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WHICH KIND OF PACKAGING WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE EU’S LIST OF BANNED PRODUCTS?

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Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Rich Smith)

The European Union continues to tackle environmental, plastic and waste-related issues. There is an agreement in place between the European Parliament and the Council on the revision of existing rules regulating the use and recycling of packaging waste, to improve the sustainability and safety of packaging used in the EU.

Certain single-use plastic products such as plastic straws, cutlery, plates, balloon sticks, cups and food and drink containers made from polystyrene are banned under the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, as well as all products made from oxo-degradable plastic. The EU has also looked at many other materials and microplastics and is gradually tightening its rules.

As each European produces almost 190 kilogrammes of this type of waste per year, the new initiative aims to ensure that all packaging can be recycled, to drastically reduce unnecessary and harmful packaging and to increase the use of recycled content in new packaging materials.

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As stated on the European Parliament’s official website, certain types of single-use plastic packaging, such as packaging for unprocessed fresh fruits and vegetables and food and drinks used in cafes and restaurants, such as sachets for spices, sauce, sugar and the like, mini packaging for cosmetic products and shrink wrap for suitcases at airports will be included in the list of banned packaging from January 1st, 2030.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Also, the use of PFAS substances in packaging that comes into contact with food will be banned. The mentioned substances are synthetic chemicals used to achieve higher packaging resistance. Although often useful for waterproof clothing, firefighting foam and many others, they will not be used in food packaging.

The targets also apply to food suppliers who should provide their own containers for their customers and should have at least 10 per cent of their products packaged in reusable packaging.

The decision to implement these new rules reflects a broad commitment to reducing the environmental impact of packaging, thus encouraging the use of sustainable materials and innovation in the packaging industry.

Energy portal

HOW CAN SATELLITES AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REDUCE METHANE EMISSIONS?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (StockSnap)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Amelia Bates)

Although it seems that in the fight against the climate crisis, the strongest focus is on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, last year’s UN Conference on Climate Change showed that there is a problem that needs to be addressed even more urgently and that is methane emissions. Methane is a gas that has an even stronger greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. An assessment by the International Energy Agency (IEA) showed that man-made methane is responsible for about 30 per cent of the global temperature increase that has taken place in recent years. Countries around the world have come to grips with this gas, enacting various legal obligations, penalties and recommendations to combat this problem, but it is very difficult to assess to what extent they are enforced. Here, three factors come to the rescue – satellites, algorithms and artificial intelligence.

By joining forces, Google and the Environmental Defense Fund have come up with a way in which the aforementioned three factors can contribute to the reduction of methane emissions. The Environmental Protection Fund’s new satellite, named MethaneSAT, will locate and measure emissions from oil and gas operations around the planet, as these industries represent the second largest source of human-caused methane emissions after agriculture. Although there are already satellites that monitor global methane emissions, this satellite has been significantly improved so that it can record with much greater precision the specific locations from which these emissions are released. According to reports, the satellite will orbit the Earth 15 times a day at an altitude of over 350 miles.

What role does Google play?

Google Maps is perhaps the most well-known online service created by this company when it comes to data and illustrations generated by satellites. Google Earth could be classified as a more advanced form of map, as it offers a 3D view of our planet, with additional interesting features. You can travel to many locations on our planet and use the “pin” option to go down to a certain street, and then move along it and thus see the actual recorded footage. By increasing the advanced capabilities of such online services, we arrive at one that answers the question as to what role Google plays in all of this – it is the Google Earth Engine platform for monitoring the environment on a planetary level.

The Environmental Protection Fund’s vision is to make data collected by satellites available to interested parties around the world to accelerate efforts in reducing methane in the oil and gas industry.

Availability, visualization and additional benefits will be available thanks to the aforementioned platform which generates a multitude of geospatial data and tools – both satellite images and written concrete data – for their analysis in one place. Once the information collected by the MethaneSAT satellite is fed into this platform, users will be able to combine it with other environmental data sets and analyze it using a variety of tools. In order to implement all this, computers used for this purpose have to provide fast and secure processing of a large amount of data, which is again made possible by Google Cloud.

