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How Can the Collision of Salt and Fresh Water Create Electricity?

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Estuaries are places where freshwater river and saltwater marine ecosystems meet. They are important for biodiversity, as they are home to many species of plants and animals that have adapted to the unique environment, which is why you can find shore-nesting fish and birds in the estuaries.

Osmosis is a key process that occurs in estuaries. This process occurs when water passes through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of lower salt concentration to an area of higher salt concentration, trying to equalize the salt balance. This means that when fresh water from the river flows into the salt water of the estuary, the water tends to the areas with higher salt content. This natural phenomenon creates pressure that can be used to produce energy, not just any kind, but completely clean and environmentally friendly.

Scientists have recognized the potential of osmosis as a source of renewable energy, as it can be used to generate electricity, however, to achieve this, they have developed special membranes that allow water to pass through, but retain salt and other particles. A key part of this process is controlling the flow of ions and electrons through the membrane. The more permeable the membranes are to ions and the lower the resistance, the greater the potential for energy generation.

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American Chemical Society researchers have shared research data obtained after developing a prototype of an innovative RED (reverse electrodialysis) membrane that enables more efficient energy production. These membranes are designed with separate channels for ion and electron transport, which reduces internal resistance and increases permeability. In laboratory tests, these membranes have shown excellent performance, giving more than twice the power density of commercial membranes, thanks to the separate channels. This success hints that osmosis energy could become one of the options for energy production in the future.

The first osmotic power plant was launched in Norway in 2009 on the coast of the Oslofjord. Although this was an experimental project, it demonstrated the potential of osmotic energy as a renewable energy source.

Such projects are not without challenges that curb the wider application of osmotic energy. Membrane production costs are high, system efficiency varies and membrane durability can be problematic. However, interest in osmotic energy is growing, as scientists continue to explore ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs, which could make osmotic power plants competitive in the future.

Energetski portal

What Happens to Oases in Times of Climate Change?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (willian-justen-de-vasconcellos)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (attila-janosi)

The Sahara, the largest desert on the planet, is about the same area as the continental United States and stretches across several countries, including Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Mali, Niger, and Chad. It makes up 31 per cent of the continent. Asia has many deserts, starting from the Gobi desert, Karakum and Taklamakan to the Thar and Dasht-e Kavir desert in Iran and others. Water in these areas means life and is often associated with the emergence of oases.

Within desert areas, oases are key sites for human settlement and agriculture. They are formed where underground water comes to the surface or where a river passes, which allows the growth of vegetation and the life of a community. Oases are located in 37 countries, with the largest number of them being in Asia, while 13 per cent are located in Australia.

One study conducted by experts from the American Geophysical Union looked at how oases grew and shrank over 25 years (from 1995 to 2020) and found that oases around the world have grown by more than 220,149 square kilometres in size, mostly due to intentional oase expansion projects in Asia. However, desertification caused the loss of 134,300 square kilometres of oases, also mostly in Asia, leading to a net increase of 86,500 square kilometres during the study period. Desertification is the process when fertile land becomes dry and unproductive and eventually turns into a desert or semi-desert.

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Photo-illustration: Unsplash (sander-weeteling)

Oases are crucial for arid areas because they are a source of water, food and life. They are usually used to grow cotton, olives, figs, citrus fruits, wheat and corn. Communities often plant large trees, such as palm trees, around oases to protect crops from sand. Some of the world’s largest reserves of groundwater lie beneath the Sahara desert, supporting close to 90 large oases in the region.

Climate change and anthropogenic factors pose a serious threat to the survival of oases. Depleting groundwater, changes in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures can all lead to the drying out of oases, threatening their ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Therefore, it is crucial to take measures to conserve water and maintain these vital areas in arid regions, as they are home to 10 per cent of the world’s population even though they occupy about 1.5 per cent of the land mass.

Energy portal

The Position of the Bird’s Wings in Flight as a Solution for more Efficient Use of Wind Energy

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Thomas Reaubourg)
Photo: courtesy of Blagoje Krivokapić

Ambitious goals related to renewable energy sources and zero emissions require not only boosting the capacity of such sources and expediting infrastructure development but also improving existing and creating innovative technology. Energy obtained from wind recorded good results during the previous year, but additional efforts are needed to achieve the set goals. Blagoje Krivokapić, a mechanical engineer from Nikšić, offered one of the solutions to make wind energy more efficient.

At the European Researchers’ Night in Podgorica, he initially presented his invention – the Nikšić Turbine. After additional improvements, the invention was presented at the Global Investment Forum Cyprus – GIF 2023. The turbine was declared the best among 200 presented projects from 25 countries and was awarded a gold medal. Additionally, it also received a Grand Prix. This award boosted the invention’s value and facilitated the creation of a team for its implementation.

Mr Krivokapić says that the inspiration for the idea came from the solutions given to us by nature. Explaining what makes his solution more successful than conventional wind turbines, he said that the current design is not in harmony with nature. Namely, the position of the turbines fights against the wind instead of surrendering to it and using its power.

“Nature offers us the best and simplest solutions, like the position of a bird’s wings during flight“, Mr Krivokapić explains.

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He adds that the propeller design he created mimics precisely the position of the bird’s wings in flight because birds move best through the air. The famous Archimedes’ quote – “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world“ – was his guideline. The lever plays a vital role in Mr Krivokapić’s project, as he explains, in layman’s terms, how energy is generated using this technology.

