Why AI and energy are the new power couple

06.11.2023

Power systems are becoming vastly more complex as demand for electricity grows and decarbonisation efforts ramp up. In the past, grids directed energy from centralised power stations. Now, power systems increasingly need to support multi-directional flows of electricity between distributed generators, the grid and users. The rising number of grid-connected devices, from electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to residential solar installations, makes flows less predictable. Meanwhile, links are deepening between the power system and the transportation, industry, building and industrial sectors. The result is a vastly greater need for information exchange – and more powerful tools to plan and operate power systems as they keep evolving.

This need arrives just as the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) applications are rapidly progressing. As machine learning models have become more advanced, the computational power required to develop them has doubled every five to six months since 2010. AI models can now reliably provide language or image recognition, transform audio sounds into analysable data, power chatbots and automate simple tasks. AI mimics aspects of human intelligence by analysing data and inputs – generating outputs more quickly and at greater volume than a human operator could. Some AI algorithms are even able to self-programme and modify their own code.

It is therefore unsurprising that the energy sector is taking early steps to harness the power of AI to boost efficiency and accelerate innovation. The technology is uniquely placed to support the simultaneous growth of smart grids and the massive quantities of data they generate. Smart meters produce and send several thousand times more data points to utilities than their analogue predecessors. New devices for monitoring grid power flows funnel more than an order of magnitude more data to operators than the technologies they are replacing. And the global fleet of wind turbines is estimated to produce more than 400 billion data points per year.

This volume is a key reason energy firms see AI as an increasingly critical resource. A recent estimate suggests that AI already serves more than 50 different uses in the energy system, and that the market for the technology in the sector could be worth up to USD 13 billion.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (arteum-ro)

One of the most common uses for AI by the energy sector has been to improve predictions of supply and demand. Developing a greater understanding of both when renewable power is available and when it’s needed is crucial for next-generation power systems. Yet this can be complicated for renewable technologies, since the sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow.

That’s where machine learning can play a role. It can help match variable supply with rising and falling demand – maximising the financial value of renewable energy and allowing it to be integrated more easily into the grid.

Wind power output, for example, can be forecast using weather models and information on the location of turbines. However, deviations in wind flow can lead to output levels that are higher or lower than expected, pushing up operational costs. To address this, Google and its AI subsidiary DeepMind developed a neural network in 2019 to increase the accuracy of forecasts for its 700 MW renewable fleet. Based on historical data, the network developed a model to predict future output up to 36 hours in advance with much greater accuracy than was previously possible.

This greater visibility allows Google to sell its power in advance, rather than in real time. The company has stated that this, along with other AI-facilitated efficiencies, has increased the financial value of its wind power by 20 percent. Higher prices also improve the business case for wind power and can drive further investment in renewables. Notably, Google’s proprietary software is now being piloted by a major energy company.

Additionally, with a more accurate picture of peaks in output, companies like Google are able to shift the timing of peak consumption, such as during heavy computing loads, to coincide with them. Doing so avoids the need to buy additional power from the market. This capacity, if expanded more widely, could have a significant impact on the promotion of load shifting and peak shaving – especially if combined with better demand forecasts. For example, Swiss manufacturer ABB has developed an AI-enabled energy demand forecasting application that allows commercial building managers to avoid peak charges and benefit from time-of-use tariffs.

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Source: IEA

DEVELOPING ELECTROMOBILITY AS VOLVO’S PRIORITY

05.11.2023

Modern society is completely reliant on transport modes that cover long distances in a short time. Considering that traffic represents one of the most important sources of environmental pollution, it is not surprising that around 60 per cent of all polluting substances in the air come from exhaust gases. Electrification of traffic can significantly reduce emissions of harmful gases, which will greatly affect the quality of the air we breathe.

The Swedish manufacturer of motor vehicles, Volvo, pays special attention to the reduction of harmful gas emissions, as well as saving and conserving energy and reducing the impact on the environment and climate change. We spoke with Dragana Krstić, General Manager of Volvo Trucks Group for the Adriatic South region, about the novelties this company has in store and their operations in Serbia.

IN FOCUS:

How long has Volvo been operating in Serbia? What can you tell us about your work in the company?