The satellite is supposed to be launched next month. Humanity has benefitted a lot from the use of such satellites in the past, but it remains to be seen whether this way of mapping methane-emission locations will really help to reduce this problem.

Katarina Vuinac

CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES REDUCED THE GROWTH OF GLOBAL CO2 EMISSIONS

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Pedro Henrique Santos)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Mark Merner)

Although there was an increase in energy-related CO2 emissions in 2023, due to the large droughts that damaged hydropower plants, it was still a smaller increase compared to 2022. Smaller growth of global CO2 emissions has been achieved thanks to the expansion of clean technologies, such as solar and wind energy despite the demand for energy growing rapidly.

More precisely, emissions increased by 410 million tonnes in 2023, while in 2022, that increase amounted to 490 million tonnes. The 2023 increase was affected by severe droughts in China, the United States and other important economies.

Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) show that these emissions in the last five years would have been three times higher if clean technologies had not been included.

For the first time last year, renewable and nuclear energy generated more than half of the total electricity in developed economies. From 2019 to 2023, clean energy saw double the growth of fossil fuels.

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It should be emphasized that, in addition to solar and wind energy, electric vehicles played a significant role in reducing the rise of emissions in 2023. Globally, electric vehicles accounted for one in five new car sales.

What remains a necessity is to further encourage the development of clean technology and electric vehicles in emerging and developing economies. Specifically, advanced economies and China contributed to about 90 percent of new wind and solar power plants and 95 percent of electric vehicle sales, as stated on the IEA website.

Energy portal

French Reactors to Switch to Domestic Recycled Uranium?

Photo-illustration: Freepik (jplenio1)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (lukas-lehotsky)

France is a country known for its nuclear reactors, which generate as much as 70 percent of the required electricity.

In 2023, the country had 55 nuclear reactors. However, one nuclear power plant, on the Rhone River in the southeastern part of the country, has switched to sustainable nuclear power, using fuel made from recycled uranium. This revived the domestic uranium processing industry, with France allowing this nuclear plant to be involved in accomplishing the goal of reducing the consumption of natural resources by 25 percent over the next decade.

When it comes to sustainable nuclear energy, France has substantial experience in this field. Reprocessed enriched uranium is the material obtained by processing used nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors, where the uranium is separated, enriched and then reused in the reactors. This reprocessing process is carried out at the factory in The Hague and in this way, nuclear fuel is efficiently used, according to World Nuclear News.

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A total of four reactors in France have been certified to use this kind of enriched reprocessed uranium.

EDF (Électricité de France), the state-owned power company, is now implementing a strategy aimed at the use of recycled uranium, which should, in addition to natural resources, reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent over the next decade, compared to the use of non-recycled nuclear fuel, reports the world media.

In addition to preserving natural resources, and reducing CO2 emissions, which contributes to sustainability and circularity, this strategy increases France’s energy independence.

Energy portal

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY

Photo: NIS
Photo: NIS

Supporting society’s development is extremely important for modern companies. The greatest value in terms of support is investing in the future of the community, more precisely in young people who are the driving force behind our society’s development. Projects that improve health, elevate ecological awareness and environmental protection, support educational and scientific institutions, care for sensitive groups and deal with topics that are essential for improving the life of the local community are extremely important, too.

More and more companies are adopting this modern business philosophy. In this way, companies share their business successes with the community, to which they return part of their profits. At the same time, they also enjoy numerous benefits – first and foremost, a better reputation. A caring attitude towards the community has a positive effect on the loyalty and motivation of employees, attracting new employees to the company, boosting the reputation of the company and its brands in the public, and many other benefits.

We can see good examples of socially responsible businesses in the world and more of them in our country. One of them is the NIS Company, which is celebrating an important anniversary this year, i.e. its most important CSR programme – Common Cause Community – is celebrating its 15th anniversary and continuously investing in partner cities and municipalities. This programme is not only unique in that it has been implemented for a decade and a half, but it is also one-of-a-kind in the number of communities with which it has forged partnerships and whose development it encourages, as well as the variety of topics it focuses on and the accomplished result.

