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Investing in innovation is a sure way to have a quality product

Photo: : 6.6MW Windach Germany installed by Feneco
Photo: courtesy of Christian Carraro

As one of the biggest producers of solar inverters in the world, the SolarEdge Company is known for investing in the most innovative technology, while their products undergo very demanding tests to ensure top quality. They focused their business to the greatest extent on Serbia, Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, but they did not bypass the other Western Balkan countries either. The energy crisis and the drive to achieve energy independence accelerated the company’s development in 2023.

We talked with Christian Carraro, General Manager for South Europe at SolarEdge, about the photovoltaic (PV) market, inverter capacity, the company’s operations in the year marked by the energy crisis and ensuring safety under the solar roof.

What business venture in Serbia in 2023 are you most proud of and why?

We are very proud of the installations we developed together with our partners – 700KW at the Bizerba building, 1MW at the Gemax building and 1MW at the Champicomp building. Of course, our inverters are used and can be seen at many other solar power plants throughout Serbia. I must point out that we are working on several ongoing projects together with multinational corporations. These are mostly roof installations. In terms of the PV market, there is strong interest in residential buildings and even more so in commercial and industrial buildings. The PV market has been developing rapidly in the post-summer season, but not as rapidly as at the beginning of the year.

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You are recognized for your leadership potential in the inverter sector thanks to technology, research and development. How do on-grid inverters work and what are their most important advantages?

Photo: 6.6MW Windach Germany installed by Feneco

First and foremost, I need to explain the inverter’s role. A traditional inverter connects to the grid, converts DC to AC to DC and finds its maximum point at the array level on a group of modules. What does SolarEdge do differently than others? Thanks to the power optimizers, the inverter can find the MPPT at the single module level, therefore allowing the system to produce more power.

On top of that, it can provide greater safety thanks to two technologies – Sense Connect, which automatically detects and warns of abnormal temperature, and SafeDC, which automatically shuts down the system to reach safe levels, keeping maintenance teams or rescuers safe. Last but not least, thanks to the power optimizers, the performance of each individual module can be monitored. SolarEdge offers customers complete solutions.

Which facilities are best suited for SolarEdge installations and why?

All residential and commercial/ industrial roofs are suitable for SolareEdge installations. We also launched a new Agri PV sector, which is an agricultural solar solution for the generation of electricity from renewable sources with almost uninterrupted use of agricultural land. Plus, next year we will have a dedicated utility-scale solution. We have already started the production of a new 330KW inverter.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ESPONSIBLE BUSINESS.

New global fisheries management body’s first meeting focuses on sustainable practices and promoting biodiversity

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Eddie Bugajewski)

A new global fisheries management body was launched yesterday with key items on the agenda including best practices and approaches for the effective management of fisheries resources, and improvements in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) methodology to estimate the state and health of the world’s marine fish stocks.

The fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, the promotion of adaptive responses to the climate crisis, and mainstreaming biodiversity will also be on the agenda of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management’s 15-18 January 2024 meeting, with a specific focus on small-scale fisheries.

Over 500 million people globally depend, at least partially, on fisheries for their livelihoods – nearly half of them women when considering the whole value chain. While 65 percent of fish stocks were within biological sustainable levels, 35 percent were estimated to be at unsustainable levels – a proportion that has been increasing since the 1970s.

The COFI Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management’s main functions are to provide technical and policy guidance on fisheries management, identify global challenges and opportunities, and promote collective solutions to ensure the environmental, economic and social sustainability of a sector that is crucial for global food security and nutrition.

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“Improving global fisheries management remains crucial to restore ecosystems to a healthy and productive state and to protect the long-term supply of aquatic foods,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in his address to the opening of the meeting’s virtual plenary session. “This improvement also includes eliminating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and on addressing the impacts of the climate crisis, and biodiversity degradation that are also heavily impacting aquatic and coastal ecosystems and dependent communities”.

Qu underscored that the Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management will play an important role in addressing these global and complex issues. It will identify and discuss major trends and issues in fisheries management that require measures and make recommendations to the Committee on Fisheries to help advance implementation of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and achieve the vision set out in FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Director-General noted that the Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management will guide FAO’s Blue Transformation roadmap and its core objective of ensuring that global fisheries resources – including in lakes, rivers and seas – are efficiently and effectively managed.

On the agenda

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Eddie Bugajewski)

During this week’s meeting, Members will share insights, experiences and effective strategies to enhance fisheries management, explicitly considering ecological, social, economic, nutritional and gender objectives. The discussion will be particularly geared towards improving practices in small-scale fisheries both inland and marine, fostering a holistic approach to sustainable management.

Members will also discuss ways to assess the magnitude and impact of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This includes reviewing monitoring, control and surveillance systems, as well as enforcement requirements, and improving compliance with international conservation and management measures.

FAO has undertaken various activities to support Members in transitioning to climate resilient fisheries management, and this issue is to feature during the session. The Sub-Committee is expected to share lessons learned towards integrating climate change into national and multilateral fisheries management and governance and recommend areas that need further development, including increasing the adaptive capacity of fisheries operations and assets.

The importance of integrating biodiversity considerations in fisheries management within the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity is also on the agenda.

Better statistics on the horizon

During the session, Members will review methodological updates to FAO’s State of Stocks Index (SoSI), which has been published every two years since 1971 and presented in FAO’s flagship The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report since 1997.

FAO is the only organization mandated to collect such statistics worldwide. The proposed updates aim to enhance transparency, geographical coverage, and measurement accuracy to better reflect  changes in dominant species, stocks and fisheries practices and align with reporting initiatives and requirements.

COFI, a Technical Committee of FAO,, is the only global inter-governmental forum where major international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are examined and recommendations addressed to governments, regional fishery bodies, NGOs, fish workers, FAO Members and the international community.

COFI already has two other sub-committees: one on aquaculture and another on the fish trade. With the creation of the Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management, there is now a third sub-committee entirely dedicated to sustainable fisheries management.

Source: FAO

China’s petrochemical surge is driving global oil demand growth

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Grant Durr)

The global petrochemical industry – essential to the production of clothing, tyres, detergents, fertilisers, and countless other everyday products – is currently going through a momentous period of transition. Driving this change is a towering wave of new petrochemical plants, most notably in China. This is shifting oil demand to the country as it increases production of plastics and synthetic fibres, while generating increasingly cutthroat competition among those that previously dominated the market.

The speed and scale of the expansion of China’s petrochemical sector dwarfs any historical precedent, roughly doubling the pace of earlier capacity additions in the Middle East and United States. Between 2019 and 2024, China is set to add as much production capacity for ethylene and propylene – the two most important petrochemical building blocks – as presently exists in Europe, Japan and Korea combined.

The structural transformation of the petrochemical industry has been reshaping global patterns of oil consumption. Global oil use in 2023 has decisively surpassed pre-Covid levels, rising to 1 million barrels per day (mb/d) above where it stood in 2019. However, this is largely being driven by petrochemical demand and is especially concentrated in China. In 2023, demand for petrochemical feedstocks such as naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ethane in the country will average 1.7 mb/d more than in 2019. Were it not for the sector’s rapid growth, total oil consumption would remain comfortably short of the pre-pandemic mark.

As China’s petrochemical sector expands, demand for feedstocks derived from oil is shifting to the country from other longstanding petrochemical centres. It is also significantly affecting global markets for the products made from petrochemicals, such as plastics, synthetic fibres and their intermediates.