In the spring of 1998, the Volvo Truck Corporation opened a branch in our country. The company grew year-on-year and expanded its offer and range of services, but the intimate, friendly relationship and care for each customer remained unchanged. With such an approach, we quickly became market leaders. Volvo also invested in the showroom and service network – it opened its own modern business, sales and service centre in Novi Banovci, while showrooms and service centres in Novi Sad, Čačak and Niš were adapted to specific needs.

I have been with Volvo since the launch of its business in Serbia. Over the years, I worked in various positions and had the opportunity to get to know in detail all segments of the company’s operations. I was appointed General Manager on January 1, 2017, and before that, I worked in the position of regional Financial Director in Volvo Trucks companies in Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia. In my career, I encounter many challenges, but with the help of my colleagues, we overcame all obstacles easily.

Volvo Trucks has presented its hydrogen-powered electric trucks. What novelties do you have in store for us and when can we expect these vehicles to hit the road?

Hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks, which emit only water vapour, will be an important part of Volvo Trucks’ zero-emission product portfolio. These zero-emission trucks use hydrogen to generate the truck’s own electricity and can be used for long trips, thus making them suitable for longer hauling tasks. These trucks are tested on public roads and to make it even more challenging, the tests were conducted above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden in extremely cold conditions. So far, all the tests have been going well.

Hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks will be particularly suitable for longer distances and when battery-only use is not an option – for instance, in rural areas without charging infrastructure. All required checks are followed by tests done with carriers and we expect these trucks to be available for road use in the second half of this decade.

What does Volvo Trucks offer to its customers in terms of emission-free transport?

For hauliers who want to provide emission-free transport, Volvo Trucks currently offers six different electric-battery models, as well as trucks that run on renewable fuels, such as biogas. We must act now to stop global warming. Regardless of the transport tasks or the places in the world where our customers do business, waiting is not an option. In a few years, our clients will be able to completely eliminate CO2 emissions from their trucks.

After the first quarter of 2023, we have sold almost 5,000 electric trucks in 40 countries. During the first quarter of 2023, a total of 600 16-tonne electric trucks were registered in Europe, more than four times compared to the same period in 2022. We also saw an increase in the number of new truck orders in the first quarter of 2023.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Sustainable business for reducing the environmental footprint

03.11.2023

The Alumil Company is a leader in the production of aluminium profiles, while using state-of-the-art technology and operating in line with the circular economy model, they fulfil their mission of sustainability. We spoke with Ivana Petronijević, an architectural engineer in Alumil, about the advantages of different products, creative processes, adaptability to living space, innovative production lines and investments in environmental protection.

Alumil has a comprehensive product range of different window and door systems. What are their most important features and what could you tell us about the functionality of these products?

Aluminum is an extremely formable material and ensures the production of very durable and at the same time minimally visible dimensions in the built-in position. Also, the geometry of our aluminium profiles ensures the installation of advanced thermal breaks, as well as glass units of different thicknesses, which promotes the high thermal performance of the positions as a whole. During the production process, starting from the selection of quality raw materials, through the expertise of our employees at the production facilities, we rely a lot on our research and development team who follow the latest architectural trends, as well as on the internal quality control of our products. We install tools that expedite system production and we are also actively cooperating with international institutes on the certification of our products. Today’s technology makes it possible to find solutions for large-dimension openings, as well as openings with atypical shapes, thus providing a solution to even the most demanding architectural projects.

IN FOCUS:

Koji proizvod biste posebno istakli, kako oni doprinose ugodnosti boravka u prostorijama?

As a company that has a very wide product portfolio of sliding systems for different types of buildings, we diverged all of our products into SUPREME, SMARTIA and COMFORT product lines. The SUPREME and SMARTIA categories consist of aluminium systems with thermal breaks, while the COMFORT segment consists of systems without thermal breaks. In terms of the SUPREME and SMARTIA product lines, I would like to highlight PHOS sliding systems, known for their minimalist design. The word ‘phos’ is Greek and means ‘light’. We chose it because it best describes these products which, thanks to the extremely minimal dimension of the visible aluminium, allow much more natural light into the space, as well as an uninterrupted view and panorama. PHOS systems provide maximum comfort and in addition to aesthetics, they have a high load capacity, which enables the glazing of large openings.

What kind of glass would be the best fit for these kinds of doors and windows?