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The Common Cause Community programme is implemented in 13 partner cities and municipalities all over Serbia, in which the NIS Company carries out most of its business activities and in whose development the company has invested over 1.7 billion dinars in the previous 15 years. Listening intently to the needs of fellow citizens, the Programme focuses on areas essential for the development of society, such as science and education, public health and social protection, environmental protection, culture and sports and support for young people.

Photo: NIS

In this jubilee year, the programme has a record budget of 144.5 million dinars for the implementation of 54 projects related to science and education, whose goal is to improve conditions for the education of young people and to support the work of scientific institutions so that scientists can develop their full potential. This year’s programme is implemented by NIS in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia. Thanks to the projects that will be implemented in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Čačak, Kikinda, Pančevo, Zrenjanin, Požarevac, Kanjiža, Srbobran, Novi Bečej, Žitište and Veliko Gradište, many students and scientists will be able to enjoy significantly better learning and research conditions, with additional incentive in the shape of new and modern equipment that will help them to apply and further improve their knowledge.

The results achieved by the Common Cause Community programme over the past 15 years are impressive. We helped over 180 educational institutions, 40 cultural institutions and 45 hospitals and health centers. We donated 14 medical and patrol vehicles and improved over 150 playgrounds, parks, sports fields and facilities. NIS is extremely proud of the partnerships it nurtures with local communities, 1,136 implemented projects during the 15 years of the programme and numerous awards and recognitions, which compel the company to keep community support as one of its strategic priorities in the future, too.

NIS

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

FRANCE’S INCENTIVES FOR PURCHASING BICYCLES

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Geo Chierchia)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Heybike)

France continues to encourage alternative means of transport by granting environmental bonuses for their purchase. This national financial assistance will be extended until 2027.

For the purchase of a new or second-hand electric bicycle, the environmental bonus will amount to a maximum of 400 euros per bicycle, provided that the buyer’s income prerequisites are met.

When it comes to cargo bikes, electric bike trailers or bicycles adapted for people with disabilities, the maximum amount will be 2,000 euros, also subject to the resource requirement. Legal entities will be able to obtain financial assistance of up to 1,000 euros.

Furthermore, the amount of 3,000 euros will be available to those individuals who decide to replace their motor vehicle with a new or used electric bicycle. To clarify, this is possible if a person decides to write off their old motor vehicle.

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Paris stands out in particular when it comes to encouraging citizens to switch to this type of transport by building a good cycling infrastructure. Paris is ahed of all the cities in France thanks to its wide grid of bicycle paths, shops and equipment, as well as almost 2,000 public rent-a-bicycle stations.

Incentives for more environmentally friendly vehicles are not the only measure France is implementing to reduce emissions. This country has introduced numerous measures since January 1st, including the Government allocating more funds to the Green Fund. These funds will be used, for example, for the purposes of school energy renovation projects. The plan is to renovate 2,000 schools by 2024 and 40,000 within 10 years.

Energy portal

MUNICIPAL WASTE REDUCTION – FACTORS AND METHODS

Photo-illustration: Freepik (frimufilms)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Antoine GIRET)

In its 2024 report „Global Waste Management Outlook – Beyond an Age of Waste: Turning Rubbish into a Resource“, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has analysed the relationship that humans have with waste, what consequences can the continuation of the trend of generating more waste lead to and what steps are crucial to prevent negative outcomes.

Getting to the core of the problem, the analysis points out that the quantity of municipal waste is expected to increase by two-thirds and that its costs will almost double in one generation. More precisely, from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023, the generation of municipal solid waste will increase to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. When it comes to the global annual cost, it could double to 640.3 billion dollars by 2050.

Our planet is facing a triple crisis, that is three major environmental problems that are interconnected. In this sense, we are talking about climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution, and the increase in the quantity of waste directly contributing to this crisis. Namely, when it ends up in nature, waste represents pollution in itself. As such, it is particularly dangerous for marine life. Animals get injured, entangled and swallow waste. On the other hand, improper waste management leads to the release of greenhouse emissions, which exacerbates climate change. Furthermore, climate change leads to numerous negative consequences, due to which biodiversity suffers.

