NASA Launches Small Climate Satellite to Study Earth’s Poles

28.05.2024

spacex-uj3hvdfQujI-unsplash — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Space X)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Annie Spratt)

The first of a pair of climate satellites designed to study heat emissions at Earth’s poles for NASA is in orbit after lifting off atop Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand at 7:41 p.m. NZST (3:41 a.m. EDT) on Saturday.

The agency’s PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission consists of two shoebox-size cube satellites, or CubeSats, that will measure the amount of heat Earth radiates into space from two of the coldest, most remote regions on the planet. Data from the PREFIRE mission will help researchers better predict how Earth’s ice, seas, and weather will change in a warming world.

“NASA’s innovative PREFIRE mission will fill a gap in our understanding of the Earth system – providing our scientists a detailed picture of how Earth’s polar regions influence how much energy our planet absorbs and releases. This will improve prediction of sea ice loss, ice sheet melt, and sea level rise, creating a better understanding of how our planet’s system will change in the coming years — crucial information to farmers tracking changes in weather and water, fishing fleets working in changing seas, and coastal communities building resilience”, said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division in Washington. “

Ground controllers successfully established communications with the CubeSat at 8:48 EDT. The second PREFIRE CubeSat will set off on its own Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in the coming days. Following a 30-day checkout period during which engineers and scientists will make sure both CubeSats are working normally, the mission is expected to operate for 10 months.

At the heart of the PREFIRE mission is Earth’s energy budget – the balance between incoming heat energy from the Sun and the outgoing heat given off by the planet. The difference between the two is what determines the planet’s temperature and climate. A lot of the heat radiated from the Arctic and Antarctica is emitted as far-infrared radiation, but there is currently no detailed measurement of this type of energy.

The water vapor content of the atmosphere, along with the presence, structure, and composition of clouds, influences the amount of far-infrared radiation that escapes into space from Earth’s poles. Data collected from PREFIRE will give researchers information on where and when far-infrared energy radiates from the Arctic and Antarctic environments into space.

“The PREFIRE CubeSats may be small, but they’re going to close a big gap in our knowledge about Earth’s energy budget,” said Laurie Leshin, director, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “Their observations will help us understand the fundamentals of Earth’s heat balance, allowing us to better predict how our ice, seas, and weather will change in the face of global warming.”

The mission’s CubeSats each carry an instrument called a thermal infrared spectrometer, which use specially shaped mirrors and sensors to measure infrared wavelengths. Miniaturizing the instruments to fit on CubeSats necessitated downsizing some parts while scaling up other components.

“Our planet is changing quickly, and in places like the Arctic, in ways that people have never experienced before,” said Tristan L’Ecuyer, PREFIRE’s principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, Madison. “NASA’s PREFIRE will give us new measurements of the far-infrared wavelengths being emitted from Earth’s poles, which we can use to improve climate and weather models and help people around the world deal with the consequences of climate change.”

NASA’s Launch Services Program, based out of the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, in partnership with NASA’s Earth System Science Pathfinder Program is providing the launch service as part of the agency’s Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract.

The PREFIRE mission was jointly developed by NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. NASA JPL manages the mission for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate and provided the spectrometers. Blue Canyon Technologies built the CubeSats and the University of Wisconsin-Madison will process the data the instruments collect. The launch services provider is Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California.

Source: NASA

Fit for 55: Council Gives Final Green Light to Cut Methane Emissions in the Energy Sector

27.05.2024

smoke-vazduh-dim-elektrana — Foto: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (chris robert)

The Council today adopted a regulation on tracking and reducing methane emissions. It is part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package.

The regulation introduces new requirements on measuring, reporting and verifying methane emissions in the energy sector. Mitigation measures, such as detecting and repairing methane leaks and limiting venting and flaring, will aim to avoid methane emissions. Global monitoring tools will ensure transparency on methane emissions from imports of oil, gas and coal into the EU.

‘‘Methane, a short-lived climate pollutant up to 30 times more potent than CO2, is the second most important greenhouse gas. To meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, we must cut methane emissions in the oil, gas, and coal sectors. This legislation ensures proper monitoring and addressing of emissions across these value chains’’, Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgian Minister for Energy.

Stricter rules on monitoring and reporting

Operators will have to measure methane emissions at source level and draw up monitoring reports that will be checked by independent accredited verifiers.