“A bird’s wing is shaped in a way that it accepts the wind’s resistance instead of going against it, and the power is generated thanks to the lever, i.e. when we place the shaft on the levers, thanks to wind force, we generate the movement of a circular circuit. This is how the best utilization of its is achieved, in addition to its greatest efficiency“, he says, adding that once power is generated, it can easily be transformed into speed.

Applying such a solution would enhance environmental protection, taking into account that it has the potential to produce three times more electricity than conventional wind turbines. More precisely, one windmill currently produces about 2.4MW of electricity, while his solution could produce up to 8MW. Regarding finances, construction will require almost two times less funds.

Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac

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

The Potential and Impact of Solar Panels on Water Surfaces

Photo illustration: Pixabay

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (LCEC)

Solar energy is developing faster than all other renewable energy sources. There are different types of panels and many ways in which they can be installed. Ground and roof solar power plants are still the most popular ones. Continuous research conducted to use the sun’s energy as efficiently as possible has shown that solar panels can be placed in different areas in nature, buildings, means of transport and even on objects. For instance, there are solar windows, solar trees, and solar roof tiles. Panels are also installed in cars and there are also external batteries for charging small electronic devices that are powered by solar energy.

Solar power plants that are installed on water surfaces, the so-called floating solar power plants, are increasingly becoming a hot topic of conversation. Namely, these are solar panels that are installed on floating structures, mostly on calmer bodies of water, such as lakes or those near dams. Anchoring systems are added to them to ensure the stability of the installed panels.

Research has shown that solar power plants built in this way have several advantages over those, one might say, usual ones, that is the ones installed on the ground and roofs. Namely, experts in this field say that solar panel operations are affected by the air temperature because when the panels are heated, their efficiency decreases. This is precisely where the advantage of water solar panels lies, as water provides a natural cooling effect. The data shows that the temperature of the solar positioned on a body of water can increase their efficiency by 15 per cent.

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Another reason why the presence of water increases their effectiveness is the albedo effect. More precisely, this effect refers to the ability of a certain surface to reflect light back and as we all know, water surfaces reflect sunlight more strongly than land ones. Thanks to this feature, the sunlight is directed back to the solar panels, which increases its amount and thus simultaneously improves the efficiency of electricity production.

However, there are also a few drawbacks that we should mention. Such projects are mostly large-scale, which means that if someone wants to produce electricity for their own needs, such as for their home, it is more practical to install them on the roof. Furthermore, not all bodies of water can be used for solar power plants, because they need to be calm. Also, the cleaning of the panels is not that easy, as it often requires more financial resources and special equipment. The panels need to be clean to be efficient.

Another questionable feature is the impact that such power plants have on the aquatic ecosystem. Some studies have shown that they can have positive effects. Given that they create a shading effect, i.e. create a shadow on the surface on which they are placed, solar panels contribute to lowering the water temperature and thereby reducing the degree of its evaporation. This is especially important in areas that are arid and where there is a risk of water shortage. Second, by preventing sunlight from penetrating below the surface of the water, algae growth is reduced. The so-called algal bloom, which can cause negative consequences for the aquatic ecosystem, occurs due to the excessive availability of sunlight and nutrients, which are reduced by the presence of floating solar power plants.

Foto: Printscreen/Youtube

However, if such power plants are installed without special precautions, they can hurt the living world. As mentioned earlier, the presence of the panels affects the temperature of the water as well as other characteristics, thus changing the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, wind effects and the amount of sunlight that penetrates below the surface. To keep these changes under control, there is a limit on the degree of coverage of water areas. Other rules should also be noted, such as that floating solar systems should be installed at least 40 metres from the shore. The coastal part is a habitat for many plant and animal species, including birds, beavers, insects and others. Given that there is still not enough research that can confirm whether and to what extent solar power plants would negatively impact this segment of biodiversity, i.e. their nutrition, reproduction and the possibility of injury, the coastal part must be left untouched.

Katarina Vuinac

Smart Living ABB-Style

Photo: ABB
Photo: ABB

In today’s age, when the prices of energy products and electricity have reached their highest historical values, smart houses, apartments, and business premises are presented as an effective solution for bridging the energy crisis. These facilities, combined with renewable energy sources and other energy efficiency measures, ensure comfort and safety at all times and provide significant energy savings. Therefore, it is not surprising that the age of smart buildings has already arrived in our area.

Relying on the decades-long tradition of the KNX standard, the ABB Company has developed the ABB free@home system, which has been raising the quality of the everyday life of its users in Serbia for more than five years. Because this company operates in over 100 countries and its continuous commitment to the development and improvement of its own systems and equipment, in cooperation with reliable system integrators from the Pametan Stan Company (the Smart Apartment Company), users can be rest assured that they will enjoy the system’s performance for decades to come.

On the other hand, considering how expansive the offer of new buildings is, developers have to stand out in the market, and they can do that by choosing a smart home system that creates a significant advantage. For instance, the experience of ABB experts worldwide shows that implementing this system greatly expedites the sale of buildings that are branded as smart.