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Whether there will be a decrease or increase in municipal waste depends on three factors. The first is product design, which determines what type of material will be used, how much of it will be used and whether the product can be reused, repaired or recycled at the end of its life. The second is how people will treat the product – which one they will buy, how they will use it and finally how they will dispose of it. The last one relates to the capacity of local waste management systems –  that is collection, sorting, recycling and reuse systems.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sigmund)

Research shows that currently only 19 per cent of municipal solid waste is recycled, including metals, glass, paper, cardboard, certain types of plastic, as well as biodegradable waste that is treated by composting or used for biogas production. Although recycling is something that is insisted upon, a zero-waste model is an even more efficient way to reduce energy use, as it entails reuse, repair and measures that encourage consumption reduction.

Another way in which waste can be used is in energy production. However, a relatively small number of countries use this practice, because its usefulness and environmental acceptability are questioned. There are two important reasons for this. First, once the waste is burned to produce energy, it can no longer be recycled or reused, meaning that there will be a need to use new raw materials to produce a new product. In this way, waste cannot continue to circulate, but its function ends once it is converted into energy to be consumed. Second, burning waste such as plastic releases greenhouse gases and other emissions.

In order for good practices to be implemented, international development banks have to recognize and encourage proven zero-waste and circular economy initiatives and national governments need to integrate policies and support for municipalities, small and medium-sized enterprises and informal sectors. Finally, expert know-how should be transferred to people, who play an important role in this process.

Katarina Vuinac

ELECTRIC CARS FROM CHINA ARRIVE IN GERMANY

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (p-l)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (michael-fortsch)

Electric cars are becoming increasingly present in the European Union market, with China positioning itself as one of the very important stakeholders in this market. While some economists warn of certain long-term consequences, other analysts consider this dynamic of market development to be positive. In any case, there have been several predictions that the West Europe could be inundated with Chinese cars, primarily because of their affordable and competitive prices.

One of the obstacles for China to launch its campaign in the European market earlier was the lack of large cargo ships, which the country, due to strongly focusing on its own and other Asian markets, rented. The largest Chinese exporter of electric cars the BYD Company recently secured eight cargo ships for the next two years to transport cars to their export markets –  the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation (RTS) reported.

Recently, a cargo ship loaded with mostly electric cars from China arrived at a seaport in the northwest of Germany, despite all the difficulties imposed by in the current geopolitical situation. Apart from Germany, the Chinese cars have also been shipped to other European markets. The most interesting thing about this electric car manufacturer is their price, considering that some models of their new cars will cost around 10,000 euros, which is much more affordable than the European cars.

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BYD receives subsidies in China, the EU launched an official investigation a few months ago into the subsidies that China gave to its electric vehicle manufacturers, which could lead to punitive import duties on electric cars produced in China, which could affect both the export and price of these cars.

Photo-illustration: Freepik (bearfotos)

According to the European Commission, the prices of Chinese electric cars are generally about 20 per cent lower than those produced in the EU. Moreover, projections show that by 2025, China could have a 15 per cent share of the EU electric vehicle sales, according to DPA.

The European Commission has launched an investigation to assess whether punitive import duties should be imposed to protect EU manufacturers from cheaper Chinese electric cars, which are said to benefit from state subsidies. However, as the German car industry mostly exports to the East and as international trade is very complicated, the question remains whether the Commission will take any steps regarding this.

Despite these challenges, Chinese automakers continue to expand into the European market, using their technological innovation and competitive pricing to attract buyers.

Energy portal

FRANCE’S INCENTIVES FOR REDUCTION OF WASTE AND PROMOTION OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Photo-illustration: Freepik (kstudio)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

In January this year, France started implementing several new measures aimed at reducing waste by encouraging, among other things, the application of the circular economy and improving air quality. Several measures from different areas were announced by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion.

In order to extend the life of electrical and electronic equipment, the cost of repairs will be further reduced for consumers. The repair bonus is an amount that is directly deducted from the consumer’s account when they take this type of equipment to an authorized shop for repair. As of this year, the bonus is higher. For five devices that are used daily, the amount of the bonus will be doubled, while the bonus for the number of other products will increase by five per cent. Furthermore, over 20 other devices have now become eligible for bonuses. Apart from these, other bonus novelties have been introduced.