Member states will maintain and regularly update an inventory of all wells, as well as mitigation plans for inactive wells, in order to prevent any public health and environmental risks from methane emissions. They will also measure and monitor emissions from coalmines which have been closed or abandoned for less than 70 years, since methane continues to be released even when production is halted.

National authorities will carry out periodic inspections to check and ensure operators’ compliance with the requirements of the regulation, including the taking of follow-up remedial measures.

Prevention and mitigation measures

Under the new rules, operators will have to detect and repair methane leaks. Operators will need to carry out surveys of methane leaks in different types of infrastructures at set intervals.

Operators will then need to repair or replace all components above certain methane leak levels immediately after detection, and no later than five days thereafter. The set deadline for a full repair under the new rules is 30 days.

In addition, the regulation bans venting and flaring methane from drainage stations by 2025 and from ventilation shafts by 2027, unless it is strictly necessary or the event of an emergency or malfunction.

Methane emissions outside the EU

Methane emissions from the EU’s energy imports will also be traced. The new rules will introduce global monitoring tools to increase the transparency of methane emissions from imports of oil, gas and coal into the EU.

Next steps

The regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The Commission will review the application of the regulation in 2028, including the level of emissions reduction achieved.

Source: European Council

The Intelligence of the Youth in Serbia Illuminates the Green Path of Sustainable Development of Local Areas

26.05.2024

teamwork-young-hands — Photo-illustration: Unsplash ( Hannah Busing)

Even if you are not interested in the topics related to sustainable development and energy efficiency, you must have heard of Aspern Seestadt. This completely self-sustaining city gets energy from renewable sources, wind and water, and processes rainwater.

Around 20,000 residents will be housed in this smart city, which has been developing since 2013 near Vienna. All buildings there are made of natural materials and are completely energy efficient.

Such successful projects give sufficient reason to be optimistic about the world moving in a positive direction, sustainable development. However, they often also cause frustration due to the belief that sustainability-based development is reserved only for economically strong countries and enlightened urban communities. However, that is not the case. There have been numerous projects around the world, as well as green ideas in six smaller towns in Serbia, which typically belong to rural areas, were initiated and implemented by young enthusiasts with the support of GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Mining and Energy and the Ministry of Tourism and Youth of the Republic of Serbia.

In focus:

Thanks to a group of young enthusiasts, a schoolyard in Vlasotince now has a solar bench that serves as a light source, thus improving the safety and usability of the yard in the evening hours. By adding a USB port for charging mobile devices, this bench is also a practical step towards reducing the consumption of electricity generated from non-renewable sources, and it provides a comfortable and safe place where young people like to gather and socialize.

Young people from Donja Stražava, in the suburbs of Prokuplje, now also have a “green“ gathering place. The three students who make up the Foton Group implemented this idea under the auspices of their project called Solar Bench for Sustainable Connectivity – Let the Sun Connect You to the World. Their goal, as well as those of other young people who initiated and implemented the said projects, is to educate the community and animate primarily young people about the importance and potential of renewable energy sources and create a sustainable connection.

“Both young and older people who live in the countryside have fewer opportunities to acquire the knowledge necessary to raise awareness. The Foton Group plans to do as many projects as possible and help people in rural areas and cities acquire the knowledge necessary for our survival“, says Petar Stojanović.

The project, which also has a double positive effect as it reduces the environmental footprint and emissions of harmful gases while encouraging the community to use solar technologies, was initiated and implemented by young people from the village of Brankovina, near Valjevo.

In the schoolyard, they installed a solar information notice board, which serves as an information centre for the local community and, above all, for the students. This project ensures the availability of useful information and contributes to environmental sustainability, as the info-board also contains an integrated solar-powered mobile device charger. Sokobanja is another town that will soon have its solar info-board.

