From Investing In Nature Conservation To One Of the Most Environmentally Developed Countries

27.04.2024

F009862-edit_jacob_stb_ljubljana_8-photo-m — Photo: www.slovenia.info – Jacob Riglin

One of the smallest but greenest countries in the European Union – Slovenia – very quickly adopted European standards and achieved a high level of environmental protection. According to the report of the American universities Yale and Columbia, which, with the help of their EPI index, assessed how close countries were to accomplishing the established environmental policy goals, Slovenia has always been at the top of the world, most often among the top 20 countries, along with Finland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Austria.

H.E. Mr Damjan Bergant, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Serbia, says that Slovenia regularly ranks high on quality of life by relevant scientific and international organizations. This is partly attributed to the country’s preserved nature, which is its great asset as it provides clean water, air, quality food and various opportunities for relaxation and recreation. Slovenia invests a lot in nature conservation, with funds allocated for that purpose significantly increasing since the country became a full-fledged EU member. The Ambassador points out that environmental protection is comprehensively regulated by the Law on Environmental Protection, which, together with the Law on Nature Conservation and the Law on Water, forms the basis of the umbrella state strategy – the National Environmental Protection Programme. Slovenia has been trying to ensure that all national strategic and programme documents comply with the 2030 Agenda and contribute to accomplishing the 17 global sustainable development goals.

Q: You are well on your way to becoming a fully environmentally friendly country. How is ecological transition implemented in one of the greenest countries in the EU? What is the vision for Slovenia’s ecological development based on?

A: If we focus on energy, we are directed towards reducing energy consumption and applying energy efficiency measures at all levels (households, industry and services, public sector, system level and grid loss problems). Also, we strive towards using renewable energy sources (RES). Thus, we have set goals for 2030 – RES’ share in the final energy consumption ranges between 30 and 35 per cent, which we are trying to achieve by implementing various measures.

Photo: www.slovenia.info – Luka Karlin, Studio Virc

In 2023, we recorded exceptional growth in the solar power sector, increasing the total capacity from 690 to over 1,100 MW. The growth of solar power plant production capacities in 2023 was the highest per capita compared to all EU countries. Such an increase of about 400MW of additional capacity per year should be maintained yearly to achieve the goal set in the National Energy and Climate Plan, which foresees about 3,500MW of solar power plant capacity by 2030.

However, much still needs to be done, especially regarding the use of wind farms, where we are among the last in the European Union. We also have a lot of problems with spatial planning. Here, we would benefit from having more information about projects and implementation in the Western Balkan countries.

IN FOCUS:

Q: What is the structure of energy sources in Slovenia? What is the share of renewable energy sources in the total energy mix, and how will you increase this share in the coming period?

A: Domestic energy production in 2023 was more than 131,000 terajoules (TJ), which is eight per cent less than the previous year. Almost 47 per cent came from nuclear power, 32 per cent from RES, including hydropower, while 21 per cent came from coal. Slovenia met less than half (48 per cent) of its energy needs from domestic sources, while the remaining quantity was imported. Compared to the previous year, energy dependence increased by five percentage points.

Almost 268,000 TJ were available for energy supply, taking into account energy imports and exports. In terms of the energy supply structure, petroleum-based products dominated with over 36 per cent share, followed by nuclear energy (23 per cent) and energy from renewable sources together with hydropower (about 17 per cent), coal (12 per cent) and natural gas (11 per cent).

In the final consumption structure, petroleum-based products dominated with 47 per cent, followed by electricity (23 per cent), RES (14 per cent), natural gas (12 per cent), heat (three per cent) and solid fuels (one per cent).

Q: You are a regional leader in the circular economy. How did you achieve that? Did you apply the practices of other EU countries?

A: Slovenia actively promotes the circular economy principles manifested in the Smart Specialization Strategy. Line ministries are implementing campaigns to boost the circular economy, primarily through the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the 2021-2027 European Cohesion Policy.

Following the Integral Strategic Project for the Decarbonization of Slovenia, we have created a supportive environment to help businesses transition to a low-carbon circular economy and use digital technologies to increase their competitiveness.

Photo: www.slovenia.info – Andrej Tarfila

We have also launched a public call to encourage decarbonization and the transition to a low-carbon circular economy, which will support enterprise projects in developing sustainable and circular business strategies and implementing new business models. Through the 2021–2027 European Cohesion Policy, we implement measures that contribute to more efficient use of resources and improvement of material productivity. Special attention will be devoted to supporting low-carbon and circular business models and establishing the Circular Economy Centre, which will connect Slovenian stakeholders in this area.