The disposal of used vehicle tyres at tyre distributors will be free of charge from now on. Until now, this was only possible once new tyres were installed. By implementing this measure, tyre disposal in nature and landfills will be reduced.

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Large distributors of construction products and materials are obliged to accept free of charge all construction waste brought by tradesmen and other individuals, but under the condition that the waste is properly sorted out. However, starting this year, metal, wood and plastic waste doesn’t need to be sorted out prior to it being brought for disposal.

Another important measure relates to the sorting of bio-waste. Namely, France will implement an efficient system for collecting such waste on a door-to-door basis. Plus, there will be separate collection systems at voluntary disposal sites, as well as devices that enable local bio-waste management. Citizens who want to dispose of bio-waste will be entitled to financial and other types of assistance from the state, as well as given an opportunity to exchange best practice cases with others.

Finally, the ban on the destruction of unsold non-food products comes into full effect. Back in 2022, this measure was introduced in France, but it only applied to certain products such as electrical and electronic devices, batteries, textiles, hygiene and child care products and others. As of this year, the ban extends to all unsold non-food products.

Energy portal

WHAT IS ESG AND WHAT CHANGES DOES IT BRING?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (gabimedia)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (geralt)

The increase in society’s awareness of their right to better and safer living conditions and a healthy environment has inevitably led to companies being subjected to stronger pressure on companies that play a significant role in fulfilling these needs. Companies are facing a lot of pressure because being successful no longer depends exclusively on the product or service they offer but also on the impact of their business on the wider social and natural environment. This is why an increasing number of companies are focusing on responsibility regarding environmental, social and management issues, i.e. the so-called ESG principles.

One of the definitions from the Short Guide to ESG, published under the auspices of the project Promotion of Sustainable Investment, implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with other institutions and organizations, says that ESG is a set of factors that concern the environment, social and management issues that companies take into account when managing their business and investors when investing, in terms of risks, impacts and opportunities that these factors bring.

Although there are no universal ESG standards or rules regarding which factors should be classified in which category, there is a general division based on the acronym ESG.

E represents environmental and includes climate change mitigation and adaptation, resource conservation, water, air and biodiversity protection, pollution and waste management, and energy efficiency.

S is the social standard, including working conditions, diversity, equality and inclusion, health and safety, human rights and engagement in the community.

G stands for governance and includes management composition, inclusivity and diversity, executive compensation, control and risk management, shareholder rights, transparency and disclosure of information, as well as issues of corruption, bribery and conflicts of interest and a code of ethics.

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ESG reports

Experts say that ESG is a concept that makes a quantified evaluation of the company’s sustainability. Accordingly, companies in the process of implementing ESG principles should write and publish a report on the impact of their operations on the three categories that make up these principles.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Scott Graham)

The European Union is taking this issue seriously, which is why the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) came into effect in January 2023, enforcing the rules regarding the information companies must report.

This year, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its first two global reporting standards for ESG criteria related to climate and sustainable business. These standards should ensure that companies incorporate information on implementing ESG principles into their financial reports.

Also, several organizations dealing with standards related to reports on these topics should be mentioned here. One of them is the Global Reporting Initiative, an international independent standards organization whose idea is to help companies and other organizations communicate their impact on climate change, human rights and corruption.

Another is the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, which provides investors with information on what companies are doing to mitigate their impact on climate change. The third organization is the United Nations Global Compact, a non-binding UN pact encouraging companies to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies while reporting on their implementation.

Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac

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

SWEDEN TO LIFT URANIUM MINING BAN

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jonathan Brinkhorst)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Sweden is considering lifting the ban on uranium mining, following an investigation by the Ministry of Climate and Economy to determine the changes that are needed when it comes to the law concerning uranium extraction.

As there is an active ban on uranium mining in the country, which was introduced less than six years ago, the goal now is to determine and examine how this provision will be changed, given that it is deemed unnecessary. The government should set boundaries regarding the purposes of uranium mining, the conditions under which it can be mined and whether to allow uranium mining only when it would be used for nuclear purposes. In any case, officials believe that a blanket ban no longer serves its purpose.