GIZ

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND FINANCING OF GREEN CONSTRUCTION

EBRD is Supporting Renewable Investments in Romania

26.05.2024

windmills-g30f9308a4_1920 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (Oimheidi)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending over 46 million euros as part of a 93 million euros financing package to build and operate a 102 MW onshore wind farm in Romania. Urleasca Wind Farm, which will be part of Romania’s energy transition, is expected to generate 277 GWh a year of renewable energy and save about 115,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The project highlights the Bank’s support for Romania’s decarbonization efforts, which will not only improve the environment but safeguard the country’s energy security in the context of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

“We are excited to support BIG MEGA Renewable Energy’s first renewable energy project in the EBRD’s region. The wind farm is expected to benefit from corporate Power Purchase Agreements and boost Romania’s increase in renewables capacity which is targeted to grow by adding 11.9 GW over the coming years”, said Grzegorz Zielinski, the EBRD’s head of Energy Europe.

Romania’s growing ambition in this area builds on EU-wide commitments enacted in the Fit for 55 and REPowerEU plan to increase renewables production by 2030. In 2023, Romania committed to increase the share of renewables in its total energy consumption from 24.3 per cent in 2019 to a more ambitious 36.2 per cent by 2030, by adding 11.9 GW of new renewable capacity.

Urleasca Wind Farm SRL, a Romanian company, is ultimately equally co-owned by BIG Shopping Centers ltd and MEGA OR ltd, two Israeli companies that own and develop shopping malls and are listed on the Tel Aviv stock exchange.

The EBRD, a leader in climate finance, has to date invested almost 11 billion euros in 524 projects in Romania.

Source: EBRD

New Materials for a New Age

25.05.2024

Pripremljene-sirovine-Sajam-inovacija — Photo: Sferikon

Within technological engineering, one of the narrower disciplines is called materials engineering – an area whose focus is understanding the various characteristics of materials to create new materials with improved properties to make them more resistant, stronger, more durable, more sustainable, more economical, depending on the needs of different industries. Engineers researching this field examine how various processes and processing of materials affect the resulting state and structure of the materials. Due to the current discourse on recycling, waste management and circular economy, materials engineering plays a significant role in solving the mentioned challenges.

Young industrial designers, former students of the Faculty of Applied Arts, decided to devote themselves to their study program – industrial design.

Nikola Đurašković and Nedeljko Tica founded Sferikon to deal with the problems of agricultural waste from our environment. They first discussed this project with Professor Irena Živković, who is an expert in the field of science and engineering. As Professor Živković, the third member of the Sferikon team, explains, their product is a series of materials called Sfericorn – a combination of production industry, sustainable development, and circularity.

– Sfericorn materials are classic composite materials made of two or more different materials, giving the composite some new properties compared to the starting components. Sfericorn materials use biodegradable and compostable materials, one of which is a reinforcing component obtained from agricultural waste from corn cultivation. Corn is the most represented crop on the fields in Serbia and generates a large amount of agricultural waste that has no other purpose than fuel production and, in certain species, for animal feed – explains Professor Irena.

IN FOCUS:

The goal is to develop a material to be used as an alternative to synthetic polymers, i.e. common plastic. Interestingly, their materials have the potential to be applied to a variety of products, including hard plastic parts of electronic devices, furniture components, car interiors, and even the architectural industry. One of the key attributes of the Sfericorn material is its exceptional sound insulation ability, which makes it ideal for products where acoustic properties are essential. For example, in-home air purifiers, where fans or turbines produce noise, Sfericorn can effectively act as a sound insulator by reducing the resonance and noise generated by standard plastic parts.

Although the material is still in the development phase, there is already considerable interest in it. Also, Sferikon members work to make integrating their material into other products as simple as possible to be as competitive and economical as possible, besides being functional, aesthetic and sustainable, and to avoid costs related to applying such specific materials.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND FINANCING OF GREEN CONSTRUCTION

Above-Normal Rainfall Forecast for Greater Horn of Africa for June to September

24.05.2024

rain-ga4147849a_1920 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Tony Lam Hoang)

Above-normal rainfall is predicted over most parts of the Greater Horn of Africa for June to September, including Djibouti, Eritrea, central and northern Ethiopia, western and coastal Kenya, much of Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan.

This is according to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), which serves as a WMO regional climate centre.

June to September is an important rainy season in the northern and western parts of the Greater Horn of Africa, where it generally contributes more than 90 per cent of the annual rainfall in the northern part of the region and 40 per cent in southern areas.

The forecasted wetter-than-normal conditions for June to September 2024 echo the patterns of 1998 and 2010, with a risk of flooding especially in South Sudan and Sudan, according to Dr. Guleid Artan, ICPAC’s Director.