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Photo: ABB

The first smart building in Serbia, B2, was built in Terazije, in the heart of Belgrade, where a complete ABB home automation system, intercom system, and weather station for each apartment were installed and commissioned. Furthermore, preparations are being made for electric car chargers for each parking space in the facility. Other buildings that contain this system include the building of the Regional Air Traffic Control in Surčin and several luxury mansions. Royal Art Residence & SPA, an exclusive facility located at 21 Kosančićev Venac, known for bringing its Paris-like charm to the very centre of Belgrade, has apartments that are equipped with an ABB home automation system (smart home systems). In recent times, smart home systems have become common in mass residential construction, i.e., in buildings with hundreds of apartments. The solutions that the ABB Company provides are ready for any challenge that may occur, which was also recognized by the developers from Novi Dorćol. As a cross between authentic, traditional and modern architecture, the building in Novi Dorćol, spanning 16,800 square metres, has had 4,300 smart home devices installed in 225 apartments. Furthermore, 950 scenarios have been created, and six weather stations have been installed in the building to inform its tenants about the weather and warn them of dangerous situations. In the same urban architectural spirit, the ABB free@home system is integrated into the ZepTerra residential-business complex in Novi Beograd, built in accordance with state-of-the-art standards and energy efficiency requirements.

Comfortable, safe and economical side

The term smart is used by these home automation systems to describe their ability to act based on predefined parameters and rules entered by the installer or users themselves, according to their personal preferences and needs. These systems do not rely on artificial intelligence for autonomous decision-making, so users can rest assured that smart homes cannot take control of their lives. The ABB home automation system gives the user full control in managing the home in four ways. The classic management method implies that a smart home has switches and sockets that perform predefined functions. Electrical installations such as lighting, blinds, motorized awnings, heating and cooling, and household appliances are managed remotely via a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Motion sensors and presence sensors allow, for example, the light to be turned on as long as someone stays in the room, and when someone leaves the room, the light turns off. The timer feature allows users to define functions that will activate or end at a specific time or last for a specific period.

ABB

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

Global Temperature Record Streak Continues in April

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Tadeusz Lakota)

It was the warmest April on record – the eleventh month in a row of record global temperatures, according to Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Sea surface temperatures have been record high for the past 13 months.

The monthly report highlights the extraordinary duration of record temperatures fuelled by the naturally occurring El Niño event and the additional energy trapped in the atmosphere and ocean by greenhouse gases from human activities. A similar streak happened previously during the strong El Niño event of 2015/2016.

April 2024 had an average surface air temperature of 15.03°C, 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 average for April and 0.14°C above the previous high set in April 2016, according to the ERA5 dataset from Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission.

The month was 1.58°C warmer than an estimate of the April average for 1850-1900, the designated pre-industrial reference period, according to the ERA5 dataset. Monthly breaches of 1.5°C do not mean that the world has failed to achieve the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal, which refers to a long-term temperature increase over decades.

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The record temperatures were accompanied by high-impact weather events – including intense heat in many parts of Asia, drought in southern Africa and extreme rainfall in the Arabian peninsula. Persistent heavy rainfall in East Africa and southern Brazil has worsened in the first week of May, leading to devastating and deadly floods.

“The high number of extreme weather and climate events (including record daily and monthly temperatures and rainfall amounts) are more likely in a warmer world,” said WMO climate expert Alvaro Silva.

“The sea surface temperature in several ocean basins, including in the tropical belt, continues to be record high, releasing more heat and moisture to the atmosphere and thus exacerbating conditions,” he said.

The El Niño in the eastern equatorial Pacific continued to weaken towards neutral conditions, but marine air temperatures in general remained at an unusually high level.

The global sea surface temperature averaged for April 2024 over 60°S–60°N was 21.04°C, the highest value on record for the month, marginally below the 21.07°C recorded for March 2024, according to C3S.

WMO uses ERA5 along with five other internationally recognized datasets for its climate monitoring activities and State of the Global Climate reports. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, and Japan Meteorological Agency also issue monthly reports.

Source: WMO

EU Rooftop Solar Standard alone could solar power 56 million homes

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (Admiral Lebioda)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Michael_Pointner)

Today, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive officially enters into force, with its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Successful implementation of the EU Rooftop Solar Standard under the EU Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD) could solar power the equivalent of 56 million European homes.

A preliminary analysis conducted by SolarPower Europe suggests that the EPBD could drive the installation of 150 to 200 GW of rooftop solar in the next years, leveraging the potential of EU’s rooftops. This is assuming that 60 per cent of public buildings are suitable and fall under the scope of the EU Solar Rooftop Standard. The EPBD will tap into the vast potential of rooftops, estimated at 560 GW by the EU Joint Research Centre earlier this year.

“Like the essential integration of smoke detections years ago, this new law propels rooftop solar toward becoming the standard. More buildings, businesses, and citizens will have access to clean, renewable, economical solar energy”, said Jan Osenberg, Senior Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe.

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The new law mandates that all new buildings be solar-ready, making it more straightforward and appealing to seek solar. According to Bloomberg NEF, proactive solar standards (as seen in some EU countries) can boost return on investment by eight to 11 per cent, compared to retroactive installations. Additionally, the Solar Standard is set to empower a wider portion of society, easing obstacles to solar adoption in multi-apartment buildings.

The EU Solar Rooftop Standard applies to new non-residential and public buildings from 2027, to existing non-residential buildings undergoing major renovations by 2028, to new residential buildings from 2030 and on all suitable existing public buildings by 2031. The Solar Rooftop Standard will most importantly unlock the potential of large rooftops such as those installed on offices, commercial buildings, or car parks. Certain buildings such as agricultural and historic structures may be excluded.

Source: SolarPower Europe

In Europe’s Wild Carpathian Mountains, Prospect of Drought Rises

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Vlad Kiselov)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (David Iordan)

Stretching across seven Central and Eastern European countries, the Carpathian mountain range is home to some of the continent’s largest intact forests. It boasts nearly 4,000 plant species, as well as large populations of brown bears and grey wolves.