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China has long been the world’s largest polymer and synthetic fibre importer, accounting for the equivalent of almost 3 mb/d in feedstock terms, or 3 percent of global oil consumption, in 2019 and 2020. Now, its previous suppliers are under pressure after recent increases in Chinese production, in particular during 2023. Petrochemical activity and related oil demand fell in other regions, including the Middle East and the rest of Asia. Shipments of intermediate and final petrochemical products declined by almost 30 percent from these parts of the world during the first nine months of 2023 compared with the same period in 2019.

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Aranka Sinnema)

European petrochemical producers are not themselves major exporters to East Asia, but the reorganisation of trade has severely impacted the region. Operating rates appear to be unsustainably low, with many plants struggling to break even. Deliveries of naphtha, transformed into ethylene and propylene by European steam crackers, have fallen by almost 30 percent since 2021 to levels not seen since the mid-1970s.

Shipments of intermediate and finished petrochemical products to Europe from the Middle East and East Asia, excluding China, have risen slightly – but, in part due to weak local demand for plastics, Europe does not appear able to absorb the additional supply. Production across all these regions has slowed, although declines in Europe have been the largest.

In striking contrast, US producers have substantially increased exports of petrochemical feedstocks, intermediates and polymers. This includes flows to both China and Europe from the expanded American steam cracker fleet, which has been another increasingly disruptive force in global markets. Soaring domestic availability of ethane and propane, the most important US feedstocks, has outpaced increases in consumption, keeping processing margins strong and supporting rising exports. Ethane used in US plants now accounts for more than 2 percent of global oil demand, doubling over the past decade.

The advantages of this burgeoning feedstock supply have helped US producers expand their global market share. Huge volumes of US ethane and propane have poured into China since the pandemic, approaching three-quarters of the nation’s imports of these products and meeting more than one-third of the increase in China’s overall feedstock demand compared with 2019.

This trend is mirrored in US exporters’ growing dependence on China’s appetite for ethane and propane. More than three-quarters of the 2019‑23 increase in these shipments has gone to China. This symbiosis between the largest global source of demand growth – China – and the largest global source of supply growth – the United States – has enabled the petrochemical sectors in both countries to flourish in a way that would not otherwise have been possible.

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Waldemar Brandt)

The magnitude of the surge in petrochemical activity risks masking major shifts in global oil markets that have already begun to take hold. These structural changes have brought a peak in global oil demand into view this decade, according to analysis in the IEA’s medium-term Oil 2023 report and the latest World Energy Outlook.

One consequence of the growing role of petrochemicals is that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from oil will likely peak before overall demand. Petrochemical products are not primarily used as fuels, which means they are not a large source of direct emissions, though they can result in other environmental problems.

Despite marked growth in the world’s economy and population, global oil demand excluding petrochemical feedstocks remains lower than in 2019 and has grown little since 2017. Personal mobility and industrial activity now exceed pre-pandemic levels, but this is outweighed by strong improvements in the energy efficiency of engines, surging sales of electric vehicles and behavioural changes like more widespread teleworking.

IEA projections show that global road fuel use is set to decline from 2025. Total oil consumption by advanced economies is already nearly 10 percent below 2007 levels and shows no sign of recovering, even to its 2019 mark. Oil use is also expected to plateau before 2030 in China, long the driving force of rising global demand, with economic growth slowing and becoming less reliant on infrastructure and heavy industry.

These changes are set to bring an overall peak in global oil demand this decade despite growing demand for petrochemicals – which, while substantial, is not expected to alter the broader direction of travel.

Source: IEA

The EU built a record 17 GW of new wind energy in 2023 – wind now 19 per cent of electricity production

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Appolinary Kalashnikova)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Grahame Jenkins)

According to WindEurope data, the EU built 17 GW of new wind farms in 2023: 14 GW onshore; 3 GW offshore. These numbers are slightly up on 2022 and are the most the EU has ever built in a single year. But it’s well below the 30 GW a year that the EU needs to build to meet its new 2030 climate and energy security targets.

Germany built the most new wind capacity followed by the Netherlands and Sweden. The Netherlands built the most new offshore wind, including the 1.5 GW “Hollandse Kust Zuid” – for now the world’s largest wind farm.

The IEA estimates that Europe will build 23 GW a year of new wind over 2024-28. The actions set out in the EU Wind Power Package should deliver a significant increase in the annual build-out – and strengthen Europe’s wind energy supply chain. National implementation of the actions is key.

To that end the commitment to deliver the Wind Power Package that 26 EU Energy Ministers signed before Christmas in the European Wind Charter was key. Crucial actions include the further simplification of permitting, improvements in the design of the auctions to build new wind farms and public financial support for wind turbine manufacturing and key infrastructure.

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Wind was 19 per cent of the electricity produced in the EU last year. Hydro was 13 per cent, solar eight per cent and biomass three per cent. Renewables in total amounted to 44 per cent of electricity produced.

The amount of electricity produced from 1 GW of wind continued to grow. The “capacity factor” of new onshore wind farms now ranges from 30-48 per cent, and new offshore wind is consistently 50 per cent. The capacity factor measures how much output you get from a unit of capacity – it varies between different renewable technologies.

Source: WindEurope

THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION FOR THE TRANSITION TO CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (danist-soh)
Photo: Courtesy of Radman Šelmić

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) has carried out numerous activities related to the green transformation of the Serbian economy. First and foremost, the focus is on training and education of company representatives in the areas related to circular economy, carbon accounting, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), industrial symbiosis, decarbonization, as well as energy efficiency, industrial waste treatment and green construction. The 10-point Declaration on the Green Transformation of the Serbian Economy – a strategic document whose goal is to encourage and support companies in the process of transitioning to a circular business model while maintaining competitiveness and efficiency – was written exclusively by the Chamber’s staff. It is also available online at https://api.pks.rs/storage/assets/Deklaracija,%20final%20 3.12.2022.%201.pdf

The first regional Circular Economy of the Western Balkans Summit and visits to companies in Serbia were organized in June to encourage the transition to new business models. Various activities will continue because awareness in companies about the importance and comprehensiveness of changes in this area has increased, but it is still at an insufficient level.

Radman Šelmić, green and circular economy adviser to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), spoke with Energy Portal Magazine about the obligations that exporters will have to fulfil come next year, training and education in the Chamber of Commerce, various support programs, as well as the best practices from the European Union that we can apply to speed up green transformation.

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Q: For years, the Chamber has been holding training sessions related to circular economy. What area are you focusing on now? What topics are companies most interested in and how many have completed the training?

Photo-illustration: Pexels (macro-photography)

A: In the last few years, we have organized training and educational sessions related to the circular economy through various programs. In the beginning, these were general training sessions to familiarize company representatives with the concept of the circular economy, understand the necessity of changing business processes and models and recognize the possibilities for concrete application. We are now focused on designing and implementing more advanced and concrete circular economy education programs specific to individual industries, such as construction or food. Hundreds of company representatives completed the training, and, in this way, we have significantly contributed to the faster implementation of the circular economy in Serbia with the concrete transfer of knowledge. The training changed its format to fit companies’ needs and the market’s digitalization. Regardless of the format, the participants learned about using circular economy tools (waste management, eco-design, product life cycle, recycling, domestic and EU legislation, etc.) over several weeks of training. Special training sessions are now being held for all these areas.

Q: Could you rate the dynamics of applying new knowledge related to the circular economy in practice and how it can be improved? What have companies proposed to improve the transformation of the green transition in the coming period?

A: In the last year, there has been a noticeable shift in the ever-growing awareness of companies about the importance and necessity of implementing concrete solutions in this domain.