Countries which recently suffered devastating flooding go into dry season from June to September. These include Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania and parts of Ethiopia, Somalia and Uganda.

Seasonal climate outlooks are important for decision-making in sectors like agriculture, health and water resource management. They also form part of a suite of products provided by the WMO community to support the implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative.

The forecast was issued at the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum, which brings together climate scientists, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and climate sensitive sectors.

For more than two decades, WMO has supported regional climate outlook forums, which provide actionable climate forecasts and information to help save lives and livelihoods and support key sectors like agriculture and food security, water resource management, health and disaster risk reduction.

In line with the World Meteorological Organization’s guidelines and recommendations, ICPAC has adopted an objective seasonal forecast method to generate climate forecasts for the Greater Horn of Africa. This entails using initialized seasonal forecasts from nine Global Producing Centres (GPCs) and processing them with three calibration techniques.

An early to normal onset is expected in several parts of the region including central and northern Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and South Sudan. However, a delayed onset is likely in Djibouti, parts of eastern and western Ethiopia, central and western Sudan, and southern South Sudan.

The temperature forecast shows a probability of warmer-than-normal conditions across the region, particularly over northern Sudan, central and western Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania.

Source: WMO

Satellites in the Service of Economic and Environmental Opportunities

23.05.2024

satelit — Photo-illustration: Freepik (rawpixel.com)

Satellites often inspire me to write about them. Perhaps the reason for the inspiration is that they seem like a long-established concept, that they have always been here and that there is nothing unusual about them. However, how much do we know about their capabilities? It is clear that they orbit our planet, record it and provide us with photos, Google maps and more, but what other benefits do they offer?

I have already written about solar satellites and research on how they can produce solar energy in space and send it to our planet, even 50 per cent more efficiently than solar power plants on Earth. Recently, Google and the Environmental Defense Fund launched a satellite called MethaneSAT, which I also wrote about earlier. To remind you, this satellite’s mission is to locate and measure emissions from oil and gas operations around the planet in a significantly more advanced way than existing satellites have done so far. This technology also offers weather monitoring, which is especially important in light of climate change because it enables early warnings of weather problems.

The World Economic Forum published a report on how Earth observation (EO) can significantly contribute to economic and environmental development. EO normally contains data about the Earth, which is collected through satellites and sensors.

Speaking of economics, some predictions are that by 2030, the economic opportunity provided by Earth observation insights will exceed 700 billion dollars. On the other hand, EO provides information that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than two gigatons per year – expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent. The potential is even more significant if we consider that this number is calculated based on the five leading EO applications that directly impact these emissions, but many can indirectly affect the reduction.

Economic and environmental conditions are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary! As a simple example, we can mention the monitoring of weather events. From an environmental point of view, long-term monitoring allows scientists and the public to become better acquainted with climate change around the world, thus developing awareness of this problem and finding solutions to it, depending on the changes from region to region. At the same time, early warnings of climate and natural disasters can reduce economic damage but, more importantly, save human lives.

In terms of ecology, EO will show its potential, especially from 2024 to 2030. Here, we can mention the increasingly stricter measures in the fight against emissions and the much-talked-about Cross-Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism – CBAM. Namely, this mechanism entails reporting on emissions and other measures that require emissions reduction. Satellites and artificial intelligence are making it easier to trace the source of these emissions, helping to stop non-compliance across the planet.

Thanks to these satellites, such problems are monitored and ensure the monitoring of fires, illegal deforestation, surface water quality, microplastics in the oceans, and more.

Scientists say that satellites’ potential is still untapped, which optimistically indicates that more news about this technology will inspire me to write another article on cooperation between satellites and ecology in the coming period.

Katarina Vuinac

The New Era of Artificial Intelligence – and What it Means for the Data Center Segment

23.05.2024

GettyImages-1159763203 — Photo: Schneider Electric

Artificial intelligence is currently the most potent force transforming how we process, analyze, and use data. Predictions say that the artificial intelligence market will reach a whopping $407 billion by 2027. We are talking about an expected annual growth rate of around 37 per cent until 2030. Our interlocutor, Jelena Pejković, Sales Director of Secure Power at Schneider Electric, points out that it is crucial to understand that we are not only talking about generative AI here; this technology will revolutionize numerous industries.