Uranium is often found together with other metals, in rocks, water and soil. All these minerals are needed to create technology that can produce energy without harmful emissions, which, in turn, will help make the concept of a climate-neutral Europe a reality. Due to the current ban, uranium is disposed of as waste and it is possible to use it.

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Uranium is used as fuel for nuclear power plants because of its ability to release a large amount of energy. Since Sweden has six nuclear reactors that generate about one-third of its electricity, the country must import most of its nuclear fuel, although it has its own reserves, according to World Nuclear News.

The draft law that allows Sweden to build two more nuclear reactors, in addition to the existing ones, at other locations by 2035 speaks of the need and importance of nuclear fuel for the future of the energy sector of this Scandinavian country.

Energy portal

FROM PRESERVING HISTORY TO AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT TOWN

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michał)
Photo: Aleksandar Arsenović (The Prestige)

Trebinje is located at the foot of the Leotar Mountain, along the Trebješnica River, resting in the shade of hundred-year-old plane trees. This is a town of many happy returns with a coastline spirit. The oldest inscription of the town’s current name is carved on the gravestone of the prefect Grda, dating back to the second half of the 12th century. Today, this town proudly shows relics from all eras and rulers under which it developed. We spoke with Mayor Mirko Ćurić about the town’s plans and everything that makes Trebinje the way it is.

Q: You have clearly defined energy efficiency goals. How will you accomplish the set goals, and what has been done so far?

A: In 2010, the Trebinje authorities recognized the importance of the Covenant of Mayors Initiative in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Back in 2011, we adopted SEAP (the Sustainable Energy Action Plan) for Trebinje. In the previous period, many projects and activities were implemented that have resulted in us accomplishing the set goals, such as implementing energy management. In 80 per cent of public lighting fixtures, we replaced inefficient mercury bulbs with efficient LED bulbs, and we have allocated funds in our 2024 budget to complete this process. In this phase of project implementation, electricity consumption was reduced by more than 280,000kWh, which caused a reduction of CO2 by about 1,000 tons. Regarding public buildings, energy efficiency has been improved in several of them, exterior doors and windows have been replaced, building fronts have been repaired, and roofs have been reconstructed. The same was done in kindergartens, elementary and high schools and other facilities. We are moving towards the reconstruction of all public buildings following our energy efficiency goals for these buildings. When issuing building permits, we ensure that new building developers observe energy efficiency measures and obtain an energy certificate.

IN FOCUSE:

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (laurynas-zizys)

We plan and continuously invest in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads. In this way, energy loss is reduced. By building roundabouts in places where it is recommended to do so and in line with the traffic regulation project, we have also managed to reduce exhaust gas emissions. In 2023, the project Digitization of Stationary Traffic Management in the Town Centre was implemented, significantly reducing the time it takes for vehicles to reach free parking spaces and reducing the amount of exhaust gases. We are constantly working to boost awareness and hold training sessions as part of various projects the town’s authorities implement. Energy consumption is also regularly monitored while energy-saving measures are analyzed and implemented (EMIS). Regarding rainwater and sewage management, we have implemented a series of projects – the wastewater treatment plant was reconstructed, the existing sewage grid was extended, and many households were connected to it. Under the auspices of the NAP project, which UNDP implemented, Trebinje authorities drafted the following documents – ‘Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Strategy for Innovative Financing of Investments’ and ‘Adaptation to Climate Change in the Town of Trebinje’. A waste management plan was drafted and adopted, and a project for rehabilitating the existing and constructing a new sanitary landfill to dispose of household waste was also devised.

In the previous two years, we spent over 500,000 euros on the equipment and professional training of fire-rescue units, all aiming to take preventive and timely action and reduce the consequences of fires.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (mujo-hasanovic)

Q: You are a signatory to the Mayors’ Covenant, by which you undertook to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. How do you implement this, and what are your plans for the next period?

A: In the coming period, we plan to fully replace mercury lamps with LED lamps. Funds for this project are allocated in the 2024 budget. Also, we plan to spend significant financial resources on expanding the sewage grid over the next two years and connect about 400 more households to it. We have been continuously investing in acquiring additional equipment and providing training for voluntary and professional fire rescue units. We also plan to ban the use of coal by both public entities and individuals in Trebinje and the use of plastic bags.