Since 2016, we have had the Strategic Research and Innovative Partnership, an important platform with 94 members, including companies, educational and research institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

Q: More than 60 per cent of the Slovenian territory is covered with forest and green areas. There are also 40 national parks and reserves with over 30,000 species of animals. How much do you invest in biodiversity conservation?

A: Located at the crossroads of the Alpine, Pannonian, Dinaric and Mediterranean bio-geographic regions, we are proud to say that we are one of the most naturally abundant areas. Despite its smaller size (0.004 per cent of the world’s surface), more than 1 per cent of all known living species live here, amounting to over 30,000 species, although estimates range as high as 120,000. Slovenia has the largest share of Natura 2000 areas among all EU members – more than 37 per cent of the country’s total area. Together, various protected areas cover almost half of the country’s size. In the last seven years, we have set aside more than 100 million euros for biodiversity conservation projects, and we allocate 12 million euros from the state budget annually for this purpose, while an additional 5 million euros come from the Forestry and Climate Change Fund. In the 2021–2027 program period, we expect to receive around 130 million euros from EU funds.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

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

Where is Germany Today, One Year After Going Nuclear?

26.04.2024

nuclear-power-plant-g6fff23910_1920 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (distelAPPArath)

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Jakob Madsen)

In April last year, Germany abandoned the use of nuclear power after shutting down its last three nuclear power plants.

On the anniversary of stopping the use of this energy source, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE analyzed the current state of the country’s energy sector.

From April 2022 to April 2023, nuclear power plants in Germany produced 29.5 TWh (terawatt-hour) of electricity, which accounted for 6.3 per cent of the total net public production.

One year after this source was stopped being utilized, renewable energy sources have been constantly rising. Namely, from the moment nuclear energy was abolished until April of this year, about 270 TWh of renewable energy was produced, which is 33 TWh more compared to the same period last year. Regarding fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil, about 154.4 TWh of electricity was generated during the same period, representing a significant decrease compared to previous years.

As stated in the Institute’s analysis, this was due to high prices of natural gas and solid coal, as well as high costs for CO2 certificates.

Another reason for reducing the use of fossil fuels is the import of electricity. However, it should be noted that this did not happen because Germany could not produce sufficient quantities of electricity but because electricity costs less in foreign markets in the summer of 2023. More precisely, during the summer, renewable power plants in Denmark, Norway and Sweden generated cheaper electricity, making German coal-fired power plants uncompetitive.

Finally, the grid load also dropped by 2.1 per cent. This was due to the industrial and private sectors saving electricity, the drop in production, and the increase in electricity consumption from solar systems.

The analysis concluded that the first year without nuclear energy showed that it could be replaced with success in Germany.

Energy Portal

More Bioplastics for Less Microplastics

25.04.2024

2149094922 — Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Naja Bertolt)

Plastic pollution leads to various problems, especially for marine animals, which get injured when they get stuck in or swallow a plastic object. There are also warnings that certain plastic products should not be used more than once because such use results in the release of chemicals that have a negative impact on health. Plus, there is inadequate management of plastic waste when, for instance, it is burned, which releases polluting gases and particles into the air.

There is another problem, which I assume that a large segment of the public has at least heard about – microplastics. As the name suggests, these are tiny pieces of plastic, less than five millimeters in size. They are created by the decomposition of plastic objects. Microplastics can be released not only from plastic bottles or bags but also from clothes. Some plastic fibers found in fabric, such as polyester and nylon, are released during washing and end up in the environment through water runoff.

Earlier research has shown that one way to reduce the release of microplastics from clothing is to hand wash it, that is to hand wash the fabric that contains plastic fibers. Research has shown that during washing clothes in the washing machine, significantly larger quantities of this type of plastic are released.

Among the various solutions to reduce this pollution, scientists from the University of Portsmouth and the Maritime Institute of Flanders also developed one – plant-based plastic. Namely, scientists analyzed how conventional and bioplastics react in extreme conditions. Specifically, they wanted to see how much microplastics each type of plastic would release. The results showed that bio-based plastics, i.e., those released by natural raw materials, managed to last longer when exposed to intense UV radiation and seawater.

The relevant data show our attitude towards plastic. For instance, almost 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually, and nearly half of it is disposable. Of that quantity, over 10 million tons end up in the oceans.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Albirahman Yulianto)

Scientists have been working hard to find natural materials that are suitable for the production of bioplastics. This material is made from different plants, algae and microorganisms, such as bacteria. One of the more recent developments is the production of such material from water hyacinth.