In 2003, the Carpathian Convention was established, bringing together the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine, to protect the range’s forests, wildlife and ecosystems. But climate change is threatening those natural assets, with many areas getting hotter, drier and more prone to wildfires.

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day on 5 June is land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. To find out what global warming is doing to the Carpathians, and how countries can preserve and restore one of Europe’s few truly wild areas, we spoke to Harald Egerer. He is the Head of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Vienna Office and Secretary of the UNEP-administered Carpathian Convention.

Why is the Carpathian mountain range so important?

Harald Egerer (HE): The Carpathians are the second-largest mountain range in Europe and a jewel of nature. Forests cover more than half of the territory, including ancient forests that have developed over centuries largely undisturbed by humans. The native flora is among the richest on the continent. The Carpathians host Europe’s largest populations of brown bears, wolves, lynx, European bison and rare bird species, including the imperial eagle, which is at risk of extinction. It is also important to remember that the Carpathians contain the basins of the Danube, Dniester and Vistula rivers, major sources of freshwater in the region.

What is climate change doing to the region?

HE: Mountain regions are particularly fragile. They are more exposed to climate change and weather extremes than the surrounding lowlands. The Carpathian region has been getting hotter over the last 50 years. Its annual average temperature is projected to increase by between 3.0°C and 4.5°C by 2100.

This is creating means more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, erratic rainfall and floods. Drought increases the risk of wildfires and pest outbreaks in the Carpathians, while heavier, more intense rains lead to a greater risk of flooding and landslides. Soil and water quality is threatened. In some areas, such as southern Hungary, Romania and Serbia, falling river levels in summer increases the likelihood of drought and soil erosion.

High-altitude wetlands, which help to prevent flooding by soaking up heavy rainfall like a sponge, are at risk of drying out. This may have potentially disastrous consequences for biodiversity when you consider how many plant species and animals rely on wetlands for their habitat. As well, many migratory birds use these wetlands as a stopping point for food and shelter. Grasslands also risk becoming degraded.

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What can be done to reduce the impact of climate change in the Carpathians?

HE: Adaptation policies are essential to protect ecosystems and build resilience to drought and other extreme weather events. For example, there are a number of ways to reduce the risk of forest wildfires. The restoration of natural forests and nature-friendly forest management are of key importance. Thinning or removing shrubs and dead branches, which can catch fire more easily, is one approach. Another is ensuring a mix of tree species in a forest, which can slow the spread of fire. Restoring peatlands and wetlands, one of the objectives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, is not only good for supporting biodiversity. It can also help to protect surrounding areas from flooding. This is because wetlands hold large amounts of floodwaters upstream, slowing the release of water downstream. On a positive note, there is a lot of work being done across the region to develop knowledge about the climate risk to forests and promote climate-smart forest management techniques.

What other environmental challenges is the Carpathian region facing?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Serhii Danevych)

HE: The region is facing different environmental challenges such as deforestation due to illegal logging and unsustainable forestry practice, habitat fragmentation, climate change, land use change and water pollution. The war affecting one of our Carpathian countries raises additional challenges to the region.  There has obviously been a decline in environmental protection in Ukraine, and potentially increased pressure on natural resources, as well as increased pollution. Across the region, waste management and plastic waste is a big issue. There are also pressures on the environment from infrastructure projects and other types of development.

What are some of the Carpathian Convention’s biggest achievements?

HE: For more than 20 years, the Convention has provided decision makers in seven countries with a joint vision and a framework for cooperation to protect nature. This has resulted in hundreds of initiatives and legislation changes at the national level. Many European Union funding programmes have included the Carpathian Convention as a criteria for funding. The convention has also adopted five protocols to protect and ensure sustainable development of the Carpathians with regards to biodiversity, forest management, tourism, transport and agriculture.

What is being done to promote biodiversity?

HE: We are the first region in the world to apply the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the regional level. As part of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework, the Carpathian countries also committed to Carpathian Vision 2050, a strategy to conserve, restore and wisely use the biodiversity and natural beauty of the Carpathians for the benefit of the environment and the millions of people in the region.

It is also worth highlighting our work to maintain and restore ecological corridors in the Carpathians. This is helping to conserve the population of large carnivores and supporting the exceptional biodiversity in this region.

Source: UNEP

It’s not all so Colourless – How is North Korea Fighting Climate Change

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Thomas Evans)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Micha Brandli)

Time in North Korea seems to stand still. At least that’s how it seems to the rest of the world, which cannot come to terms with the fact that in the 21st century, a time of innovation and new social values, this totalitarian country still has the strictest rules for its citizens.

Anyone who has seen at least one documentary about this East Asian country is overwhelmed by an avalanche of emotions, from anger to sadness, because of those poor people who live there and whose hairdos even have to conform to state directives.

The mainstream media has contributed to the fact that hardly anyone would want to visit North Korea because there is almost nothing positive to read about the country. However, it all sounded too bad to be true, so I embarked on my own mini-exploration that would reveal another side of this country to me.

It all started when, quite similarly, I saw a night satellite image of North Korea. It seems that this land is pitch black at night. Again, poor people who have to read by candlelight or simply go to bed early because they have nothing to do when night falls.

However, we can look at things from a different angle – maybe North Korea is not too dark, or maybe our modern cities and metropolises are too bright.