Q: What is artificial intelligence?

A: Artificial intelligence is much more than ChatGPT and similar Generative AI applications intended for the broadest audience. AI already has applications in industry, medicine, education, science, autonomous driving systems, and many other fields. Its exponential growth brings along challenges, such as a lack of new locations and new mega data centers that require large amounts of energy and, therefore, will be responsible for a higher percentage of CO2 emissions, which brings us to the question of sustainability. However, the answer to sustainability challenges is digital transformation, of which AI is an integral part, so this must not be an obstacle in their construction because it would slow it down significantly.

This story is fascinating, like the eternal dilemma – which came first, the chicken or the egg. Honestly, I’m thrilled that I’m dealing with this segment right now when this topic is hot. Perhaps it is easiest to start with Generative AI because everyone has already encountered it. Whether talking about Chat GPT or Microsoft Copilot, as many as 97 per cent of company managers already see the benefits of using AI in their daily business, generating reports and presentations, translating information, developing websites, etc. Still, this peak in the adoption of new technology will undoubtedly require more significant investments in infrastructure.

In Serbia, the topic of renewable energy sources, solar power plants and wind farms is topical. Here, AI algorithms also play a crucial role in optimizing energy distribution through the network in real-time. These algorithms continuously analyze data from the grid and adjust the flow of electricity to meet demand while at the same time ensuring the stability and efficiency of the entire grid. With these two examples, I want to illustrate how broad the field of AI application is.

IN FOCUS:

Q: How can we meet the demands of this new world driven by artificial intelligence?

A: Data centers represent the critical infrastructure that supports the artificial intelligence ecosystem. Here, it is perhaps important to emphasize, without going deeply into the topic, that we distinguish training and inference models. So, there are data centers where training clusters are located, where training or model training is carried out, and data centers where AI applications are located that we, as users, use for decision-making.

However, whether we are talking about large clusters for training or smaller edge servers that run applications, artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly large percentage in the data centers themselves, and this is currently affecting a significant increase in consumption per river, i.e. density. These new, significantly increased densities further influence the design and management of data centers. Here, we talk about four key AI attributes and the latest trends that answer the challenges of the physical infrastructure of data centers: power supply, cooling, placement in racks, and management software.

Perhaps a more significant issue than the increase in energy consumption is its more efficient use. Schneider Electric offers numerous solutions and continues developing new ones independently and with numerous partners, such as the recently announced cooperation with NVIDIA.

Q: How can we provide the necessary electricity for Al?

A: Regulatory requirements are strict, but despite that, Internet giants are leading the way when it comes to sustainability and corporate social responsibility goals, pushing the entire industry forward. The world’s leading data center operators largely purchase energy from green sources, introduce a circular approach to energy use, hand over waste heat to heating plants in local communities, limit water use, and recycle.

Although artificial intelligence requires large amounts of energy, data analytics based on AI algorithms can help data centers move closer to net zero and address sustainability issues. So, AI is both a challenge and a solution.

Interestingly, 1,287 MWh of electricity was consumed to create GPT3, and 552 tons of CO2 were produced, equivalent to the emissions that 123 gasoline vehicles would produce in one year of driving.

Q: How can we meet the increasing demand for AI power while minimizing the impact on the planet?

A: Data centers are constantly evolving to adapt to the demands of AI. Improving power distribution systems and energy efficiency within the data center helps minimize losses and deliver power to servers most efficiently. Operators are focusing on more energy-efficient hardware and software and diversifying power sources. Advanced power distribution units, intelligent management, high-efficiency power systems, and renewable energy sources enable data centers to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. However, the extreme densities of AI servers lead to challenges related to cooling methods.

The transition from air to liquid cooling is imperative, primarily from a sustainability perspective. Liquid, Direct-to-Chip cooling, where coolant is circulated through servers to absorb heat, is rapidly gaining popularity. The advantages are numerous: from increasing the reliability and performance of the processor, saving space, increasing energy efficiency, improving the PUE coefficient, and reducing water use.

Data center operators can also use automation based on AI algorithms, analytics, and machine learning to find new opportunities to increase efficiency and decarbonize. By using data insights more effectively, we can drive new, more sustainable behaviors.