I chose this particular example because, in addition to replacing conventional plastic, scientists say water hyacinth can solve a significant environmental problem. This plant is an invasive species that is endemic to South America. It was introduced to the rest of the world as an ornamental plant. Still, once it reaches the environment, i.e. water, it spreads quickly and leads to negative consequences for the rest of the living world in that ecosystem. Hyacinth creates dense deposits and thus prevents sunlight penetration below the water’s surface. When it withers, its decomposition in the water leads to the accumulation of organic matter that can reduce the presence of oxygen and change the chemical composition of the water.

If managed properly, its characteristic of reproducing very quickly can be beneficial. One of the ways is to use it in the production of bioplastics.

The endless possibilities that nature offers us and man’s strong will to examine it for useful purposes will ensure the well-being of all.

Katarina Vuinac

EU countries increase 2030 solar goals by 90 per cent but grid planning trails

25.04.2024

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Mark Merner)

Despite being expected in summer 2023, EU member states have now finally submitted their draft updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). 26 of 27 countries have submitted, with Austria’s on hold indefinitely. The new plans are a draft update of the NECPs accepted by the European Commission in 2019.

The updated NECPs represent, by weighted average, an 87 per cent increase in solar ambition compared to the 2019 NECPs. Lithuania and Ireland stand out by multiplying their respective targets by more than 5 and 10 respectively. Poland multiplied its target by 3, while Finland, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden more than doubled their previous targets, with Spain increasing its target by 95 per cent.

Despite the boost in ambition, the NECPs do not reflect the investments needed for grid deployment, flexibility, and digitalisation. While most NECPs at least partially mention flexibility, only four provide a real target for demand-side flexibility via smart-meter roll-out or demand-side response (BE, BG, CY, HR).

This demand-side gap risks discouraging citizens’ adaptation to the new energy reality. Europeans should be supported to flex their energy use sensibly and consume electricity when it is abundant – like charging e-vehicles in the middle of the day. Though overlooked in NECPs, demand-side tools should be used to ease pressure on the grid and support the system to add more renewables. Demand-side flexibility means less investment is needed for slow-to-build grid infrastructure.

When it comes to energy storage, 9 countries have defined dedicated targets in terms of MW, MWh or euros (BE, BG, CY, EL, ES, HR, HU, LT, PT). Among these 9 countries, 4 of them (BE, EL, LT, PT) have gone further with dedicated targets for batteries, small-scale storage or storage at household level. Most EU countries, however, fail to plan to empower the use of renewables 24/7, day or night.

Though a lack of storage infrastructure, or demand-side response, will undoubtedly and unnecessarily put pressure on the electricity grid, only 2 EU countries have set a target or an investment plan for their distribution electricity grid – France and Malta. While 20 countries have at least partially acknowledged the investment needs at transmission – high-voltage – level, only France and Malta have set out plans to invest in the distribution grid. France intends to increase the investment in its distribution grid by 20 per cent by 2032, while Malta mentions a series of investment in equipment for the upgrade of the grid.

Based on current ambition, the EU would see 626 GW total ambition by 2030, compared to the EU Solar Strategy target of 750 GW and of the industry potential of 902 GW. With the draft NECPs submitted to the European Commission, Member States now have until June 30th to submit any updates before their plans are considered final.

Source: Solar Power Europe

The World’s Electric Car Fleet Continues to Grow Strongly

24.04.2024

electric_car_električni_automobil — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Despite near-term challenges in some markets, based on today’s policy settings, almost 1 in 3 cars on the roads in China by 2030 is set to be electric, and almost 1 in 5 in both United States and European Union

More than one in five cars sold worldwide this year is expected to be electric, with surging demand projected over the next decade set to remake the global auto industry and significantly reduce oil consumption for road transport, according to the new edition of the IEA’s annual Global EV Outlook.

The latest Outlook finds that global electric car sales are set to remain robust in 2024, reaching around 17 million by the end of the year. In the first quarter, sales grew by about 25 per cent compared with the same period in 2023 – similar to the growth rate seen in the same period a year earlier, but from a larger base. The number of electric cars sold globally in the first three months of this year is roughly equivalent to the number sold in all of 2020.

In 2024, electric cars sales in China are projected to leap to about 10 million, accounting for about 45 per cent of all car sales in the country. In the United States, roughly one in nine cars sold are projected to be electric – while in Europe, despite a generally weak outlook for passenger car sales and the phase-out of subsidies in some countries, electric cars are still set to represent about one in four cars sold.