Q: You are the host of the Energy Summit. How important is a gathering like this for Trebinje? How important is the transition to renewable energy sources for the town, and could you tell us more about the projects in this segment?

A: The Energy Summit is an important event for Trebinje, and every year, it gathers numerous eminent experts from the energy sector, not only from the region but also from all over Europe. Thanks to this event, Trebinje is positioned as an important place in the energy sector, considering that our town has two hydropower plants and is the headquarters of the Electric Power Company of the Republic of Srpska (ERS) and the Regulatory Energy Commission of the Republic of Srpska. Since this has become a traditional event and there is growing interest in other similar events covering different sectors, the Trebinje authorities and ERS agree that Trebinje should get a proper congress centre. ERS has already launched a competition for a conceptual architectural solution for the future centre. I hope that in 2024, we will have the main project of this future building, which will be built in the area included in the Novo Trebinje Zone Plan.

Once the centre is constructed, the Trebinje Energy Summit, similar events, and other large-scale conferences will finally occur in adequate facilities.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

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

HOW WILL BARCELONA FUND THE INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS ON SCHOOLS?

Photo-illustration: Freepik (bearfotos)
Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (LCEC)

Due to the challenges posed by climate change around the world, Barcelona has set itself a plan called Clima Escola Barcelona, which includes the installation of solar panels on the roofs of schools. 100 million euros are planned for these purposes, and what is interesting is that the funds will be collected from tourist taxes.

The project will cover a total of 170 schools, attended by over 55,000 students. More precisely, we are talking about 149 schools, 16 school institutes, two special schools owned by the municipality and three institutes owned by the municipality.

The implementation of the project will take place in two phases. The first will last from 2024 to 2026 and solar panels will be installed on 84 buildings, while the second phase will cover the period from 2027 to 2029, when another 86 schools will receive solar panels. The total calculated area for the installation of photovoltaic panels is 181,000 square meters, according to the website of the Barcelona City Council.

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Estimates are that these solar panels will produce more energy, something that is needed to supply these facilities. The created surplus will be redirected to the needs of the City.

This kind of energy is intended primarily for the air conditioning of buildings. This means that the plan set by Barcelona includes the installation of air conditioning, then air purification devices and ventilation systems, and solar panels that will cover the energy needs of these devices.

Energy portal

SECOND ROUND OF AUCTIONS FOR 400MW THIS YEAR

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo: Emilija Jovanović

Under the auspices of the Investment Forum for the Western Balkans, participants of one of the panel discussions will talk about private sector investments in renewable energy sources. The panel participants also talked about a second round of auctions that will take place in Serbia this year for the allocation of renewable energy projects with a 400MW capacity.

The initiative is part of a three-year plan that envisages the provision of at least 1,300MW of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025, using auctions and market premiums to attract private investments, says Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy.

The first plan is aimed at the largest investments, while the next round of auctions will take place this year with the offered capacity of at least 400MW, all to expedite the energy transition.

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For this purpose, and to attract new investments and accomplish overall energy stability, the regulation that prescribes the balance responsibility of investors and the requirement for bank guarantees has been improved.

As the Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining, Dubravka Đedović Handanović explained, Serbia is the first country in the region to establish an intraday power trading and a regional electricity exchange.

There has been a stable return on direct investment for 10 years, not counting the pandemic year. However, any increase in investments implies a higher consumption of electricity, in addition to an increase in production capacity, which is why parallel efforts must be made to improve the power grid.

Energy portal

HOW DOES DUST INFLUENCE THE EFFICIENCY OF SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION

Photo-illustration: Freepik (rorozoa)
Photo-illustration: Freepik (senivpetro)

Dusty surfaces are a persistent phenomenon in our homes. And while they aesthetically disturb our space, these surfaces can also pose a problem for the operation of certain electrical and electronic devices, if large quantities of dust accumulate in or on them. Today there are various means of dust removal. I recently came across a liquid that prevents its accumulation. Dust is not only a challenge for homeowners but also for those who own solar panels or people who maintain solar power plants.