However, this is still far from satisfactory. We could group the most significant challenges into four segments: the first is insufficient technological and economic knowledge in companies that could accelerate the transition to circular solutions, the second is legal regulations that do not favor the status of by-products in specific industries and ending the status of waste, which is a necessary prerequisite for industrial symbiosis between the two companies, and the third is difficult access to bank funding for investments or insufficient subsidies. The fourth is the constricted knowledge of domestic experts in this area.

Q: What are the plans of the Chamber’s Circular Economy Centre to prepare the Serbian economy for a comprehensive green transition?

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (alexander-schimmeck)

A: We want our circular economy platform to be a central hub for industrial symbiosis in Serbia. Thanks to a pilot project, we have already listed all types of industrial waste in the Pirot industrial zone, under the auspices of cooperation with the Ministry of Economy. This is an important first step.

We are planning soon to implement the next stages of education for specific industries in the domain of the circular economy, as well as for areas such as carbon accounting, energy efficiency, decarbonization of business processes and others. Together with our colleagues from the Chamber’s Green Team, we are planning to visit the regional chambers and in direct contact with companies, convey messages about the necessity and importance of the circular economy.

Q: Could you tell us about the implementation of a three-year support program for the development of the circular economy, which was launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Serbia? What is the CCIS’ role in this?

A: The Circular Economy Development Support Programme (2021– 2023) is part of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Industrial Policy Strategy of the Republic of Serbia from 2021 to 2030, in which the CCIS is listed as an implementation unit of the Ministry of Economy. The Strategy’s overall goal is to boost the competitiveness of the Serbian industry. Five specific goals should be accomplished in six intervention areas – human resources empowerment, digitalization, innovation, investments, international dimension and circular economy. The concrete measure titled ‘Promoting the Circular Economy and Educating Business Entities’ is entrusted to the CCIS.

Q: What activities are envisaged in the program and how much should the program contribute to expediting the development of the circular economy?

A: The program was implemented at the right and very delicate time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic put the green transformation in stand-by mode, yet we, who operate in that segment, knew that the transition would not stop. On the contrary, as soon as the pandemic subsided and in parallel with the global energy and economic crisis, issues stemming from the green agenda gained momentum in the EU and the USA. The initial goal of the activities carried out by the Chamber was to define the position of the term circular economy in Serbia and present the circular economy tools to as many businesses as possible. The initial position was that 60 per cent of the respondents identified the circular economy as recycling, which practically meant that we were starting from a very modest amount of general knowledge and information because recycling is the last stop of the circular economy if we exclude the waste-to-energy processes (energy consumption) from circularity. We have successfully implemented training sessions covering general knowledge about circular economy tools, non-financial accounting, by-products and end-of-waste status, wastewater management and the CBAM. We have published guides on circularity in agriculture, concrete waste management and reuse, chemical management in the circular economy, etc. Our focus in the last year has been on industrial symbiosis. Circularity’s essence is the circulation of raw materials, whether they are defined as by-products or as the end-of-waste status. We have expedited processes and procedures and are removing waste or raw materials from the waste circulation administration.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN SERBIA REGARDING THE TRANSITION TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (antoine-giret)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (SatyaPrem)

Numerous analyses of various social aspects point to the fact that the coming decades will bring us an increase in the demand for resources. Considering the exploitation of natural resources that are not unlimited, the need for a different approach becomes a prerequisite for the sustainable survival of the planet and its inhabitants. Data show that in the next 40 years, the global consumption of materials such as biomass, fossil fuels, minerals, and metals could double. By increasing their use, waste also grows due to this approach. It is also predicted that the quantity of generated waste could increase by 70 per cent by 2050.

The human relationship with the environment, in general, is reduced to collecting benefits from it, not considering the needs of other inhabitants of the planet today and even less providing a future perspective.

A prerequisite for a sustainable future

During the life of the human species so far, the attitude towards what nature offers has been reduced to the principle of take-use-throw away. Although early civilizations did not contribute to the degradation of the environment in the way that humans do today, they laid the foundation for the treatment humans have been using in recent centuries. It is the so-called linear economic model, which needs to be eliminated if we want to make life on the planet sustainable for future generations.

The law of nature says that everything is connected, pointing to the fact that the problem of excessive consumption of resources does not only mean their depletion. Closely related problems are the world, which has seen the degradation of biodiversity and acceleration of climate changes, poverty, hunger, injustice, unrest among people and others. Considering the aforementioned, the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda were adopted at the UN summit in September 2015 and officially into force on January 1, 2016. Seventeen goals are interconnected in a cause-and-effect relationship.

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Although none of the goals specifically refers to the circular economy, its essence is particularly incorporated into goal 12 – responsible consumption and production. This goal promotes the need for sustainable and efficient use of natural resources, proper management of chemicals, significant reduction of waste generation and its processing and sustainable public procurement.

In addition to this goal, six more should be highlighted that are also directly related to the implementation of the circular economy – goal 7 – affordable and renewable energy; goal 8 – decent work and economic growth; goal 11 – sustainable cities and communities; goal 13 – climate action; goal 14 – life below water; and goal 15 – life on land.

As a new economic model that should replace the linear one, the circular economy rests on the principle of maximum reuse of materials from products at the end of their life cycle, with as little use of new resources as possible, as the main source of economic growth. This model strives to recover all waste material in the process of new production as soon as resources are used sustainably and efficiently, reduces the negative impact on the environment, also generates financial savings and new business opportunities – waste from one industry becomes raw material for another, i.e. waste does not exist.

The circular economy views products differently, taking into account how they are designed, how recyclable they are, the way they are produced and what impact they have on nature.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Christian Wiediger)

Speaking of the circular economy and our country, the establishment of a strategic framework began in 2019, when an ex-ante analysis of the effects of the circular economy was drafted, which showed that a separate public policy document is needed covering the circular economy.

Following the results of the analysis mentioned above and based on the Republic of Serbia’s Planning System, the Ministry of Environmental Protection initiated the development of the Circular Economy Development Programme in Serbia, covering the period from 2022 to 2024. The overall goal of this document is to create a stimulating environment for the development of the circular economy to support the green transition in the Republic of Serbia. To accomplish this overall goal, five individual goals are set, as are measures and activities that will be implemented from 2022 to 2024.

Individual goals are as follows:

1. supporting the economy in the transformation to a circular business model

2. supporting local governments in creating circular communities

3. improving the waste management system through more efficient use of waste in the circular economy

4. supporting the implementation of green public procurement and voluntary instruments related to environmental protection

5. raising the awareness of the public and educational institutions about the concept of circular economy.

A SWOT analysis was used in developing this Programme to understand the current situation better and identify further planned activities. Among other things, this analysis determined weaknesses in our country regarding the circular economy. Waste management was identified as the main weak point in the entire system, considering the inadequate application of regulations, the poor condition of communal infrastructure, the small percentage of primary waste selection, the absence of penalties and education of the population and others. Specific problems are listed in more than 30 points and include an underdeveloped circular model of single-use plastic product management and the use of more sustainable materials, low utilization of residues from the production process and inadequate exchange of information about their possible utilization among companies, as well as the lack of an adequate system for the reuse and recycling of non-hazardous construction waste, the lack of suitable waste management operators in the market, the impossibility of delivering waste in small quantities and others.

Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

ABB acquires Sevensense, expanding leadership in next-generation AI-enabled mobile robotics

Photo: ABB
Photo: ABB

ABB today announced that it has acquired Swiss start-up Sevensense, a leading provider of AI-enabled 3D vision navigation technology for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Sevensense was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from Swiss technical University, ETH Zurich.