The thickness, type and number of panes in the glass unit are calculated according to Uw calculations and following the regulations for the appropriate climate zone in the country. A wide selection of glass types is available in the market today, which makes it possible to achieve appropriate performance even with double-layered glass. It is especially important to keep in mind that the dimensions of sliding openings are usually more than 2.2m wide, very often with heights over three meters which means that the wings are quite heavy and need profiles that can stand such load, in addition to appropriate moving mechanisms.

When creating such door and window systems, how concerned were you with the views that such systems can provide so the users can fully enjoy the beauty of the environment that surrounds them?

The products from our product portfolio are designed so that they can respond to different needs of people. The possibility of manufacturing aluminium systems for windows and doors of different shapes and typologies creates great opportunities for users in terms of interior decoration, especially when choosing the colour of profiles and equipment. In our production facilities, we also have lines for powder-painting profiles, i.e. plasticizing, as well as an anodizing facility. The painting is done with certified powders and the paint is chosen by the designer or the user from the RAL map. This does not majorly affect the price of the final positions, which is a very important segment when deciding on aluminium doors and windows.

Are your products suitable for recycling and what is the best way to dispose of such waste when the time comes?

Our company understands the importance of sustainable development and we follow the research conducted on this topic in the rest of the world and Serbia. Nowadays, due to the energy crisis, we focus on sustainability and energy efficiency, so we strive to contribute to the reduction of the negative environmental footprint, starting from the production process through the creation of a new product. In line with our commitment to environmental protection, we have invested 4.6 million euros in establishing a state-of-the-art sorting and processing aluminium waste unit at our facilities in the Kilkis Industrial Zone. For instance, after dismantling old aluminium windows or parts, contractors transport and dispose of those parts, and then they are transported to our factory for recycling.

Alumil

EU food prices: olive oil up 75 percent since January 2021

02.11.2023

hrana_donacija — Foto-ilustracija: Social work photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (ElasticComputeFarm)

After substantial increases in 2022, food prices in the EU continued to rise also in 2023. Data for the second and third quarters of this year show that the prices of some items registered a slower increase.

In September 2023, prices of eggs, butter and potatoes in the EU are higher than in January 2021 and 2022 but are not as high as some months prior, while the prices of olive oil have been consistently increasing.

In September 2023, the price of olive oil was 75 percent higher than in January 2021. In January 2022, prices were already 11 percent higher than the same month of the year before, and between September 2022 and September 2023, prices registered a sharp increase.

Potato prices were also on a staggering rise. Since January 2021, prices for potatoes increased by 53 percent in September 2023, following a peak in June 2023 (+60 percent).

As for the prices of eggs, in September 2023, they were 37 percent higher than in January 2021. Egg prices stabilized in the first 2 quarters of 2023 and showed some decrease in August and September this year.

Butter prices evolved in a similar manner. Prices for butter peaked in December 2022 (+44 percent compared with January 2021) and then slowly started to decline. In September, butter was 27 percent more expensive than in January 2021.

Source: Eurostat

A STORY INSPIRED BY THE LOVE AND CARE OF CHILDREN

01.11.2023

Alkaloid_corporate_2 — Photo: Alkaloid Skopje

The Alkaloid pharmaceutical company recently celebrated the 45th anniversary of one of its most recognizable brands – Becutan, a collection of skincare products for babies and children.

The story of Becutan is firmly rooted in love and care for children. In 1978, the Becutan brand became an indispensable part of childhood in this region and a synonym for quality. Thanks to constant investments and innovations carried out in Alkaloid’s state-of-the-art laboratories, Becutan has been and remains consistent in providing top-quality products. That’s why Becutan is used by our youngest and remains a skincare friend to all generations for decades to come.

Becutan and Alkaloid are not only symbols of tradition but also bearers of change, sustainable technologies and nature conservation through energy saving – both in the pharmaceutical industry and sustainable development.

IN FOCUS:

Alkaloid Skopje is a company that has been operational for over eight decades in the production of medication, cosmetic and chemical products and the processing of botanical raw materials. It is present in all markets of the former Yugoslavia and Switzerland, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and the USA.

The constant growth of production implies constant investment in production processes and the education of existing and new personnel. There are many areas in which Alkaloid can boast to be a socially responsible company – from helping orphanages and helping sports to be involved in the dual education system.