Dust negatively affects the efficiency of solar panels in two ways. Solar energy is produced thanks to the sun’s rays that fall on the photovoltaic modules and if they are covered with a layer of dust, it is difficult for the sun’s rays to reach directly and at full capacity. Less sun, less energy produced. However, I would like to highlight another problem here.

We have often talked bout what effect high air temperature has on the efficiency of solar energy. Some studies have shown that such temperatures can reduce efficiency by up to 25 per cent. Depending on the type of dust that ends up on the surface of the panel, it can lead to altered heat transfer patterns and create hot spots. How much negative impact the accumulation of dust will have depends on its shape, size and chemical properties.

We should take into account the geographical and climatic conditions of a certain area when analyzing the impact of dust. For instance, in parts of the world where rainfall is frequent and strong, solar panels will be naturally rinsed, while in desert areas a larger amount of dust naturally occurs, as precipitation is less frequent. Also, deserts are subject to more powerful storms, which additionally affect the distribution of dust. When installing panels in a specific location, local weather conditions, such as wind, should be taken into account. Solar panels should be oriented with these conditions in mind, while the accumulation of dust and its natural removal will depend on the slope.

At the same time as improving the performance of solar panels, solutions for their maintenance are also being developed. As a first example, I would like to mention special coatings, which protect the panel surface from dust accumulation.

Of course, we should never discard the human factor as there are people who are trained to maintain the cleanliness of solar panels with the help of special cleaning materials. However, technology has gone one step further. A device was designed that could be described as an improved version of a drone, which cleans almost independently. This drone has a camera that detects dirty surfaces, after which it descends on the panel and cleans it using a special robot that is attached to the drone.

Dust is not the only problem when it comes to solar panels, other natural phenomena such as falling leaves should also be considered. If we invest a bit more energy into finding solar panel maintenance solutions similar to the ones mentioned, we’ll get in return more green electricity, which is important for all of us.

Katarina Vuinac

ENERGY SUMMIT INITIATES CONNECTION AND BETTER COOPERATION OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE REGION'S ENERGY INDUSTRY

Photo: Wikipedia/Diego Delso
Photo: Wikipedia/Goran Andjelic

The Energy Summit in Trebinje has grown into the most prominent energy- related gathering, said Luka Petrović, Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Electric Power Industry and added that more than 900 participants have registered for this year’s Summit.

Petrović added that the topic of this year’s fifth Energy Summit is coordination and better communication of all energy companies in the Balkans.

,,We think that we bring together all decision-makers, both from the public and energy sectors in the entire Balkans and beyond. All the Summit’s guests and participants in panel discussions will provide guidelines for the next year on activities in the Balkan energy sector and its stabilization”, Petrović added.

The Energy Summit, as the largest and most popular business gathering, opens the door for the development of congress tourism in the south of Herzegovina. Mr Petrović reminds us that the competition for the selection of the conceptual solution for the future congress centre in Trebinje is underway, ending on March 7th. ​

Some of the summit topics include connecting power companies in the region as a response to the EU’s energy and climate policies, development and management of the electric power system with the aim of increasing the integration of renewable energy sources and accelerating the energy transition, maintenance of existing production facilities, development of the natural gas sector and others.

More:

„The Trebinje Energy Summit has been an important gathering place for business people from its very beginning. This year, we will have representatives from over a hundred companies, who will establish contacts, have discussions and conclude agreements on various projects and deals. For the first time, the directors of all three electricity companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina will gather in one place. We would also like to announce a multilateral meeting of all ministers and government representatives in Trebinje”, said Aleksandar Branković, the Energy Summit director.

The ministerial meeting will be hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska.

,,The Energy Summit is recognized as a place of discussion and agreement, a place where everyone is happy to return. The reason for this is our serious and detailed approach to planning and organization and the work done by our organizational and scientific committees. Preparations for the summit last six or seven months. Of course, the location is also important. Trebinje is very popular with visitors, so when we add all of the aforementioned up, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the number of the summit participants grows year-on-year”, said Branković.

The 5th Energy Summit will be held in Trebinje from March 20th to 22nd. The general sponsor of the Summit is Elnos Group from Banja Luka and the sponsors are the Ministry of Energy and Mining, as well as the Ministry of External Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Source: SET Trebinje

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