“This marks a significant step towards our vision of a workplace where AI-enabled robots assist people, addressing our customers’ needs for greater flexibility and intelligence amidst critical skilled labor shortages,” said Sami Atiya, President of ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation. “Each mobile robot, equipped with vision and AI, scans a unique part of the building; collectively these robots complement each other’s view to form a complete map, enabling them to work autonomously in a rapidly changing environment.”

The acquisition follows ABB’s minority investment in Sevensense after it joined the company’s innovation ecosystem in 2021, the same year ABB acquired ASTI Mobile Robotics. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Following pilot customer projects in the automotive and logistics industries, ABB will integrate Sevensense’s technology into the company’s AMR portfolio, offering an unprecedented combination of speed, accuracy, and payload.

The market for mobile robots is expected to grow at 20 percent CAGR through 2026, from 5.5bn dollars to 9.5bn dollars and ABB’s AI-powered 3D vision technology is at the forefront of this growth.

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Photo: ABB

Sevensense’s pioneering navigation technology combines AI and 3D vision, enabling AMRs to make intelligent decisions, differentiating between fixed and mobile objects in dynamic environments. Once manually guided, mobile robots with Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (Visual SLAM) technology create a map that is used to operate independently, reducing commissioning time from weeks to days and enabling the AMRs to navigate in highly complex, dynamic environments alongside people. Maps are constantly updated and shared across the fleet, offering instant scalability without interrupting operations and greater flexibility compared to other navigation technologies.

Today, this AI-enabled navigation technology is already transforming the automotive manufacturing and logistics sectors, delivering value through faster and more efficient operations. For automotive manufacturer Ford, Visual SLAM enabled ABB AMR’s will create efficiency gains in production sites in the US, while Michelin will use the technology in intralogistics at its factory in Spain. Other automotive manufacturers will roll out the technology in the UK, Finland and Germany.

“Offering more autonomy and cognitive intelligence, ABB’s unique market-proven technology paves the way for a shift from linear production lines to dynamic networks. Intelligent AMRs autonomously navigate to production cells, tracking stock inventory as they go and sharing this information with other robots, while collaborating safely side-by-side with humans,” said Marc Segura, President of ABB’s Robotics Division. “With the acquisition of Sevensense, ABB becomes the leader in next-generation AMRs, offering Visual SLAM in Autonomous Mobile Robots, together with an integrated portfolio covering robots and machine automation solutions, all managed by our value-creating software.”

Photo: ABB

Gregory Hitz, CEO of Sevensense, said: “This is a significant moment in our shared journey, as we introduce our home-grown technology to a wider range of markets and sectors. ABB is the ideal home for us to continue scaling our versatile platform for 3D visual autonomy, serving OEMs across the automated material handling and service robotics industries. Together, we will redefine the limits of AI-enabled robotics.”

This revolutionary technology has the potential to impact robotics far beyond AMRs, leading to greater efficiency, flexibility and accuracy throughout production and intralogistics. The technology will also continue to be sold across segments including material handling, cleaning and other service robotics fields under the product name Sevensense.

The Sevensense partnership highlights the success of ABB’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovations. Through its partner ecosystem and collaboration with start-ups and universities, ABB develops leading technology for the benefit of global businesses. Sevensense’s approximately 35 employees will continue to be based at its Swiss office in Zurich.

Source: ABB

Massive expansion of renewable power opens door to achieving global tripling goal set at COP28

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

The world’s capacity to generate renewable electricity is expanding faster than at any time in the last three decades, giving it a real chance of achieving the goal of tripling global capacity by 2030 that governments set at the COP28 climate change conference last month, the IEA says in a new report.

The amount of renewable energy capacity added to energy systems around the world grew by 50 per cent in 2023, reaching almost 510 gigawatts (GW), with solar PV accounting for three-quarters of additions worldwide, according to Renewables 2023, the latest edition of the IEA’s annual market report on the sector. The largest growth took place in China, which commissioned as much solar PV in 2023 as the entire world did in 2022, while China’s wind power additions rose by 66 per cent year-on-year. The increases in renewable energy capacity in Europe, the United States and Brazil also hit all-time highs.

The latest analysis is the first comprehensive assessment of global renewable energy deployment trends since the conclusion of the COP28 conference in Dubai in December. The report shows that under existing policies and market conditions, global renewable power capacity is now expected to grow to 7.300 GW over the 2023-28 period covered by the forecast. Solar PV and wind account for 95 per cent of the expansion, with renewables overtaking coal to become the largest source of global electricity generation by early 2025. But despite the unprecedented growth over the past 12 months, the world needs to go further to triple capacity by 2030, which countries agreed to do at COP28.

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Alongside the report, the IEA also released a new Renewable Energy Progress Tracker, which allows users to explore historical data and forecasts at the regional and country level, including tracking progress towards the tripling goal.

“The new IEA report shows that under current policies and market conditions, global renewable capacity is already on course to increase by two-and-a-half times by 2030. It’s not enough yet to reach the COP28 goal of tripling renewables, but we’re moving closer – and governments have the tools needed to close the gap,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Onshore wind and solar PV are cheaper today than new fossil fuel plants almost everywhere and cheaper than existing fossil fuel plants in most countries. There are still some big hurdles to overcome, including the difficult global macroeconomic environment. For me, the most important challenge for the international community is rapidly scaling up financing and deployment of renewables in most emerging and developing economies, many of which are being left behind in the new energy economy. Success in meeting the tripling goal will hinge on this.”

“This report is the first key instalment of the IEA’s follow-up work on the energy outcomes of COP28 that will continue throughout 2024 and beyond,” Dr Birol said. “This is based on the five key pillars we set out ahead of COP28 and covers tripling renewables, doubling energy efficiency, cutting methane emissions, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and scaling up financing for emerging and developing economies. We will be following very closely to see whether countries are delivering on their promises and implementing appropriate policies.”

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Asia Chang Yr)

What is needed to triple renewables by 2030 varies significantly by country, region and technology. The report lays out an accelerated case in which more rapid policy implementation drives renewable power capacity growth 21 per cent higher than in the main forecast, which would push the world towards being on track to meet the global tripling pledge.

In advanced and large emerging economies, this would mean addressing challenges such as policy uncertainty in a fragile economic environment, insufficient investment in grid infrastructure to accommodate greater shares of renewables, and cumbersome administrative barriers and permitting delays. In other emerging and developing economies, access to finance, strong governance and robust regulatory frameworks are essential to reduce risk and attract investment, including establishing new targets and policies in countries where they do not exist yet.

Solar PV and onshore wind deployment through 2028 is expected to more than double in the United States, the European Union, India and Brazil, compared with the last five years. Prices for solar PV modules in 2023 declined by almost 50 per cent year-on-year, with cost reductions and fast deployment set to continue. This is because global manufacturing capacity is forecast to reach 1.100 GW by the end of 2024, significantly exceeding demand. By contrast, the wind industry (outside of China) is facing a more challenging environment due to a combination of ongoing supply chain disruption, higher costs and long permitting timelines, which require stronger policy attention.

The report also provides a reality check on the momentum behind renewable-based hydrogen, assessing how many announced projects are likely to go ahead. Of all the projects announced worldwide to use renewables to produce hydrogen this decade, only seven per cent of the proposed capacity is expected to come online by 2030. The slow pace of projects reaching an investment decision combined with limited appetite from off-takers and higher production costs have led to slower progress on many projects. To fully convince investors, ambitious project announcements will have to be followed by consistent policies supporting demand.