Here, I am primarily referring to DCIM, EPMS, BMS, and similar applications that reduce the risk of unexpected behavior and provide a digital replica of the System, which makes decisions easier.

One example is Equinix, which improved the energy efficiency of its data center by nine per cent using AI-based cooling. The company reduced energy consumption by regulating the cooling system more efficiently.

So, it is clear that AI applications are leading to a significant increase in electricity consumption in data centers at a time when they need to become more sustainable. However, AI simultaneously provides us with intelligence, with the help of which we will manage those same data centers more thoughtfully.

To conclude, by combining quality and efficient equipment with the contributions made by a monitoring system based on AI algorithms, data center owners, operators, and users can respond more efficiently to the demands of high-density AI clusters without risking energy efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.

Schneider Electric

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

Is it Possible to Combine the Chemical Industry and Circular Economy?

23.05.2024

hemija vodonik — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The chemical industry is an important segment of the global economy because it employs more than 15 million people worldwide and has global annual revenues of 5.7 trillion dollars, according to data from the Planet Tracker analytical centre.

We could hardly imagine life without a wide range of chemical products that we use daily, whose production requires fossil fuels, water, minerals, metals, and other resources.

However, this sector is experiencing increasing pressure to make its practices sustainable as the chemical industry is one of the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide and one of the biggest environmental polluters.

Consumers are increasingly demanding products that do not harm the environment or human health, while governments are introducing stricter regulations aimed at decarbonizing the chemical industry.

Many companies have turned to renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint. Still, the question remains: how can we introduce the use of sustainable raw materials to produce chemicals?

Scientists from Griffith University in Australia are one step closer to a solution that will transform the polluting chemical industry into a sustainable one, using catalysts and waste resources.

Professor Karen Wilson explains that catalysis has historically played a key role in transforming fossil resources into basic fuels and products, creating an opportunity for a revolution in the chemical industry.

Scientists are looking for catalytic processes that will allow them to harness sustainable resources like organic waste, hoping to move the chemical industry from a linear to a circular economy.

“Catalytic processes could minimize reliance on limited fossil fuels and significantly curb CO2 emissions by using agricultural, municipal and plastic waste as feedstock”, said Professor Adam Lee.

In 2022, the industry emitted 935 million tons of CO2 while producing primary chemicals, which led to significant water pollution and the release of toxic chemicals into the environment.

The transition to environmentally friendly raw materials mitigates environmental damage and solves problems that can arise in the supply chain of raw materials, which can lead to geopolitical and natural disturbances, say the authors of the study published in OneEarth magazine.

Milena Maglovski

Procredit Bank – the New Face of Digitization

22.05.2024

Most banks worldwide are digitizing banking services, and the challenges that their clients have to face are identical – changing their habits and accepting that digital banking brings multiple benefits. Thanks to online banking, bank clients have access to their accounts and transactions at any time of the day, from the comfort of their homes, without having to go to the bank in person.

Digitized banking processes are significantly faster than traditional ones, so time savings are enormous, while advanced technologies are built on high-security standards. The green context of online banking is particularly significant: the use of paper is significantly reduced, thus saving trees, the emission of carbon dioxide is reduced because clients do not have to come to the bank in person, and all banking processes are faster and more efficient, which reduces energy consumption.

We spoke with Nemanja Tomić, a member of the Executive Board of ProCredit Bank, the first 100% online bank in our country, about digitization in banking and what we can expect as the next development stage of banking services begins.

“ProCredit is the first bank to recognize the numerous benefits of digitizing banking processes for all client categories. Hence, it was one of the first banks in the country to digitize its operations and open 24/7 Zones where clients can do all types of transactions independently, 24 hours a day. This was a big change for our clients and a serious challenge for our business, but when you dare to go down the digitization path, you very quickly prove to yourself and your clients that both of us are at a huge advantage. People really like the fact that they can open an account, start saving, and get a loan online without having to go to the bank in person. We save time, energy, and other resources and reduce pollution as everything is done faster and safer. The development of banking processes with the help of digitization has to align with the bank’s business strategy, annual plans and client target groups. Until last year, ProCredit Bank was the No. 1 bank for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the urban part of the population was already used to digital devices and online processes. As of this year, ProCredit Bank is opening up even more to doing business with individual clients, as we can offer them truly competitive products and conditions. Such goals imply a double upgrade of digital processes“, Mr Tomić explains.