This growth builds on a record-breaking 2023. Last year, global electric car sales soared by 35 per cent to almost 14 million. While demand remained largely concentrated in China, Europe and the United States, growth also picked up in some emerging markets such as Viet Nam and Thailand, where electric cars accounted for 15 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, of all cars sold.

Source: IEA

Is the ‘G’ Element in the ESG Concept Unjustifiably Neglected?

24.04.2024

pexels-CoWomen-2041627 — Photo-illustration: Pexels

When analyzing individual ESG elements, the ‘G’ element is often overlooked due to the emphasis on climate risks, social implications and other ‘E’ and ‘S’ factors. In light of the growing recognition of global diversity and income disparity, corporate governance is emerging as a key component of the ESG concept.

The ‘G’ element includes decision-making factors, from policy-making by sovereign states to the distribution of rights and responsibilities between the various governing bodies of companies, including boards, managers and shareholders. These management factors include rules and procedures for states and companies, allowing investors to explore appropriate management practices, much as they do for environmental and social factors.

In focus:

Management composition, inclusiveness and diversity

Gender diversity and equality is one of the key issues of corporate governance, with many investors demanding greater representation of women on boards and executive leadership and equal compensation and advancement opportunities for women. More and more companies highlight the financial benefits of creating inclusive workplaces to increase diversity.

Many studies have shown that companies with more women on boards and executive leadership positions achieve better financial performance than less diverse companies.

A significant contribution to the improvement of gender equality in Serbia could be achieved by implementing the European Union Directive on the promotion of gender equality in the boards of directors of companies, better known as the EU Women on Boards Directive. This directive is a key step towards achieving gender balance in the business sector, encouraging the active participation of women at the highest decision-making levels in companies. With its implementation, Serbia could make significant progress in creating an inclusive business environment that values and supports the contribution of all members of society, regardless of gender.

Foto-ilustracoja: Pexels (Vlada Karpovich)

Currently, the main sources of rules governing corporate governance in Serbia are the Law on Companies and the Law on the Capital Market, which unfortunately still do not contain provisions that would contribute to the facilitation of gender equality in company boards or the provisions that would correspond to the intention of the European legislator.

Corporate governance rules are usually systematized in internal corporate governance codes. Some examples of corporate governance codes in Serbia are those offered by the Chamber of Commerce, which also do not mention or regulate the equal representation of women in companies’ management bodies. Adequate changes to the aforementioned regulations, i.e. their alignment with the rules of the aforementioned directive, could significantly encourage and contribute to the representation of women on boards, which has proven to be a good business practice in terms of all aspects of business, especially more efficient decision-making and achieving better financial results of companies.

The Law on Gender Equality is currently in force in Serbia, which, when it comes to gender representation in company boards, obligates a public body to exercise gender balance. This provision should not be limited to administrative bodies in public services but should also be applied to companies regardless of their legal form.

Milica Pešterić

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

Szeged Introduces a Geothermal Energy District Heating System

23.04.2024

The Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport recently announced the completion of the project for a new geothermal heating system in Szeged.

According to the Ministry’s announcement, six million euros have been invested in the new facility in the Sziler district. Thanks to the new facility, the city will annually replace 2.2 million cubic metres of natural gas with nearly 20 GWh of geothermal energy.

The municipal district heating company in Szeged currently supplies heat and hot water to over 27,000 apartments and more than 400 public buildings, including schools, kindergartens and retail facilities.

The district heating system in Szeged consists of 16 heating plants and a 250-kilometre-long pipe grid in 23 heating circuits.

This Hungarian city and its surroundings have exceptional hydrogeological potential, but until recently, only natural gas was used for district heating, which resulted in significant carbon dioxide emissions.

A revision of the National Geothermal Strategy is now underway, which could make geothermal energy a leading sector of Hungary’s green economy.

As announced by the Ministry, the goal of the National Geothermal Strategy is to reduce current domestic energy consumption by a fifth by 2026, and the share of geothermal energy in total heat production should increase from the current 6.5 per cent to between 25 and 30 per cent.

Although the country increased the use of geothermal energy after 2010 by more than four times, the huge potential of this renewable source is a chance for Hungary to get rid of imported natural gas and gain energy independence.

According to the International Trade Administration, Hungary is one of the countries that have committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, so by 2030, this country should generate 90 per cent of its electricity and heat from green sources.

Milena Maglovski

Global Warming – Tundras Threatening to Release Stored CO2?

23.04.2024

sneg , irvasi — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (hans-jurgen)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (hans-jurgen)

Tundras are cold regions of the world, biomes with short vegetation, lower trees, and extremely low temperatures, which cover large parts of northern Russia, Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, and the coast of Greenland.