Light pollution is a serious environmental problem that disrupts the normal functioning of natural ecosystems and adversely affects human health. Furthermore, night lighting unnecessarily consumes kilowatts and kilowatts of electricity that is mostly generated from polluting sources and thereby contributes to astronomical greenhouse gas emissions.

Modern buildings are generally overlit and yet, as it often happens, topics like preventing pollution and the climate crisis are discussed in their premises.

We can hardly alleviate the climate crisis without making some sacrifices, and that’s why I say – let’s reduce the experience with night lighting and, at least when it comes to it, be a little more like North Korea.

A country with an extremely low carbon footprint

Who would have thought that this “infamous” country has such a small carbon footprint?! North Korea has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent since 1990 and has pledged to reduce emissions by around 50 per cent by 2030 if other countries help it, writes the British institute RUSI.

One of the ways for North Korea to reduce emissions of harmful gases is to invest in renewable energy sources. There is an increasing number of biomass plants and solar power plants, although there is no precise data on the number of installed green kilowatts. However, in an interview from 2021, the then-representative of the Ministry of Energy revealed that 70 per cent of the country’s electricity came from renewable sources.

Being open to cooperation in the fight against climate change

It is also surprising to see how open North Korea is to cooperating with other countries when it comes to environmental protection, so it recently established cooperation with the Swiss Agency for Development in reforestation activities, increasing food security and facilitating better access to drinking water, as well as with the Hanns Seidel Foundation in the field of sustainable forestry.

North Korea continues to cooperate with the United Nations, the European Union and South Korea when it comes to environmental protection and the fight against climate change. At the same time, this country is a signatory to the United Nations Climate Change Convention, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

“A War to Improve Nature”

Perhaps the only war I will ever support is Kim Jong Un’s “A War to Improve Nature”. In his 2015 speech, the undisputed North Korean leader called on “the entire party, the entire army and all the people to carry out a vigorous reforestation campaign so that the mountains become covered with forest.”

Reforestation efforts continue to date, while satellite images show that North Korea has gone green, especially in areas around Pyongyang.

Although often ridiculed in the media, Kim Jong Un recognized that taking care of nature is a prerequisite for the country’s economic development and his readiness for international cooperation and investment in renewable energy somewhat changed the stereotypical image of North Korea.

Milena Maglovski

Protocol on Procurement of Nine Chinese Electric Trains Signed

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Tom Grünbauer)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Markus Winkler)

Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesić and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CRRC company Liu Chanqing signed the Protocol of Understanding and Cooperation on the procurement of nine new electric trains for speeds of 120 kilometres per hour.

After the signing of this document in the Serbian government, Vesić said that the acquisition of the mentioned trains was aimed at modernising the rolling stock of Srbija Voz for the needs of traffic on the future rail that will connect Zemun Polje, Nikola Tesla Airport and the national stadium and for connecting the Belgrade city centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods with the specialized exhibition EXPO 2027.

He explained that these trains will be manufactured at the CRRC factory in China (Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd) and should be delivered by 31 December 2026 at the latest.

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According to him, the new electric trains, which will be adapted to all EU standards, will add to creating a new quality of transportation in Belgrade.

Vesić underlined that Serbia is ready to use the great expertise of the CRRC company in the transport sector and ensure an adequate transfer of knowledge in support of local development, including the improvement of railway passenger traffic in Serbia and the accompanying railway industry.

Chanqing underlined that the document signed today on the procurement of electric trains is another confirmation that Serbia and China are actively implementing the Belt and Road initiative and deepening pragmatic cooperation.

Energy portal

ABB Opens Nnew EUR 20 Million Energy-Efficient Factory in Belgium

Photo: ABB
Photo: ABB

ABB has opened a new 20 million euros injection molding manufacturing site at Evergem, near Ghent in Belgium, to meet the growing demand for safe, smart and sustainable electrification solutions in Europe. The modern plant has been developed to meet the latest energy-efficiency demands through the installation of new injection molding machines, digital technologies, and automation solutions. It replaces an existing facility that joined ABB as part of its acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions in 2018. The site will produce power distribution enclosures which serve as protective housings for electrical distribution components such as circuit breakers, fuses, switches, and meters, ensuring the safe distribution, metering and control of electricity throughout residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

The global electrical enclosure market size is projected to grow from 7.42 billion dollars in 2024 to 13.15 billion dollars by 2032 due to increasing demand for new buildings, the modernization of existing buildings with more efficient and reliable electrical systems, and advances in electrical distribution.

The new Evergem site is part of ABB’s Mission to Zero™ initiative towards significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of ABB sites, while supporting customers to reduce their GHG emissions by providing a decarbonization roadmap that they can implement. The initiative is expected to reduce CO2e emissions by more than 6,700 tonnes and energy consumption by more than 9,400 MWh annually compared to 2019 at the previous facility. The measures are anticipated to result in approximately 2.5 million euros in energy cost reductions annually. Equipped with energy-efficient machinery, it is expected that 10 percent of energy required at the site will be generated by 1,330 on-site rooftop solar panels, with the remaining sourced from certified green energy supplies. LED lighting, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, heat pumps, cooling water circuits and a new air ventilation plant are also contributing to the energy and carbon emissions reduction.

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The Evergem site will continuously monitor and optimize energy usage, leveraging ABB’s own digital solutions such as ABB Ability™ Building Analyzer which tracks buildings data and utilities in real-time and provides actionable insights to optimize energy efficiency. This, coupled with the use of green energy and heat pumps, also facilitates the reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Additional digital technologies such as a building management system will be introduced in the coming months to further support the energy efficiency achievement.