The company also recorded significant results in saving energy and caring for a healthier environment in which we live. It has set long-term goals, the most important of which is to help the community where we live and do business. Other long-term goals are divided into several segments – identifying the source and establishing a carbon footprint measurement process, devising measures to reduce CO2 emissions, increasing renewable energy production by 12 per cent in the next 25 years, increasing recyclable waste by 10 per cent by 2025, analyzing sustainable PC packaging for CCB and PC Pharmaceuticals, identifying sources and establishing a water footprint measurement process for all of the company’s sites by the end of 2023.

The first results are already visible in daily production, especially in the main production plant in Skopje. So far, CO2 emissions have been reduced by 1,285 tonnes, new bicycle parking spaces have been built, encouraging employees to use bicycles more in their daily commute, and 5,000 m3 of water has been saved, i.e. 1.5 per cent used in total production.

A digital platform for professional communication has also been launched, which saves on the energy consumption of other materials, such as paper. These are all parts of the company’s ESG strategy.

Alkaloid Skopje

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE OIL INDUSTRY: REDUCTION OF RAW MATERIALS, WASTE AND EMISSIONS

30.10.2023

According to the official data posted on the website of the European Parliament, 2.2 billion tonnes of waste are generated in the European Union each year. More than a quarter of it includes municipal waste: everyday waste that is collected and treated by municipalities, mainly produced by households. To reduce waste and its impact on the environment, the EU has adopted ambitious targets leading to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

What does the circular economy entail

In practice, this implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its useful life, thanks to recycling, the resources it contains are reused, thus creating added value. Reusing and recycling products is important to slow down the consumption of natural resources, reduce environmental damage, and preserve biodiversity. Creating more sustainable products reduces energy and resource consumption and thereby the total annual greenhouse gas emissions, increases competitiveness, encourages innovation and creates new jobs.

Economically and environmentally sustainable development model

In addition, switching to reusable products reduces the amount of waste. Packaging is an increasing problem; the average European person produces almost 180 kilogrammes of packaging waste annually. The circular economy is not a new topic in Serbia either. The contribution to this concept is best illustrated by the example of our largest oil company – NIS. Namely, NIS explains that the company, as a packaging filler and supplier that places packaging on the market, hired an operator responsible for the packaging waste management system that holds a license for performing this activity. All packaging waste that was picked up and collected in 2022 was re-used, recycled, or disposed of during the current year, in order to meet the national objectives set for 2022.

Thus, in 2022, 111 t of paper, 18 t of PET packaging, and 10 kg of cans were handed over for recycling in NIS, which saved 1,887 trees, 36,090 litres of fuel, 3,552,000 litres of water, and 574,340 kWh.

Another of the goals that the company strives for is the constant reduction of the share of freshwater in the total amount of water used in business processes. At the Pančevo Oil Refinery, for example, thanks to the recovery of condensate, water is re-circulated, which achieves the effect of reducing the intake of fresh water by about 20 percent.

An important fact is that, just during 2022, NIS contributed to a healthier environment in Serbia by investing in environmental projects in the amount of almost RSD 315 million. All relevant data on this topic were presented within the 13th verified Sustainable Development Report, published by NIS under the symbolic slogan “Our Sustainable Community”.

In focus:

Operating according to global standards

NIS is the industry leader in the field of sustainable production and recycling, and it introduces good practices in its business. At eight oil and gas fields in Serbia, the company has built small power plants, in which electricity and thermal energy are now produced from gas that was previously burned on a flare, and thereby, the emission of harmful gases is reduced. Through the cogeneration program, the thermal energy produced is used for the needs of the NIS facilities, while electricity surpluses are sold on the domestic market.

This oil company also applies a modern environmental method of drilling in oil fields by applying the principle of “dry locations”, which is also used by the world’s leading oil and service companies. The material obtained during drilling is recycled on the site by separating it into a part that is re-used for drilling and a part that is waste and that is disposed to a landfill where it is stored according to global standards.

In addition, NIS also built the Amine Plant for the natural gas purification near Elemir. The processing method in this plant completely prevents carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, thus reducing the “greenhouse” effect. The extracted CO2 is then injected into the Rusanda oil and gas field, to increase oil utilization, which is another contribution of this company to the circular business model.