They can also be found in high mountains such as the Alps, Cordillera and Himalayas, where they are called alpine tundra. The largest continuous area of tundra in the world is still on the territory of Russia, stretching from the western part of Siberia to the Pacific coast.

Although tundras are often less populated areas with diverse landscapes, they play a crucial role in climate change because their soil contains large amounts of carbon in the form of organic material, such as peat.

Because of the low temperatures and the permafrost – the frozen soil whose temperature is constantly below zero – decomposition occurs very slowly. This allows the tundra to function as a large carbon storehouse, preventing its release into the atmosphere.

However, due to global warming, this permafrost begins to melt, which can lead to the release of large amounts of methane and CO₂, exacerbating the greenhouse effect. In addition to being dangerous to the planet and people, these changes also affect the animals that migrate through the tundra and the local communities that depend on these ecosystems.

To better understand how the tundra changes with global warming, a group of scientists from Umea University in Sweden used open chambers – small greenhouses placed directly on the tundra. These chambers block wind and trap heat, mimicking the effects of heating. The results show that, under the influence of warming, the temperature increases by about 1.4 degrees Celsius and the soil temperature by 0.4 degrees, with a decrease in soil moisture. These changes cause the tundra to release more carbon from the soil due to the heightened activity of microbes that break down organic material.

Experiments have also found that the effects of warming are long-lasting and can continue even after temperature changes stabilize. The team of scientists found out that this process takes less time to play out than expected.

Energy Portal

Major Global Utilities Announce Joint Intent to Scale Renewable Capacity by 2.5 times to 2030

22.04.2024

vetar — Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

The Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (UNEZA) adopted the UNEZA Roadmap to 2030, which targets a total increase of renewable energy capacity within their portfolios to 749GW by 2030*, an increase of 2.5 times relative to 2023. Alliance members’ joint renewables ambition was announced alongside a grid infrastructure action plan.

The plan, revealed at the 14th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), addresses the pressing need to scale and modernise global grid infrastructure to support clean power development and the tripling of renewables by 2030. According to IRENA, around 720 US dollars billion per year of investment in power grids and flexibility is needed, to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

In a joint, high-level statement, Alliance CEOs stressed the centrality of enabling grid infrastructure and urged the policy and regulatory community to engage industry to address bottlenecks and unlock capital flows.

The UNEZA action plan focuses on three key critical areas:

De-risking supply chains.
Facilitating policy & regulatory support.
Mobilizing capital.

The joint statement and action plan were announced on the 17 April 2024, at the 14th IRENA Assembly Ministerial Roundtable ‘Infrastructure for the Energy Transition: Utilities for Net Zero Alliance’.

Francesco La Camera, IRENA Director-General, said: “The shift towards a renewables-based energy system is accelerating, and with the adoption of a global goal to triple renewable power capacity by 2030 at COP28, this trend is expected to intensify. IRENA’s WETO shows that this goal will be met only with the modernisation of infrastructure designed for the fossil fuel era to more interconnected and flexible systems that support renewables. The announcement of a grid infrastructure action plan by the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance is a significant step to addressing this urgent need, showcasing the central role that utilities can play in transforming our energy systems and realising net zero targets.”

H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, said: “Utilities play a crucial role in delivering mitigation measures that align global development with a net-zero future and are central to a future energy system that is in harmony with nature and the environment. Building on the momentum from COP28, we are advancing the design and implementation of our action plan and call on utilities around the world to join this initiative, showcasing their ongoing commitment to meaningful action.”

Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, and Co-Chair of the Alliance, said: “The global utilities community is taking bold, decisive steps towards the tripling of renewables by 2030, not just in terms of our concrete investment plans but also in our drive to address energy transition bottlenecks – particularly for grids. It is increasingly recognized that grid infrastructure development is critical to enable the energy transition and expansion of clean power capacity. However, we need to do more across industry and policy to encourage more supply chain capacity, address the gridlock in permitting for grids and increase capital flows.”

Martin Pibworth, Chief Commercial Officer at SSE plc, Co-Chair of UNEZA, said: “Our combined plans for accelerating renewables deployment will go a long way towards achieving our 2030 goal, but we also know that utilities can’t do it alone. We also need to build resilient supply chains that can meet this surge in demand, and we need bold enabling policy and regulatory mechanisms to underpin investments and accelerate the speed at which we can build. That is why we are coming together today to demonstrate our intent to the global supply chain and offer practical, actionable recommendations to policy makers which we hope will help unlock real delivery on the ground and keep us on a pathway to trebling renewables this decade.”