IN FOCUS:

In 2024, ProCredit Bank’s services will remain digital while the bank continues to invest in its performance to make it even more efficient and simple. Earlier this year, the bank launched a new m-banking application and continues to innovate.

As Mr Tomić points out, in 2024, ProCredit will be recognized for its improved quality of communication with clients.

“Through face-to-face communication in our branches, we will now draw even closer to our clients. As of this year, advisors will again be available in our branches to answer all your questions and doubts and provide any type of assistance. The banking processes remain exclusively digital, and the advisors, as a ‘humane upgrade’ of digitization, will boost the quality of all retail banking services. By talking to people face-to-face, which includes assisting clients on the spot, we are confident that we will transform into a completely tailor-made bank to all population segments“, he adds.

ProCredit Bank says that its business is already quite simple and fast. It doesn’t ask unnecessary questions, saves clients time and other resources, is competitive with its offers, and will build a more intimate contact with clients through advisors in the bank’s branches.

“If you ask me about the next step in digitizing financial services, it is exactly this – a human moment. I am confident that this concept provides a full set of modern banking, which our clients deserve“, concludes Mr Tomić.

ProCredit Bank

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND FINANCING OF GREEN CONSTRUCTION

Sharp Declines in Critical Mineral Prices Mask Risks of Future Supply Strains as Energy Transitions Advance

22.05.2024

minerali — Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Nicolas J Leclercq)

Pressure eased in 2023 on the market for minerals that go into electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and other clean energy technologies, as supply outpaced surging demand. But a new report from the International Energy Agency finds that major additional investments are still needed to meet the world’s energy and climate objectives.

The Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024, published today, updates the IEA’s inaugural review of the market last year while also offering new medium- and long-term outlooks for the supply and demand of important energy transition minerals, such as lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements.

Following two years of dramatic increases, the prices of critical minerals fell sharply in 2023, returning to levels last seen before the pandemic. Materials used to make batteries saw particularly significant decreases, with the price of lithium dropping by 75 percent and the prices of cobalt, nickel and graphite falling by between 30 percent and 45 percent – helping drive battery prices 14 percent lower. With demand growth remaining robust, these declines were mostly driven by a strong increase in global supply – helping to offset the steep price rises in 2021 and 2022.

The report finds that while lower prices for critical minerals in the past year have been good news for consumers and affordability, they have also provided a headwind for new investment. In 2023, investment in critical minerals mining grew by 10 percent and exploration spending rose by 15 percent – still healthy, but slower than in 2022.

Today’s well-supplied market may not be a good guide for the future, with the Outlook noting that demand for critical minerals continues to grow strongly in all IEA scenarios, driven by the deployment of clean energy technologies. Today’s combined market size of key energy transition minerals is set to more than double to 770 billion dollars by 2040 in a pathway to net zero emissions by mid-century.

Detailed project-by-project analysis suggests that announced projects are sufficient to meet only 70 percent of copper and 50 percent of lithium requirements in 2035 in a scenario in which countries worldwide meet their national climate goals. Markets for other minerals look more balanced – if projects come through as scheduled. However, announced projects do not change the high geographical concentration of supply, and China is projected to retain a very strong position in the refining and processing sector.

“Secure and sustainable access to critical minerals is essential for smooth and affordable clean energy transitions. The world’s appetite for technologies such as solar panels, electric cars and batteries is growing fast – but we cannot satisfy it without reliable and expanding supplies of critical minerals,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “The recent critical mineral investment boom has been encouraging, and the world is in a better position now than it was a few years ago, when we first flagged this issue in our landmark 2021 report on the subject. But this new IEA analysis highlights that there is still much to do to ensure resilient and diversified supply.”

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Shane McLendon)

The latest Outlook features a first-of-its-kind risk assessment for selected energy transition minerals, scrutinising four key dimensions: supply risks, geopolitical risks, barriers to responding to supply disruptions, and exposure to environmental, social and governance (ESG) and climate risks. Lithium and copper are the most vulnerable to supply and volume risks, while graphite, cobalt, rare earths and nickel face more substantial geopolitical risks. For graphite in particular, today’s project pipeline indicates that the available supply outside of the dominant player meets only 10 percent of the requirements in 2030, making announced diversification goals highly challenging to achieve. Most minerals are exposed to high environmental risks.