Photo: ABB

“The Mission to Zero™ approach at Evergem is a significant example of our aim to enable a lower-carbon society and of our commitment to accelerating the transition to more sustainable manufacturing,” said Mike Mustapha, President of ABB Electrification’s Smart Buildings division. “This advanced site is designed to fulfil future demand, not just current needs. Incorporating cutting-edge technologies and innovative processes that can optimize efficiency and productivity now and in years to come will provide a training ground and sustainability roadmap for our people and customers. We will continue to combine digital technologies with measures to reduce energy consumption and increase renewable energy sources at Evergem in 2024 and beyond.”

To enable a low-carbon society, ABB is taking a rigorous science-based net-zero targets approach in line with the Net-Zero Standard of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). ABB partners with customers to avoid emissions and ramp up renewables. A scalable program, Mission to Zero™, covers energy generation, energy management and building automation for industrial and commercial operations.

Source: ABB

Bioclimatic Architecture as the Basis of Sustainable Construction

Photo: Courtesy of Bojana Zeković
Photo: Courtesy of Bojana Zeković

If you were to ask me whether bioclimatic architecture is the basis of sustainable construction, I would answer with a resounding “yes“. Bioclimatic architecture does not represent any style or direction in architecture but a systematic approach to design. By using this term, we want to describe buildings that are designed and constructed in such a way that they build a rational relationship with the climate in which they are created, primarily through the relationship with climatic influences but also with numerous other natural conditions.

The very term “bioclimatic“ contains two key determinants – climatic conditions and everything that the term bio refers to – from the Greek term bios, i.e. everything that makes life possible. It implies, first and foremost, the relationship between the object and nature, whether we’re talking about using natural materials, bringing nature and users closer together, or implementing solutions to improve the natural conditions at the location. It is clear from this that the environmental principles of design and construction are based on bioclimatic principles.

We also call this approach in architecture – contextual architecture because it respects the characteristics of the context – the object’s environment, at both the micro and macro level.

What bioclimatic architecture is not are all examples of contextual, imported, and ill-considered solutions which do not correspond to the local climate, the scale of the environment, the choice of materials, or the characteristics of a certain assembly. This perhaps explains the term in a better way.

In focus:

Vernacular architecture

Why must bioclimatic architecture be the basis of sustainable construction? Because it always has been. Examples of buildings that have stood the test of time in terms of their durability are various examples of folk vernacular architecture around the world, which is now part of the cultural heritage of humanity. This includes our Dinaric log cabin and the Vojvodina log house. The buildings made by folk builders, most often unnamed, were built mainly using locally available materials, with a thoughtful attitude towards local climatic conditions, which has been perfected over centuries. The relationship to the climatic conditions, often harsh, in cooperation with the available materials, led to the development of specific forms, structural assemblies and details that become a climate characteristic.

Examples of vernacular architecture were first recorded and exhibited by the architect Bernard Rudofsky in a highly influential exhibition at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Architecture, NY), titled “Architecture Without Architects“ back in 1964.

Shortly after that came the 1973 energy crisis, when the world realized that modern buildings, which throughout the 20th century increasingly resembled each other regardless of where they were built, relied heavily on heating, cooling and ventilation systems that consume large quantities of energy. Awareness regarding the energy that buildings consume for their functioning and the need to build them more rationally directed the profession towards searching for more logical solutions regarding the organization, materialization, and construction of buildings. Examples of vernacular architecture and local building traditions have become some of the basic role models, still inspiring contemporary architects. There have been numerous examples of how, in the last half-century, vernacular architecture objects have influenced contemporary architecture. One research direction relates to the study of bioclimatic principles according to which traditional buildings were designed, which made it possible to improve the comfort of staying in them without the implementation of technical systems, such as integration of the natural ventilation principles in dry, hot climates, or passive solar heating in cooler and temperate climates.

Photo: Courtesy of Bojana Zeković

Integrating these principles into the design concept of modern buildings, which nevertheless requirea higher level of comfort, leads to significant energy savings during their use. Also, the reuse of recently forgotten and neglected construction techniques and locally available materials (e.g., rammed earth) gives great results in revitalizing local communities, significantly contributing to local economies and cultural diversity. It is clear from these examples that bioclimatic architecture includes all aspects of sustainability – environmental, economic, and social. All the aforementioned examples belong to the contemporary direction, or better, to the tendency in architecture that defines the connection and foothold in the local tradition through a neo-vernacular approach.

Although the development of bioclimatic principles in vernacular architecture took a long time, based on relatively constant natural conditions, but also more or less unchanged user needs, only to later form recognizable forms that were then attributed to the folk builder through several centuries of trials, errors and constant correction and improvement, today you should never try to build without architects. Preferably good ones! These architects know how to listen to requests, recognize users’ needs (real estate developers), and design projects that complement the natural conditions, programs, regulations, rational relationship to resources and many other conditions in the best possible way.

Bojana Zeković

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

Surging investment in manufacturing of clean energy technologies is supporting economic growth

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (markus-winkler)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (mrganso)

Booming investment in the manufacturing of clean energy technologies, especially solar PV and batteries, is becoming a powerful economic driver globally, creating new industrial and employment opportunities, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency released today.