Launched at COP28, UNEZA counts many of the leading global utilities among its membership. Led by the UAE’s TAQA (Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), founding entities also include Bui Power Authority, DEWA, DLO Energy, EDF, EDP, Edison International, E.ON, Enel, Engie, Etihad Water and Electricity, Hitachi Energy, Iberdrola, Jinko Power, KEGOC, KenGen, Masdar, National Grid, Octopus Energy, RWE, Sacremento Municipal Utility District, Schneider Electric, Siemens, SSE, Tenaga, Uniper and Xlinks. Green Grids Initiative and ACWA Power are recent new additions to the community.

The Alliance secretariat is guided and hosted by IRENA and supported by partners including the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Global Renewables Alliance and Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional, Green Grids Initiative.

UNEZA invites companies to join the common vision of accelerating the energy transition. The Membership is open to utilities, developers, power system technology companies and knowledge partners determined to expedite the transition towards a net zero future by 2050.

Source: IRENA

Earth Day: What is it, When is it and Why is it Important?

22.04.2024

zelenilo - green - earth - zemlja — Foto-illsutration: Unsplash (Miriam Espacio)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Joshua Woroniecki)

Earth Day is an international day devoted to our planet. It draws attention to the environment and promotes conservation and sustainability.

Each year on 22 April, around one billion people around the world take action to raise awareness of the climate crisis and bring about behavioural change to protect the environment.

Participation in Earth Day can take many forms, including small home or classroom projects like planting a herb garden or picking up litter. People also volunteer to plant trees, join other ecological initiatives or take part in street protests about climate change and environmental degradation.

Official Earth Day campaigns and projects aim to increase environmental literacy and bring together like-minded people or groups to address issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss and other challenges.

The global theme for this year’s Earth Day is ‘Planet vs. Plastics’, which recognizes the threat plastics pose to human health and with campaigners demanding a 60 percent reduction in the production of plastics by 2040.

From 23 to 29 April 2024, governments and NGOs from around the world will gather in Ottawa to continue negotiating the terms of the United Nations Global Plastic Treaty.

Why is Earth Day important today?

As the millennium loomed, the Earth Day movement turned its attention to the growing reality of the impending climate crisis with a clear message for world leaders and business: urgent action is needed to address global warming.

It’s a message that is even more relevant today. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that without further immediate action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the world is on course for temperatures 3.2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. This level of warming would be catastrophic for the planet and all life on it, including humans.

The year 2023 was the hottest ever recorded.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 finds that environmental risks make up half of the top 10 risks over the next 10 years, with extreme weather events, critical change to Earth’s systems, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse being the top three.

Nature is our biggest ally in fighting the climate crisis and has slowed global warming by absorbing 54 percent of human-related carbon dioxide emissions over the past 10 years. Yet, we are losing animals, marine species, plants, and insects at an unprecedented rate, not seen in 10 million years. Threats from human activity for food production and ocean use, infrastructure, energy and mining endanger around 80 percent of all threatened or near-threatened species.

Earth Day has become a leading light in the fight to combat climate change and nature loss. As we celebrate its 54th anniversary, we must make use of this truly global movement to act, as citizens and governments, as consumers and businesses, and as individuals and communities. Our survival could well depend on it.

Source: World Economic Forum

New report unveils investment opportunities for solar in Oman

21.04.2024

electricity-solarni+paneli — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

SolarPower Europe, supported by the Global Solar Council (GSC), and the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA), launches its report on solar investment opportunities in Oman.

The report, called “Oman: Solar investment opportunities”, is a new publication that offers key insights into the Omani solar sector, and opportunities for international investment.

“There are no limits to Oman’s potential solar growth, as a country home to abundant natural resources. In an evolving regulatory and legislative landscape, this report aims to make an important contribution to the country’s solar journey”, said Katherine Poseidon, Chair of SolarPower Europe’s Global Markets Workstream, and Head of Strategy, Analytics & Process’ at Voltalia.

This report provides an overview of Oman’s business environment, and major macroeconomic trends, while analysing the regulatory framework and infrastructure network of the country. It maps the Omani energy sector, including the energy mix; key stakeholders and developments; and the policy and legislative framework governing renewable energy generation.

“Thanks to its high potential for renewable energy and a government very committed to taking a leadership role in the renewable energy sector and green hydrogen production, Oman has all the prerequisites to become a success story of the energy transition and solar development”, said Paolo Travaglini, Head of Area Coordination Renewables Africa, Asia, Oceania at Eni Plenitude and former Chair of SolarPower Europe’s Global Markets Workstream.