Stepping up efforts to recycle, innovate and encourage behavioural change is vital to ease potential strains on supply. Some 800 billion dollars of investment in mining is required between now and 2040 to get on track for a 1.5 °C scenario. Without the strong uptake of recycling and reuse, mining capital requirements would need to be one-third higher.

The report finds that the industry is making progress on worker safety, gender balance, community investment and using renewable energy for mineral production. However, the same cannot be said for reducing waste generation, greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption – suggesting ample scope for improvement.

The latest Outlook is accompanied by an updated version of the IEA’s Critical Minerals Data Explorer, an interactive online tool that allows users to explore the latest projections. Both form part of the Agency’s expanding work on critical minerals, as requested by governments. The IEA recently hosted a Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit at its headquarters in Paris and is also working on a new voluntary Critical Minerals Security Programme that was launched at the IEA Ministerial Meeting in February 2024.

Source: IEA

Two Years of REPowerEU: Strengthening Europe’s Energy Resilience

21.05.2024

solarni-paneli-radnik — Photo-illustration: Freepik (senivpetro)

In May 2022, the European Commission launched the REPowerEU Plan in response to war in Ukraine and its use of energy resources as an economic weapon. The Plan’s main objectives were to save energy, diversify energy supplies, and produce more clean energy for the EU.

Two years on, it is clear that REPowerEU has played a crucial role in safeguarding EU citizens and businesses from energy shortages, while also providing vital support to Ukraine. Through joint efforts, Europe has not only made a massive cut in Russian energy imports but has also accelerated its transition to clean energy and stabilised prices.

Key achievements:

Reducing natural gas consumption by 18 per cent between August 2022 and March 2024

Overcoming our dependency on Russian fossil fuels – the share of gas imports coming from Russia dropped from 45 per cent to 15 per cent between 2021 and 2023

Ensuring access to secure and affordable energy

Producing more electricity from wind and solar than from gas for the first time, since 2022

Rapidly increasing renewable energy installation – reaching a record of almost 96 GW of new solar energy capacity installed and increasing wind capacity by 33 GW since 2022

As we move forward, it is evident that Europe is now stronger and more united than ever before. The Commission has mobilised close to 300 billion euros to fund the REPowerEU Plan with the Recovery and Resilience Facility at the heart of this funding. The EU is now on track to completely eliminate its reliance on Russian fossil fuels while continuing to advance the green transition and supporting Ukraine.

Source: Energy Commission

First Regional E-waste Project in Latin America Comes to a Xlose

21.05.2024

recycling-recikliranje-ee-otpad — Foto ilustracija: Pixabay

Representatives from across Latin America will gather this week to share their experiences of participating in UNIDO’s first-ever regional project on e-waste management.

Since its launch in Quito in March 2018, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project has assisted 13 countries with tackling e-waste challenges in the region. From strengthening national e-waste management initiatives, to upgrading e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities, the project has enhanced regional cooperation and generated important data for decision making in this area.

Tools developed under the project include a guide for the media on communicating on e-waste and the Regional E-Waste Monitor for Latin-America report. Produced by the Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme, this report offers the UN’s first assessment of the region’s e-waste generation, its legislation and its recycling infrastructure.

In 2022, 62 million tons of e-waste was generated globally, with around 22 per cent documented as formally collected and recycled in an environmentally sound manner, versus just tree per cent in the 13 project countries. Given the complexities around handling e-waste and the potential health and environmental risks posed by its improper disposal, this represents a serious risk for the region.

From 21-23 May, technical and political representatives from participating countries will meet with international experts in Panama City to showcase their achievements, innovations, and lessons learnt in managing harmful Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in electrical and electronic waste.

Strong policies and legal frameworks are essential for the success of interventions in this area. Under the project, existing regulations have been improved, and new regulations have been developed in nine of the participating countries.

Further, over 200 awareness-raising activities have been carried out, reaching around 15,000 people, with strong participation from the academic sector through the involvement of universities in Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama and Venezuela. Almost 5,000 people have received training and around 700,000 pieces of electronic and electrical equipment have been analysed, with over 230 metric tons of equipment sent for environmentally sound management.

Source: UNIDO

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