In a first-of-its-kind analysis, Advancing Clean Technology Manufacturing finds that global investment in the manufacturing of five key clean energy technologies – solar PV, wind, batteries, electrolysers and heat pumps – rose to USD 200 billion in 2023, an increase of more than 70 percent from 2022 that accounted for around 4 percent of global GDP growth.

Spending on solar PV manufacturing more than doubled last year, while investment in battery manufacturing rose by around 60 percent . As a result, solar PV module manufacturing capacity today is already in line with what is needed in 2030 based on the IEA’s net zero emissions scenario. For battery cells, if announced projects are included, manufacturing capacity is 90 percent of the way towards meeting net zero demand at the end of this decade.

The report finds that many projects in the pipeline will be operational soon. Around 40 percent of investments in clean energy manufacturing in 2023 were in facilities that are due to come online in 2024. For batteries, this share rises to 70 percent.

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“Record output from solar PV and battery plants is propelling clean energy transitions – and the strong investment pipeline in new facilities and factory expansions is set to add further momentum in the years ahead,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “While greater investment is still needed for some technologies – and clean energy manufacturing could be spread more widely around the globe – the direction of travel is clear. Policy makers have a huge opportunity to design industrial strategies with clean energy transitions at their core.”

Clean energy manufacturing is still dominated by a few regions. China, for example, is currently home to more than 80 percent of global solar PV module manufacturing capacity. However, the report finds that the manufacturing of battery cells could become less geographically concentrated by the end of this decade; if all announced projects are realised, Europe and the United States could each reach around 15 percent of global installed capacity by 2030.

New data and analysis based on plant-level assessments of more than 750 facilities indicate that China remains the lowest-cost producer of all clean energy technologies. Battery, wind and solar PV manufacturing facilities are typically 20 percent to 30 percent more expensive to build in India than in China, and 70 percent to 130 percent more in the United States and Europe. However, the vast majority of total production costs for these technologies (70 percent to 98 percent ) is estimated to come from operational costs, which include inputs such as energy, labour and materials – implying that production cost gaps seen today are not immutable and can be influenced by policy.

Source: IEA

Romania adopts offshore wind law

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (NIcholas Doherty)

The Romanian Parliament adopts the country’s first Offshore Wind Energy Law.

This bill comes at a time when the country needs to assert its energy independence and resilience. The deployment of its offshore wind energy resources can play a big role in achieving these goals. Romania aims to develop its first offshore wind farm by 2032.

The Romanian Ministry of Energy will launch a dedicated study within three months of the entry into force of the law to assess wind potential, grid capacity, possible Maritime Spatial Planning restrictions including on biodiversity and environment, and to gather information on concession award procedures.

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Romania is currently developing many wind projects. And the country added 72 MW of onshore wind energy to its energy mix in 2023. A first in 10 years.

“This new offshore wind law is good news for Romania, and it’s good news for Europe. Offshore wind is homegrown, scalable and competitive, it can become central to Southeast Europe’s energy security and growth strategy”, said WindEurope’s Chief Policy Officer Pierre Tardieu.

Source: Wind Europe

Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Development of Croatian Cities

Photo: Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets of the Republic of Croatia
Photo: Courtesy of Ines Androić Brajčić

Green spaces in urban areas significantly raise the quality of life in a society undergoing intense urbanization. Constant improvement of green infrastructure contributes to sustainable development and, at the same time, has social, environmental, and economic benefits. In Croatia, one of Serbia’s neighbors, implementing green infrastructure is becoming increasingly common while applying green principles has generated recognizable benefits, which have led to significant investments in this area.

After the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted the Program for the Development of Green Infrastructure in Urban Areas, which covers the period until 2030, in December 2021, the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets launched two calls for grants – one for the development of green urban renewal strategies and the other for the implementation of a pilot project, to which almost 25 million euros have been allocated to through the 2021-2026 National Recovery and Resilience Plan. We spoke with Ines Androić Brajčić, Head of Sector for Green Urban Infrastructure and Circular Management of Spaces and Buildings in the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets of the Republic of Croatia, about the green construction standards in architectural practice, the development of green infrastructure in urban areas, EU funds, as well as the Green Urban Renewal Strategy.

In focus:

Q: What is the way to greener cities and municipalities in Croatia?

A: The way to greener cities and municipalities is the development of the Green Urban Renewal Strategy, an important strategic basis for local governments. The strategy refers to accomplishing green infrastructure development goals, integrating nature-based solutions, improving circular management of space and buildings, meeting energy efficiency goals, adapting to climate change and boosting resistance to risks. Ninety-six cities and municipalities applied following our public call to develop Green Urban Renewal Strategies, which clearly shows that the importance of green urban renewal has been recognized. In addition to providing implementation policies and co-financing from the EU and national sources, the Ministry also supports the development of various guidelines and methodologies and holds training sessions and the like.

Q: How do you define green infrastructure, and what are its benefits? There would be no green construction without green architectural projects. How long have green building standards been used in architectural practice, and what do they most often imply?