In 2023, the role of biofuels has also come to the fore. Emerging economies, led by Brazil and India, are expected to drive 70 per cent of global demand over the next five years as biofuels start to show their true potential in hard-to-abate sectors such as air travel and as a replacement for highly polluting fuels like diesel. While biofuels deployment is accelerating, the report shows that this is not happening quickly enough, with a significant increase required in demand by 2030 needed to align biofuels with a net zero pathway.

Source: IEA

Valencia kicks off 2024 as new European Green Capital

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (jonny-james)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (al-elmes)

The Spanish city of Valencia officially starts, today, as the European Green Capital 2024. To celebrate this achievement, over 400 activities and events are foreseen to reach all sectors of the city, from specialised audiences in sustainability, production, and business, to the residents of Valencia. The purpose is to raise awareness of the triple crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change, and empower people to take action to address it.

Valencia’s motto is “On a Mission Together” and city authorities work with residents to reach their climate neutrality and environmental goals. With its strong emphasis on people, it effectively combines responses to environmental challenges with societal ones. This has made it a frontrunner in the transition to sustainability, and a source of inspiration for other European cities.

During a festive ceremony, Maria José Catalá, the Mayor of Valencia, will receive the Green Book from Tiit Terik, the Deputy Mayor of Tallinn, the 2023 European Green Capital.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a concert in the cultural centre of Palau de la Música. On 12 January, the first EU Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities plaques will be awarded. Ten cities have been awarded the EU Mission Label in 2023, and five of these are Spanish cities, including Valencia. The EU Mission Label is an important milestone as it recognises the cities’ plans to achieve climate-neutrality by 2030 and aims to facilitate access to public and private funding to achieve that objective.

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Photo-illustration: Unsplash (travelnow-or-crylater)

The European Commission launched the European Green Capital Award in 2010 to encourage cities to become greener and cleaner, and to improve the quality of life for their inhabitants. Around 75 percent of Europe’s population lives in cities and urban areas. Many cities play a leading role in managing the societal changes needed in the protection of the environment. They are key players for the implementation of the European Green Deal locally.

The European Green Capital Award is bestowed to cities above 100,000 inhabitants. Since 2010, the European Commission awarded the title to: Vilnius (2025), Valencia (2024), Tallinn (2023), Grenoble (2022), Lahti (2021), Lisbon (2020), Oslo (2019), Nijmegen (2018), Essen (2017), Ljubljana (2016), Bristol (2015), Copenhagen (2014), Nantes (2013), Vitoria-Gasteiz (2012), Hamburg (2011) and Stockholm (2010).

In 2015, the European Green Leaf title was introduced for smaller cities starting from 20,000 and below 100,000 inhabitants, with seventeen Green Leaf winners so far. The 2024 titles went to the Slovenian city, Velenje, and Treviso in Italy. The Commission encourages the winners to work together and use their title year to build alliances.

Source: European Commission

iO Partners welcomes Charles Boudet as Group CEO

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sean Pollock)
Photo: iO Partners

iO Partners proudly announces the appointment of Charles Boudet as Group CEO.

With this appointment, iO Partners wishes to further accelerate growth and contribute to the transformation of the real estate sector.

Charles Boudet, an industry veteran with a diverse background, brings a wealth of experience from inside and outside the Real Estate industry to his role as Group CEO.

Before joining JLL in 2006, Charles served as Supply Chain Director at the global food company Danone.

Charles Boudet then had a distinguished 18-year career with JLL. After taking on various leadership roles, Charles became CEO France, Belux, South and Central Europe in 2015. Under his leadership, JLL doubled its revenues and engaged in transforming the way it operates by integrating data and technology at the heart of its services.

Charles’ tech savviness and people orientation aligns perfectly with iO Partners’ vision of leveraging innovation to excel in the consultancy landscape.

Charles Boudet expressed his enthusiasm for the entrepreneurial environment at iO Partners, emphasizing the development potential: “I am excited to be part of iO Partners and to contribute to its growth journey. My aim is to make the most of the innovation opportunities that lie ahead and draw from my previous experiences to position iO at the forefront of top-tier consultancy. I believe in the power of people, collaboration and technology to help us reach ambitious goals.”

Michael Stanton, Founder of iO Partners, declared: “Attracting a leader of Charles’s caliber speaks volumes about the future trajectory of our company. It’s a testament to the confidence in iO Partners, but also an acknowledgment of the opportunities that await. I’m confident that Charles’s wealth of experience, combined with our entrepreneurial spirit, will play a significant role in our continued success and development.”

iO Partners looks forward to a successful partnership under the leadership of Charles Boudet and is ready to embark on a journey of excellence in the CEE real estate consultancy market.

About iO Partners:

iO Partners (IOP) is a real estate services company headquartered in Vienna, providing a full suite of services in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia, comprising Agency, Leasing, Capital Markets, Valuation, Project and Development Services and Advisory. With a commanding presence in the Industrial and Office sectors, and the leading valuation team in the region, the company has offices in Belgrade, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Vienna.  iO Partners is a JLL preferred partner in Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. For further information, visit iopartners.com.

Source: iO Partners

Once enough to stain shirt collars, smog is lifting over greater Seoul

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Maruf_Rahman)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (catazul)

Cho Jang-hun remembers a time in the 1990s when it was almost impossible to escape the dirty air from exhaust fumes, coal-fired power plants and massive industrial projects that hung over his home in Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.

The smog used to be so bad that the collars of the white shirt that Cho wore in the morning were black with soot by the evening.

But in recent years, the 47-year-old schoolteacher has noticed a marked reduction in the air pollution that once plagued Gyeonggi, which, together with Seoul and Incheon, forms the Seoul metropolitan region.

“The air is much healthier, and the skies are clear,” he said.

Data published in a recent UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report on air quality in the metropolis bears this out. It found that concentrations of the most damaging air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), far exceeded national standards and World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines in 2005 but fell significantly by 2020.

When inhaled, particulate matter—tiny, invisible airborne particles—can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing heart disease, stroke and respiratory issues.

The report found that annual average concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers (PM10) were 30–40 per cent lower in 2021 compared to 2005. Across the Republic of Korea, emissions of PM2.5 fell by 19 per cent between 2005 and 2020, with even greater reductions in Seoul and Gyeonggi.

The improvement in Seoul’s air quality is the culmination of decades of work by the government of the Republic of Korea to tackle air pollution, which claims almost seven million lives globally every year. Its approach is seen as a success story in the Asia-Pacific region where 92 per cent of the population – some four billion people – are breathing unhealthy air with the risk of damage to the heart, lungs and brain.

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A recipe for cleaner air

The Seoul metropolitan region is home to 26 million people, around half the population of the Republic of Korea.

The region, a key driver of the country’s economy, was responsible for 48 per cent of national gross domestic product in 2016, according to the World Bank. However, much of the economic activity that makes it such a powerhouse has led to increased transport, industry, waste and electricity production, which often contribute to higher air pollution.

Photo-illustration: Freepik (frimufilms)

Over the past couple of decades, the government has responded by creating a robust legal framework to manage air quality in the Seoul metropolitan region. It has also made long-term air quality data publicly available and invested heavily in air quality management systems, among other key measures.

The air quality regulatory framework in the Republic of Korea consists of multiple levels of planning and policy making. A governing act serves as an overarching framework at the national level. Meanwhile, distinct plans outline how the act will be implemented at the national and local levels.

“The air quality legislation provides a strong foundation for action to combat air pollution in the Seoul metropolitan region,” said Mushtaq Memon, UNEP Coordinator of Chemicals and Pollution Action for Asia and the Pacific. “It has been particularly effective because it identifies the roles and responsibilities of different organizations at national and sub-national levels. This has created clarity as to who is responsible for implementing different components of air quality management.”