This report also updates the Oman chapter of SolarPower Europe’s 2021 report; “Middle East: Solar investment opportunities.” This revision contains the latest economic and political advancements in the country, and credible pathways for Oman to reach net-zero by 2050, following the most recent auction announcements, and the latest electricity tariffs and energy mix data. The country will need to install a minimum of 13 GW of solar in total by 2030, to stay on track to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Moreover, the recommendations have been revised to reflect the evolving dynamics of the Omani energy sector.

The report is the fourteenth in a series of SolarPower Europe market reports, which includes: Mozambique, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, India, Tunisia, Latin America, Algeria, the Middle East, and Vietnam.

Source: SolarPower Europe

Cooperation Between Sciece and Business for a Sustainable Future

21.04.2024

lamp-elektricity — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Rohan Makhecha)

Photo: Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia

Eight years have passed since the signing of the Paris Agreement, which set the goal of holding the global average temperature increase below 2°C compared to the pre-industrial levels, with the indication that the whole must make an effort of humanity to limit the increase in temperature to 1.5°C. Not even a quarter of a century has passed, and humanity faces a serious risk of losing this fight.

It is the struggle of all of us together and each of us individually. The only real compass that can guide us through the challenges of climate change is scientifically based solutions, and the only weapon we have in this fight is the application of scientific solutions in the economy. Coopera tion between science and business on protecting the environment is crucial for the necessary ecological transition of all industries, thereby enabling carbon neutrality and a sustainable future for humanity.

Recognizing the importance of innovations and technological solutions required to solve environmental challenges, in 2022, the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia launched the Green Programme of Cooperation between Science and Businesses with a total budget of 3.5 million euros. Under the auspices of this programme, 20 scientific projects involving 215 researchers from 37 scientific research organizations have been approved for financing. The maximum budget per project is up to 200,000 euros.

The Green Programme supports projects to develop patents, technical solutions and socially useful technologies to reduce air, water and soil pollution. Also under the auspices of this programme, researchers from Serbia are developing an intelligent robotic system for waste sorting and management, creating technologies for the remediation of soil and water polluted by harmful chemicals, working on innovative technology for the production of a new type of plastic using exclusively bio-renewable resources, developing techniques for using waste from the rapeseed industry to create new food products, collaborate on the creation of devices for the development of biosensors for fast, easy and cheap detection of genetically modified food and researching more effective solutions for removing arsenic from drinking water.

The Science Fund expects that the Green Programme of Cooperation between Science and Businesses will result in practical solutions that will used in various segments of society in the future – from industry to everyday life. The development of green industry and society based on sustainable development relies, to the greatest extent, on solutions that only science can offer in cooperation with the economy. Also, developing these strategies transcends the borders of one country and becomes a mission on which we must all work together to save our planet.

Thanks to the Science Fund’s sharp focus on the development of programmes that are important for the resolution of current global challenges, such as the Green Programme of Cooperation between Science and Businesses, as well as work on international networking to develop science, the Fund was elected to the leadership of the international organization Science Europe.

Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

What is the Sun Tax and Why Some Countries “Punish” Their Prosumers?

20.04.2024

solarni-paneli-kuća-elektrana — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Science In Hd)

There should be no obstacles for those who want to invest in renewable energy sources on the way to decarbonization of the energy sector. And yet, by introducing the so-called “sun tax”, certain countries discourage their current and future consumers from this endeavor, while the owners of solar plants perceive this as a form of punishment, even though they are producing clean energy for the national power grids.

The Sun Tax is a solar tariff imposed to reduce congestion caused by electricity flowing in two directions – to and from consumers – by investing in parts of the grid where necessary.

Romania is one of the countries where this tax was met with strong opposition, which resulted in the Romanian government cancelling it in late March this year. Spain also cancelled the tax in 2018, only three years after it had been introduced.

According to Spanish media, the Sun Tax was intended to regulate the use of solar energy and the impact of self-consumption on the national electricity grid. The tax meant that consumers had to pay additional fees for producing and using their own solar power, which at one point discouraged investments in renewable energy sources.

While European countries are slowly phasing out their sun tax, in Australia, as of 2025, prosumers will have to pay a new export tariff for the solar power they forward to the power grid.

The plan is for each state to regulate sun tax collection further, but solar plant owners hope to be protected in several ways during the process. According to the Australian organization Solar Citizens, panel owners will continue to fight for a fair deal in the hope that governments will prioritize measures that allow everyone to access affordable and clean solar energy.