A: The Spatial Planning Act defines green infrastructure as planned green and water areas and other nature-based spatial solutions which are applied in cities and municipalities, and which contribute to the preservation, improvement and restoration of nature, natural functions and processes as well as generate environmental, economic, and social benefits. The benefits of green infrastructure are multiple and vary from environmental to economic and diverse social benefits. Environmental benefits are, for example, the reduction of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions or the mitigation of the thermal island effect, achieved by reducing the air temperature in cities. Economic benefits include a reduction in overall energy demand, indirect damage reduction from extreme rainfall and flooding, higher value of real estate and others. Social benefits include improving the quality of life and health of people living in cities, creating a pleasant living environment, connecting different social groups and encouraging their interaction and contributing to the preservation of architectural heritage and the vision of cities by renovating parks and gardens, as well as amassing new heritage by creating new spaces. These are just some of the many benefits of green infrastructure. The Ministry also encourages the energy renovation of public and multi-apartment buildings and family houses and the implementation of green infrastructure elements in those buildings, such as green roofs and building fronts. We encourage integral renovation, which includes at least one energy renovation measure, with a minimum energy saving of 50 per cent.

Furthermore, we support the in-depth renovation defined by the Construction Law, which implies a reduction of energy consumption for heating and primary energy by 50 per cent annually and a complete renovation prescribed by the Directive on the energy properties of buildings from 2018, which additionally includes increasing seismic resistance, fire protection and improvement of indoor climate conditions in buildings. None of that is implemented without special consideration for Program. This Program was created to establish sustainable, resilient, safe, pleasant, and orderly cities and municipalities in Croatia, i.e. its goal is to create prerequisites for a better quality of life and health of people and contribute to sustainable social, economic and spatial development. This will be achieved by quality planning and management of the development of green infrastructure and its improvement, as well as by ensuring its availability and boosting knowledge and social awareness of sustainable development.

Photo: Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets of the Republic of Croatia

Q: How much money did Croatia receive from EU funds and green infrastructure development programs, how were they used, and how many countries encourage this important segment?

A: Through EU funds for the development of green infrastructure, local governments have several sources of funding at their disposal. One funding source for local governments is the 2021-2026 National Recovery and Resilience Plan from the NextGenerationEU and REPoverEU mechanisms, with 25 million euros at local governments’ disposal. This money is for the development of the Green Urban Renewal Strategy and the implementation of pilot projects. Also, the 2021-2027 Operational Competitiveness and Cohesion Program has envisaged 71 million euros for green infrastructure development projects in urban areas that will come from the European Regional Development Fund. Costs related to investments in green infrastructure are also justifiable costs as part of the 2021- 2027 Integrated Territorial Program. The Republic of Croatia also provides national funding, awarded through tenders launched by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund. spaces and canopy coverage. Each Member State must draw up its nature restoration plan based on the draft Law. Currently, the European Commission is preparing guidelines for developing those plans, and when they are completed, more will be known about the Law’s implementation.

Interviewed by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski 

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

Kikinda Gets a Solar Power Plant

Photo: Aleksandar Rajić
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michael Fortsch)

The northern part of our country will get yet another solar power plant. The MT-KOMEX Company continues to build a sustainable future and produce green kilowatts. Its team of engineers, who have already implemented numerous successful projects with a total installed capacity of over 100MW, will build this solar plant.

After two successful projects implemented in Vojvodina, a third one will follow shortly, more precisely, the construction of a solar power plant in the administrative centre of the North Banat District. Namely, the latest MT-KOMEX project is located in Kikinda.

The project – the B2 Sunspot solar power plant, for which the market premium was obtained at the first auctions held in Serbia – will have a power of 7MW AC, while the installed power will be 7.8MWp, which will make this power plant an essential player in the green energy sector.

The area where the power plant will be located spans 8,500 square meters and was chosen because of its previous status as a former landfill.

Building the plant in this location will not only transform an unused space into a productive area but also lead to an environmental revitalization of a plot.

Once the former landfill is turned into a location for solar panels, the environmental impact becomes positive. Suddenly, a power plant emerges from the landfill and produces electricity that will be forwarded to the power distribution system. A once unattractive, polluted, and neglected area becomes productive, with investors not having to occupy pristine natural areas or agricultural and fertile land to build.

IN FOCUS:

Another positive aspect is that embarking on projects of this type implies that the required infrastructure usually already exists, such as the power grid and roads in the vicinity of the former landfills. All of this, put together, is an example of true sustainable development.

In terms of panels, the power plant will use bifacial solar panels from the renowned manufacturer Canadian Solar. Their individual power will be 660Wp. The mentioned bifacial solar panels allow double absorption of sunlight on both sides of the panel, leading to higher and more efficient electricity production. Their efficiency, depending on how ideal the weather conditions are, can be 10 per cent or even over 20 per cent higher than that of monofacial panels.

Photo: Aleksandar Rajić

Fronius International inverters traditionally play a crucial role in converting solar energy into electricity. The Tauro Eco 100-3-P model was specifically chosen for this project. The total number of inverters will be 70, ensuring high-quality and safe energy transformation from one form to another.

Seven dry energy transformers with a 1,000kVA capacity will be installed at the project site, further improving the system’s efficiency and reliability.

In addition to the inverters and the solar panels themselves, the rest of the equipment also comes from the Turkish manufacturer Kirac Metal. This manufacturer will provide structures that are long-lasting and resistant to different weather conditions, which last year proved to be a more than significant issue, considering that Vojvodina was hit by extraordinary-scale supercell storms.

All the features we have mentioned will contribute to the estimated annual production of 11,000MWh, which will position the B2 Sunspot solar power plant in Kikinda as a significant stakeholder in the renewable energy sector. Thus, it will contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The MT-KOMEX Company will once again have the opportunity to show its competence, professionalism, and, above all, experience in this field. After a hundred thousand installed panels throughout Serbia, it still effectively solves all field challenges ahead.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

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

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