To assess compliance with the legal framework, hundreds of monitoring sites providing data on air pollution were set up across the Seoul metropolitan region and elsewhere in the Republic of Korea. The data is publicly available via a real-time air quality information website, which allows researchers to identify trends and provides information on which government agencies can act.

Substantial investment has been critical to improved air quality. Between 2007 and 2020, the Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi governments invested nine US dollars billion on air quality management, with 56 per cent of the funding focused on measures to reduce emissions from the transport sector. Some 3.2 billion US dollars was also devoted to evidence generation and public engagement on air quality.

In addition, governments in the Seoul metropolitan region have introduced a number of policies to address air pollution in recent years. These include the mandatory installation of eco-friendly boilers in households, restrictions on driving pollutant-emitting vehicles, and the greening of public transport fleets.

The resulting cleaner air has brought positive results for human health. Between 2006 and 2015, the number of premature deaths associated with air pollution exposure was estimated to have fallen substantially in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi, found one study.

A need to jointly address air pollution and climate change

Improving air quality is key to tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Not only does air pollution reduce the world’s biodiversity, it is also a key factor in the destabilization of the global climate.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Despite the Seoul metropolitan region’s progress on air quality, the release of planet-warming carbon dioxide remains a persistent problem.

UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition have identified 25 science-based solutions to deliver wins for climate and pollution in the Asia-Pacific region. These include switching from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency in transport and industry. The Republic of Korea has recognized that these measures will be key to the country achieving its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Governments in the Seoul metropolitan region are already embracing this new direction.

“While past research focused primarily on air quality improvement, current studies aim to achieve both health benefits and energy transitions through carbon neutrality,” said Cho Kyung-doo, Director General of the Incheon Carbon Neutrality Center. “Sustained investment to address climate change and improve air quality simultaneously will be pivotal going forward.”

Integrating the pollution and climate agendas is a crucial opportunity to benefit human and planetary health in cities and regions worldwide.

Suh Jeom-sook, Team Leader of the Air Quality Policy Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, believes the region’s success can inspire others.

“We have seen what is possible with the right policies and dedicated efforts from actors across the Seoul metropolitan region and are excited about the work ahead to further improve the air we share,” she said. “We hope that our experiences can serve as a positive example for governments in Asia-Pacific and around the globe in the push for clean air for blue skies.”

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution, a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations.

Source: UNEP

GREEN CITY DEVELOPMENT – A NEW APPROACH TO URBAN PLANNING AND SAVINGS

Photo: City of Banja Luka
Photo: City of Banja Luka

The City of Banja Luka’s Development Strategy stipulates priority activities that reflect the local government’s aspirations to make Banja Luka an ecologically sustainable, communally well-equipped, energy-efficient and safe environment, i.e. for Banja Luka to transform into a Green City. This concept implies creating more urban green areas, parks, and recreational zones, regulating the banks of the Vrbas River and its tributaries and managing natural resources responsibly and creatively. The Strategy’s draft also considers aesthetic and functional aspects, focusing on environmental protection. The local government is investing a lot of effort into creating inspiring, top-quality amenities in public spaces to enable better interaction, engagement, and health care for residents. In other words, making residents feel as good as possible in the environment they live in, says Draško Stanivuković, mayor of Banja Luka.

“Accomplishing all the goals outlined in the green city concept would contribute to its better-integrated development, better quality of communal services, energy savings and more attractive appearance. Banja Luka’s goal is to be a good example of a town with an innovative, smart, and sustainable utility and traffic infrastructure supported by an efficient land use system and increased resistance to climate change and other natural disasters. With a healthy and dynamic environment, the green and blue infrastructure network will protect and improve water resources, soil quality and biodiversity, but also maintain Banja Luka’s reputation as a green city.”

Q: What are the most favorable models for financing projects aimed at boosting energy efficiency? How much did you invest in such projects, and what results have you accomplished?

Photo: City of Banja Luka

A: Banja Luka aspires to be an energy efficiency leader in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the application of modern financing models. We launched several projects in this area and invested significant funds. Among the more significant projects is the public lighting managing and monitoring system, which has been implemented at more than 480 measuring points. In several stages, about 5,000 old light fixtures were replaced with LED ones, with a total value of about 563,000 euros (1,100,000 KM) and the project was implemented in cooperation with the UNDP. The city government will continue carrying out activities on the modernization of the public lighting system to reduce electricity consumption. Considering that there are about 30,000 light fixtures in Banja Luka, of which about 25,000 are old, that use high-pressure sodium, metal-halide, and mercury sources, with these new state-of-the-art LED ones, we will manage to reduce energy consumption and the emission of harmful gases. But first, we need to carry out energy-saving renovation, which includes the renovation of the infrastructure and the replacement of more energy-efficient lamps, as well as the application of light intensity regulation measures, which will achieve significant savings.

IN FOCUS:

Thanks to the existing system, the city authorities allocate about 1,250,000 euros annually to maintain public lighting and electricity costs. With the increase in the price of electricity, these costs amount to approximately 1,800,000 euros. By replacing all lighting fixtures with more energy-efficient ones, electricity consumption could be reduced by more than 65 per cent, and total costs would be reduced by around 500,000 euros.

Photo: City of Banja Luka

Furthermore, with the construction of the Banja Luka eco-heating plant, which uses biomass instead of fuel oil for district heating, we have started drafting the Feasibility Study on the modernization of the district heating system and the implementation of renewable energy sources, which the European Bank is carrying out for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). We plan to carry out the automation of substations in the district heating system, reconstruct the existing grid, and construct a new one. Individual investment activities will be implemented by the Banja Luka eco-heating plant and then via contracts with investors. Plus, several school and preschool facilities were renovated in the past period, too.

Q: How much do you invest in boosting the energy efficiency of residential buildings?

A: Under the auspices of the Decarbonization in the Housing Sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina project, which is financed by Sweden and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with the Banja Luka government, we have started drafting the Energy Efficiency Study of the entire housing sector. The Study’s goal is to provide key tools that will enable the development and establishment of efficient and effective policies and financing mechanisms that will promote significant growth in investments in boosting the energy efficiency of the housing sector. The main goal is to develop an energy efficiency study of the entire residential sector in the city, based on a sample of 400 individual houses and 30 residential buildings.

For several years, the city authorities have been co-financing works on rehabilitating the facades of residential buildings, with the expected reduction of energy consumption in the amount of at least 30 per cent. So far, the facades of eight collective housing buildings have been successfully restored, and following a new public call for submission of bids, the plan is to restore 12 more buildings in the city. The total value of the investment amounts to slightly over 511,291 euros, of which the city authorities have allocated more than 255,000 euros.

Q: What priority projects that contribute to enhancing environmental protection have you been implementing?

Photo: City of Banja Luka

A: Banja Luka is one of the leading local self-governments in environmental protection in the Republic of Srpska, according to the auditor general. Following the relevant regulations, we regularly draft all planning documents and implement them in accordance with the available budget. We monitor air pollution and noise. We have an organized waste collection system, which covers as much as 95 per cent of the total city territory (urban and rural parts). Every year, we implement the Clean Face of the City campaign, during which citizens can dispose of bulky waste at the expense of the local authorities. We are especially proud that we have cleaned watercourses of waste and that our citizens are increasingly developing awareness and throwing less waste into riverbeds and streams. The city government also supported the Spatial Healing project to prevent the creation of illegal landfills by erecting artistic sculptures and developing green areas instead. Sculptures and ornamental plants were put in several locations in the city area in place of unregulated landfills.

