be used for the production of green energy is not new, and numerous universities have presented their concepts of facilities that generate electricity using these organisms.

Among them are researchers from Concordia University in Canada, who recently published their work in the scientific journal Energies. In this study, scientists describe how they managed to produce electricity from the photosynthesis process of algae, since photosynthesis produces oxygen and electrons.

The scientists’ idea is to “capture” electrons and thereby generate electrical energy. For this purpose, they created small energy cells in which they placed algae dissolved in a specialized suspension.

Properly configured, these cells can generate enough energy to power low and ultra-low-power devices such as IoT sensors.

However, although the amount of electricity obtained from algae is currently small, this method gives hope that soon we could have large-scale generators producing significant amounts of electrical energy from algae.

In addition to being widely available and practically free, this method of obtaining electricity offers another advantage over other renewable energy sources because it absorbs carbon dioxide.

“This technology is more than zero-carbon technology – it is a negative-emission technology because it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces electricity. Its only by-product is water,” says one of the study’s authors, Dr. Kirankumar Kuruvinashetti.

More:

They Produce Electricity Even at Night

Despite their lower intensity, algae can generate electricity even without direct sunlight, explains co-author Dilipan Panersalvem.

“Just like humans, algae breathe continuously – they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Because of their ability to photosynthesize, they also release electrons during respiration. The production of electrical energy does not stop; electrons are continuously collected,” says Panersalvem.

He believes that with enough research and development, including AI-assisted integration technologies, this technology has the potential to be a sustainable, affordable, and clean energy source in the future.

Milena Maglovski

What Happens When the Lifespan of Solar Panels Ends? Is There a Reason for Concern?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Michael_Pointner)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Michael_Pointner)

New technologies bring hope for a better and safer future, but at the same time, they also bring anxiety – what negative consequences might they leave behind? Electric vehicles, for example, are criticized because of the energy storage batteries and the lithium required for their production. When it comes to solar panels, which offer us a clean energy source, there is debate about what happens when they become waste. How much will they pollute the environment? Can they be recycled?

Reflecting on this topic, I found an article with conclusions I would like to share.

Numerous and powerful industries are involved in the energy transition. Humanity is filled with both good and evil. Evil includes the desire for power, greed, and recklessness. Although we should be more united than ever in transitioning to a green and sustainable way of life, it cannot be overlooked that some don’t find this to be in their interest. In terms of energy transition and ecology in general, it is essential to highlight the concept of greenwashing, which powerful industries use daily. Therefore, those who harbor distrust towards green technologies cannot be blamed.

Greenwashing is a broad term. In the context of green technologies, this could be explained by companies presenting their products as environmentally sustainable, which they indeed are to some extent. However, they hide that these technologies are not 100 per cent ecological. This is precisely the example I mentioned at the beginning. While electric vehicles are presented as non-polluting because they do not use fossil fuels, producing their batteries requires lithium mining, which is not widely discussed.

Returning to the initial topic, solar panels could similarly be questioned. Although they help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, how much do we know about their different characteristics? What is required for their production, how much emission is released during the process, and what happens when their lifespan ends? Can they be recycled, or do they cause more environmental pollution after their lifespan than the benefits they provided during their operation?

The article I mentioned points out several arguments in favor of solar panels. Firstly, this industry is still relatively young and has room to develop to become more sustainable, and the recycling sector is improving on a daily basis. Besides room for improvement, there is also time for improvement because the lifespan of this technology is up to 30 years. Considering this, solar panels are long-lasting. They are not like phones, which are sold in large quantities and are often replaced every two years.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (_leoneil)

The second point discussed in the article is the material from which solar panels are made. It is stated that over 70 per cent of the material is glass, which has a well-developed recycling capability – in other words, it is recyclable. Although it has its specificities, like any object and technology where certain materials are adapted and improved, the current development of glass recycling infrastructure optimistically suggests that the process for recycling this glass will also develop. The other materials are metals, such as aluminum and copper wires, which also have good recycling potential and can be reused in this industry. Even if some older models of solar panels contain hazardous materials, such as lead, they appear in small quantities. Additionally, these hazardous materials are not released during the operation of the panels. If solar panels are correctly managed after their lifespan, they will not end up in the environment.

There are also companies dedicated explicitly to recycling solar panels, which means that work on this matter is already well underway.

The final argument presented compares fossil fuels and solar energy in the context of which option has a greater negative impact. Even if solar panels as waste create some negative environmental impact, they are still a cleaner solution than fossil fuels. From coal, oil, and natural gas mining to pipeline and tanker transport, spills can occur due to the pollution generated during use. There is also coal ash, which could be considered waste after the coal’s life cycle and is very harmful.

Ultimately, fossil fuels are a limited resource. Therefore, finding alternative solutions and giving them a chance to develop as effectively as possible is necessary.

If we go back to the initial issue of lithium mining to produce batteries for renewable energy storage, it should be noted that this matter is already being addressed. We are finding new materials that could replace the use of lithium and be more sustainable.

Katarina Vuinac

EU and SDGs: How has the EU Performed?

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

Eurostat released the publication ‘Sustainable development in the European Union – monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context – 2024 edition’. This publication provides readers with a statistical overview of the EU’s progress towards its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Eurostat monitoring report shows that, based on the assessment of the past five years of available data, the EU made progress towards most of the SDGs, while it fell slightly behind in a few goals.

The EU has made very significant progress in terms of reduced inequalities (SDG 10) and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) with several indicators reaching record values. Significant progress has also been made in terms of no poverty (SDG 1).

There were good achievements concerning the goals on sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), life below water (SDG 14), quality education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5).

Meanwhile, the goals on peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), global partnerships (SDG 17) made moderate progress in the EU. This was also the case for SDG 13, climate action.

More:

Regarding the goal on clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), several indicators show positive developments, but others show no progress or even movement away.

For affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), a slight movement away was observed in terms of energy affordability and the EU’s energy import dependency due to the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the consequent energy crisis in the EU.

The goal on health and well-being (SDG 3) was affected by the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic that are now fully visible in the available data.

The goal on life on land (SDG 15) is characterised by several unsustainable trends in the areas of biodiversity and land degradation, leading to a moderately unfavourable assessment of the EU’s progress in this area over the short-term period assessed.

The EU SDGs indicators set is structured along 17 goals, with 102 indicators, reviewed every year, aligned but not identical to the UN SDG indicators used as the basis for monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Many of the indicators are also used to monitor existing policies as the 8th Environment Action Programme and the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan.

Source: Eurostat

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