Australia is one of the largest countries in the world, and certain northern parts of the country have over 300 sunny days.

A report from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) indicates that in the fourth quarter of 2023, average generation from distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems reached an all-time high of 3,433MW, up 17 per cent from the same period in 2022, thus setting a record.

Milena Maglovski

Solving Problems With Higher Harmonics

20.04.2024

Veća-slika---Wastewater-Treatment-Plant — Photo: ABB

The substantial energy efficiency and performance gains of using variable speed drives (VSD s) to control the vast number of electric motors, pumps and fans used in the water industry are well documented. A somewhat lesser-known fact is that VSDs and many other types of non-linear loads, such as EC (electronically commutated) motors, LED or fluorescent lighting, computers, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and Wi-Fi routers, can cause an undesirable event known as harmonic distortion in the electrical network.

Harmonics can cause damage to sensitive electronic equipment, interference in communication equipment, and false readings on measurement devices. They can trip circuit breakers, blow fuses, and damage capacitors, or contribute to the overheating of transformers, cables, motors, generators, and capacitors, wasting energy and shortening the lifespan of this equipment.

Therefore, while the benefits of VSDs far outweigh the effects of harmonics, it is essential to understand the problems that harmonics can cause — and the solutions available to eliminate them.

Harmonics Explained

In a perfect world, the alternating current (AC) in an electrical grid presents as a pure sinusoidal wave, running at a base frequency of so or 6o Hertz (Hz). In reality, the use of non-linear loads creates harmonics — multiples of the base frequency — that cause significant deviations from this pure sine wave in both the current and voltage. The resulting distortion, or electronic pollution, means that energy is lost within the network rather than used by the equipment it serves.

To measure the impact of harmonics a figure known as the total harmonic distortion on current — (THDi) is used. The higher this value is, the more energy is lost in the network. As an example, a to per cent THDi results in 6 per cent greater losses than a network with no harmonics. As well as increased energy costs, the electrical system needs to be sized to be able to carry the excess current. For example, a drive with no harmonic protection could add an additional 80 per cent load to a transformer.

While a single 4-kilowatt (kW) drive, even with 1oo per cent THDi, is unlikely to cause issues, multiple drives will have a cumulative effect as the excess current produces more heat. Not only does this heat waste energy, but overheating makes equipment more unreliable and shortens its life expectancy.

These issues can have a substantial financial impact during all phases of an installation’s lifespan. System inefficiency adds to daily running costs, while premature equipment failure carries unnecessary repair and replacement costs. When selecting equipment, it is crucial to ensure it does not have an adverse effect on the power system or connected devices.

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A Modern Solution to Harmonic

A common mitigation technique to address the trouble — some effect of harmonics is to oversize power components or cables to deal with overheating. For example, the incoming transformer may have to be a higher rating, for which the local power utility will charge higher fees. Many local power companies require operators in water supply and wastewater treatment to take preventive measures to decrease the harmonic distortions that its equipment may cause.

Oversizing backup generators is another common approach to mitigate harmonics induced challenges. However, this approach requires more space, increases project costs, and negatively affects project sustainability.

A sensible alternative to investing in oversized (and therefore more expensive) equipment is to install devices that reduce or eliminate harmonic frequencies from the outset.

Variable speed drives (VSDs) control the speed and torque of a motor driving a water application such as a pump or fan. When using these drives, the conventional approach to tackle problems created by harmonies has been to install external filters or use multi-pulse transformers. However, anew and more efficient technique is to use a specific type ofVSD known as an ultra-low harmonic (ULH) drive. These drives have built-in harmonic mitigation, including an active supply unit and an integrated low harmonic line filter.

While traditional 6-pulse VSDs decrease THDi to around 40 per cent, the best ULH drives can reduce harmonic content in a network to below 3 per cent. With such a low THDi, water facilities can avoid the massive oversizing of power network components and decrease their material usage.

Instead of over sizing, these components can then be sized appropriately — transforming the overall investment costs of the entire system. For example, compared with standard VSDs, incoming power cables might be reduced in size by about io per cent. Furthermore, the size of distribution transformers might be reduced by zo per cent, generators by 5o per cent, and switchgear and circuit breakers by 10-30 per cent.

ULH drives also boost a facility’s reliability. Because of the minimal harmonic content, they eliminate process interruptions from network overloads caused by increased line current. The drives also eliminate malfunctions in connected devices caused by a distorted current. Overall, ULHdrives reduce the installation footprint and total cost of ownership.

Source: ABB

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

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