The plan is also to build three recycling facilities in the city area, which aim to reduce the amount of waste deposited at the regional landfill and increase the opportunity for recycling. Recycling is one of the projects we will deal with more in the coming period. Furthermore, thanks to the construction of a large city park, green oases, children’s playgrounds, river promenades and outdoor gyms, which are all aesthetic and functional contributions to the city, we are also striving to do what we can to protect and improve the environment and space.

The drafting of the Wastewater and Solid Waste Management Study, financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), is also underway, and the study should have been completed by May 2024. We are also planning to launch a tender for the rehabilitation and expansion of the regional landfill in Ramići.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

Towards sustainability: a look ahead to environmental moments in 2024

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Joshua Woroniecki)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Coralie Meurice)

The year 2024 will be marked by a number of events and observances with important implications for the environment, biodiversity, and global sustainability. From advancing sustainable nitrogen management to fostering inclusive collaboration for biodiversity and addressing critical threats like antimicrobial resistance, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) will work to support multilateralism, science-based dialogue and actions, innovation, partnerships for people and planet and much more.

Here are some key international events and meetings planned (dates and details subject to change):

9 – 10 January: 5th Meeting of the UNEP Working Group on Nitrogen

The UNEP Working Group on Nitrogen is convening for its fifth meeting, aimed at advancing the implementation of UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolutions 4/14 and 5/2 concerning “Sustainable Nitrogen Management.” This gathering will occur in Nairobi, Kenya, with both physical and hybrid attendance options available.

23 – 25 January: Bern III Conference on Cooperation among the Biodiversity-related Conventions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

The Bern III Conference focuses on enhancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) implementation by fostering inclusive collaboration. It aims to identify opportunities for cooperation among biodiversity-related conventions, suggesting steps to strengthen collaboration while respecting mandates. The conference also emphasizes sharing practical experiences to inform scalable cooperation in implementing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

12 – 17 February: Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 14)

The upcoming CMS COP14 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, emphasizes international collaboration for migratory species’ survival. Set under the theme “Nature knows no borders,” it aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This meeting addresses habitat conservation, threats like overexploitation and the climate crisis. The conference underscores international collaboration for the survival of these species beyond political boundaries.

27 February – 1 March: 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6)

UNEA-6, hosted at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, emphasizes effective and sustainable multilateral actions to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Member States and stakeholders will collaborate to advance the Decade of Action, addressing interlinkages between these global challenges through dialogues and official events. The assembly aims to lay the groundwork for strengthened global and regional efforts by the UN, Member States, and partners for impactful environmental action. The event will also feature Leadership Dialogues, a number of official and associated side events (some hybrid), exhibits, and much more.

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Photo-illustration: Pixabay

30 March: International Day of Zero Waste

The International Day of Zero Waste promotes sustainable consumption and production, advocating for a circular economy to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. With global waste reaching 2.24 billion tons annually, zero-waste initiatives aim to minimize and prevent waste, enhancing environmental protection and human well-being.

21 – 30 April: 4th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4)

The Plastic Pollution Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), as mandated by the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) resolution, will convene in Ottawa, Canada. The committee, supported by UNEP, seeks to craft an international legally binding instrument addressing plastic pollution, encompassing marine environments.

28 – 30 May: Nairobi Convention COP 11

The Nairobi Convention is a regional treaty that works to protect, manage, and develop the Western Indian Ocean. Its COP 11 comprises a preliminary meeting for partners, experts, and national Focal Points, followed by a Heads of Delegation meeting. The session involves a review of the Convention’s 2022–2024 Work Programme, approval of the 2024–2026 Work Programme and budget, and deliberations on key decisions.

3 – 5 June: 2nd Global meeting of the Montevideo National Focal Points

The Montevideo Environmental Law Programme is dedicated to advancing global environmental rule of law. The upcoming Second Global Meeting of National Focal Points will convene in Nairobi, Kenya. The programme’s objectives include promoting the development and implementation of environmental rule of law, enhancing capacity in countries, and contributing to the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

17 – 12 June: 3rd session of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on a Science-Policy Panel to further the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution

The Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) 3, in line with UNEA resolution 5/8, continues work to propose a Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals and Waste. Mandated to finalize proposals by 2024, it addresses key aspects like institutional design, governance, name, scope, functions, and operating principles for effective contributions to sound chemical management and pollution prevention.

24 September: High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance

The 2024 United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) presents a crucial opportunity to address the escalating threat of antibiotic resistance. The meeting aims to renew global commitment, exploring innovative and multilateral actions to combat AMR’s far-reaching implications on healthcare, mortality rates, and overall well-being.

Photo-illustration: Freepik (kdekiara
kdekiara)

21 – 23 October: 26th Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia Intergovernmental Meeting (COBSEA IGM 26)

The 26th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is scheduled to take place in Cambodia. The event will focus on crucial strategies for managing marine environments in the East Asian Seas Region.

21 October – 1 November: 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), will convene in October–November 2024. The event marks a critical global gathering to address biodiversity conservation, biosafety, and access to genetic resources.

4 – 5 November: 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance

Saudi Arabia hosts the fourth high-level global ministerial conference on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bringing together leaders to address urgent issues in preventing and managing AMR on a global scale.

25 November – 1 December: 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment

Plastic Pollution Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) convenes in Busan, Republic of Korea, as part of UNEA-5.2’s resolution for a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. With a comprehensive approach covering the plastic life cycle, the aim is to complete the work by the end of 2024.

A number of international days related to and led by UNEP will be observed:

  • 2 February: World Wetlands Day
  • 3 March: World Wildlife Day
  • 30 March: International Day of Zero Waste
  • 22 April: International Mother Earth Day
  • 11 May: World Migratory Bird Day (1st birds’ biannual migration event)
  • 22 May: International Day for Biological Diversity
  • 5 June: World Environment Day
  • 7 September: International Day of Clean Air for blue skies
  • 29 September: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
  • 12 October: World Migratory Bird Day (2nd birds’ biannual migration event)
  • 6 November: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
  • 18 – 24 November: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Source: UNEP

ABB acquires innovative optical sensor company to expand smart water management offering

Photo: ABB
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

ABB announced that it has agreed to acquire Canadian company Real Tech, a leading supplier of innovative optical sensor technology that enables real-time water monitoring and testing. Through the acquisition, ABB will expand its strong presence in the water segment and complement its product portfolio with optical technology critical for smart water management. Financial terms of the transaction that is expected to close in Q1 2024 were not disclosed.

Unlike traditional water quality measurement, which can be a time-consuming process, Real Tech’s product portfolio provides critical measurements in real-time. This enables better process control and continuous water quality assurance. Real Tech’s patented solutions cover the entire digital water value chain for water quality monitoring with a focus on data creation and analytics.

Real Tech’s portfolio includes optical sensors, controllers and a suite of optional accessories that allow each system to be configured according to customer needs. Leveraging the power of light, the sensors measure water composition. They use spectrophotometry and fluorescence measuring techniques to move testing from the lab to the process environment for real-time use. Liquid AI®, a proprietary AI software platform, completes the service offering, providing an easy and accurate way to analyze data from Real Tech sensors. The company has approximately 40 employees and is based in Whitby, Ontario.

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“We are excited to welcome all our new colleagues to the ABB family,” said Jacques Mulbert, Division President, ABB Measurement & Analytics. “We look forward to jointly driving the innovation and growth journey of Real Tech. Joining forces with ABB will accelerate the deployment of Real Tech’s technologies through the vast ABB global sales and service network, making a step change in access to market. The acquisition is an important part of ABB Measurement & Analytics’ strategy, which includes adding advanced environmental technologies to the portfolio.”

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Manki Kim)

“When we founded Real Tech almost 20 years ago, we were set on developing optical sensor technology that would advance the management of water into a new era,” said Jodi Glover, CEO and co-founder of Real Tech. “Our real-time water quality monitoring sensors and data analytics capabilities are empowering our clients, both utilities and industries that manage water in their operation and manufacturing processes, with the critical insights they need every minute, every day. We look forward to becoming part of ABB with our shared vision to create a more sustainable future.”

According to the UN, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, while more than 4.2 billion people lack safely managed sanitation. At the same time, only 11 percent of the world’s treated wastewater is reused and around half of the world’s untreated wastewater still enters rivers, lakes, and seas. Advancements in water sensor technology and artificial intelligence can aid in efficient water and wastewater management. Investment in water quality monitoring, water treatment and water infrastructure has expanded dramatically worldwide. In the US, an unprecedented 111 billion dollars is being invested in upgrading water infrastructure over a 10-year period.

Source: ABB

THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLANS

Photo: Ambassy of Kuwait
Photo: Ambassy of Kuwait

The state of Kuwait, the monarchy nestled on the coast of the Persian Gulf, which borders Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with a population of about 4.5 million, got its name after the Arabic term for a fortress built by the water. The largest industry in this Arab country is oil, which accounts for almost half of the country’s GDP. In Kuwait, summers last from April to October, with temperatures above 51 degrees Celsius. Kuwait attaches great importance to investments in environmental protection and implementing plans and measures that mitigate the negative consequences of climate change and allocates significant funds for investments.

We spoke with His Excellency Fayez Mujbel Sulaiman Al-Mutairi, Ambassador of Kuwait to Serbia, about the country’s national plan for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, investments in desalination in the struggle for drinking water, reducing dependence on oil, plans to reach zero gas emissions, cooperation with our country and other topics.

Q: What are the biggest environmental challenges in the fight against climate change that the state of Kuwait is facing?

A: Our planet is facing the greatest environmental challenges in its history. The leaders of Kuwait took this into account when they drafted the national plan for the country’s development covering the period until 2035 – ‘The New Vision of Kuwait’.

This plan defines seven long-term development pillars – a sustainable environment, a diversified, sustainable economy, quality health care, efficient state administration, creative human capital, developed infrastructure and a prominent international position. Each of these postulates contains programmes and projects that are strategically important and envisaged to achieve the best possible results in implementing the New Vision of Kuwait, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which Kuwait officially adopted in 2015.

The greatest common challenge related to progress postulates is accomplishing and preserving sustainable development, which is impossible without investments in environmental protection, and this is a topic we attach great importance to, especially bearing in mind that our country is not spared the environmental challenges that the whole world is also facing. We can say that Kuwait is even more affected by them due to its geographical position because of which it suffers from a shortage of drinking water and extremely high temperatures, in addition to the risk due to the loss of biodiversity, the expansion of the desert and the rise of the sea level, as a result of climate change.

According to certain indicators, in the coming decades, the area of Kuwait could decrease from 1.4 to 3 per cent. Bearing in mind these data, we have drafted a national plan for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, which defines the main challenges, such as reducing our economy’s dependence, especially the transport, energy and water supply sectors, on fossil fuels, i.e. the diversification of the economy, to reduce dependency from oil and gas, while at the same time, preserving the living standard and the quality of life and ensuring the continuation of socio-economic development by creating an environment conducive to foreign direct investments and creating more jobs. We must bear in mind that Kuwait is one of the developing countries with only one basic source of income – oil.

IN FOCUS:

Q: The impact of oil on environmental pollution is well documented. How much do you do to raise the environmental awareness of companies and citizens alike? Which institutions regulate the field of environmental protection?

Photo: Ambassy of Kuwait

A: Raising awareness about environmental protection plays a significant role in implementing the measures foreseen by the development plan, as well as national legislation and international agreements, all to have better environmental protection and fight against climate change. The Public Environment Office (Directorate for Public Relations and Environmental Awareness) is a state institution in Kuwait responsible for instilling awareness in individuals, regardless of gender and age, about the connection between a clean environment and public health and security. The effort to disseminate good practices related to environmental protection among children is also significant because they are the future. In this sense, numerous campaigns for raising environmental awareness and bolstering environmental protection were carried out by the Public Office at all levels and among different social groups. One of those campaigns aimed to familiarize the public with the Environmental Protection Law, as well as raise awareness about this problem among our citizens and foreign ones. Numerous activities were carried out in the media, shopping centers, on social media and at exhibitions and conferences.

Q: You also suffered significant damage from the burning of numerous oil fields during the Gulf War. How much and what did you invest in air purification and ecosystem protection systems after that?

A: The events you mentioned and the consequences of climate change that we felt on our skin helped Kuwait to understand how important it is to put the preservation of the environment, which includes quality air and the protection of the ecosystem, at the top of the priorities when developing, financing and implementing new projects in oil and energy industry, as well as in other industrial and development activities. Kuwait has conducted field research and established fixed stations that measure and monitor air pollution, mobile laboratories that can respond to emergencies and air quality monitoring stations near oil fields. Furthermore, our government has started implementing projects under the Clean Development Mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and train national technical teams to effectively detect and assess air pollutants and implement the required measures.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

FROM BILLBOARDS TO 21ST CENTURY FASHION

Photo: EkoBag
Photo: EkoBag

In the age of the consumer society and the fast pace of life, billboards, advertisements, and slogans do not last long. Very quickly, each of them becomes replaced by some newer content. However, in the same era, an interesting initiative appeared—imagine walking around the city and carrying a bag whose story began with a large advertisement on a billboard in your street. Recycling PVC foil for making billboards into a brand-new, unique bag significantly contributes to the circular economy, which relieves the planet and natural resources. Ivanka Stamenović creates art and fashion from waste, and the ecological, social enterprise EkoBag is a special story about the renaissance of ordinary advertising materials.

Ivanka’s story begins at the National Employment Bureau, where she went to learn more about self-employment tools. Then, quite by accident, she learns that the Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC) is looking for women who know how to sew. She recognized her chance. She is a textile designer by profession, and she saw a chance for progress as someone with a lot of experience and even more will. With the help of Miodrag Nedeljković from IDC, the project’s creator and with Ivanka’s realization, unique bags were sewn. 

The business runs in such a way that when some companies wish to cooperate with EkoBag, they donate billboards from which completely new products are made in the workshop. Then they buy new products with a sewn-on logo, recognizable colors, and billboard messages to continue the marketing campaign. They distribute newly created products to their employees or at promotions and workshops. 

IN FOCUS:

– Our target group are companies that advertise in this way, promoting products or services. The degradability of banners takes 1,500 years, and if they are found in nature, they can even lead to soil contamination because they are impermeable, waterproof materials—says Stamenković. During Ivanka’s training for this project, her abilities came to the fore. 

She designed a bag for a car manufacturer’s promotional material, and as the company was very pleased, they doubled the quantity requested. Quality work and dedication contribute to the production of each bag and today are the trademark of EkoBag, which numerous large and well-known companies have recognized. 

Posters, which vary from 40 to 600 m2, represent a substantial amount of waste created due to one-time advertising needs. However, when EkoBag turns them into conference, business and everyday bags, wallets, folders, cases, wallets, and cardholders (clips, wallets…)—it becomes a range of products imbued with environmental awareness. The whole process proceeds by taking the foil from the billboard after the advertising campaign is over. Then, it is cut into smaller pieces, washed—and the cutting and sewing can begin.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

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