Source: NIS

MIXKON CONNECTS INDUSTRY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE

29.10.2023

Waste from most factories creates landfills, contaminates soil and groundwater, and frequently and significantly affects large bodies of water. Factories like chemical factories, steel mills, crude oil refineries, and aluminium smelters are often positioned near a water source due to production needs, such as having electricity generation plants nearby. Still, very few consider where the wastewater will end up during this process. Metals, chemicals, oils and various other substances are usually released into rivers, lakes or seas through wastewater, as this is the easiest way for factories to get rid of surpluses, which, in turn, has horrible consequences for aquatic ecosystems. It is not the only form of industrial pollution from which many living beings and nature suffer because, in addition to wastewater, over two billion tonnes of solid waste is produced on Earth annually, which ends up in landfills or is burned. At the same time, only 16 per cent are recycled.

IN FOCUS:

One industrial activity that inevitably generates large amounts of waste is casting. Foundry is a technological process in which metal objects are shaped by pouring molten metal into certain moulds to obtain the required casting. Mining, automotive, mechanical, construction, electrical industries and cement plants are just some of the manufacturers that depend to a large extent on this activity because they use different castings, i.e. moulded objects made of metal, which they then use in manufacturing their products. As foundry is necessary for production, just like a healthy living environment is also necessary, someone has thought of how to apply technological and technical knowledge and encompass all of the above thanks to a single idea.

Mileta Bogdanović from the town of Aranđelovac is a technology engineer who specializes in non-metals and construction materials. Back in 2018, when, as a co-owner, he founded MIXKON d.o.o., a company that carries out professional rehabilitation and employs persons with disabilities, he put his knowledge to good use. That effort and innovation paid off, as shown by the award won at the Green Ideas Forum last year, a kind of validation for entrepreneurs whose ideas are based on sustainable development.

The company processes waste material from the foundry, which is then used to produce refractory materials used at extremely high temperatures. As Mr Bogdanović explains, the waste is removed from the Mikro Liva landfill, and then the chemical composition and characteristics of the raw materials used are examined. The resulting products are made of aluminosilicate waste, and their strength lies in the ability to withstand enormously high temperatures – from 1,550 to 1,760°C. Thermal aggregates with high operating temperatures are one of the ways of applying such materials, but they are also used to make channels for transporting metals in the liquid phase. The company also produces thermal insulation plates from refractory materials that produce continuous cast iron. These products can be re-used in foundries and in thermal power plants, ironworks and other industries that work at such high temperatures.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

2023 Champions of the Earth award to celebrate pioneering efforts to end plastic pollution

28.10.2023

Trash on sand beach showing environmental pollution problem — Foto-ilustracija: Plastic ocean photo created by jcomp - www.freepik.com

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will announce next week the five winners of the 2023 Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour.

The award, now in its 19th year, recognizes pioneering leaders from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector for their transformative impacts on the natural world.

This year’s awards will honour innovators and initiatives that are helping to tackle plastic pollution, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently warned is having “catastrophic” consequences on the planet.

The laureates will be announced on 30 October 2023, ahead of the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which is developing a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution.

In 2023, UNEP received 2,500 nominations for the Champions of the Earth award, marking the third consecutive year in which nominations have reached a record high.

Innovative solutions

Plastic has transformed everyday life and provided many benefits for society. But humanity now produces around 430 million tonnes of the material annually, two-thirds of which quickly becomes waste.

Each year, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas. Research shows that, if current practices continue, plastic could emit 19 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions allowed under the most ambitious Paris Agreement target by 2040. Chemicals in plastic have been linked to health problems in humans.

To counter this crisis, experts say the world must reduce plastic production, eliminate short-lived and single-use plastics, accelerate reuse systems, switch to environmentally friendly alternatives, improve recycling and adopt a life-cycle approach to plastic pollution.

This year’s Champions of the Earth are doing many of those things.

“People around the world are stepping forward with innovative ways to end plastic pollution and improve the health of the planet. The Champions of the Earth are leading that push,” said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division. “They give us hope that solutions to plastic pollution exist and remind us that safeguarding nature is key to achieving sustainable development.”

Making a difference

The Champions of the Earth award will celebrate visionaries in four categories: Policy Leadership, Inspiration and Action, Entrepreneurial Vision and Science and Innovation.

To date, 111 laureates, including heads of state, grassroots activists, ecopreneurs, captains of industry and pioneering scientists, have been honoured as Champions of the Earth. Last year’s laureates include economist Sir Partha Dasgupta from the United Kingdom, environmental activist Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet from Cameroon, biologist Purnima Devi Barman from India, conservationist Constantino Aucca Chutas from Peru and arcenciel, a non-profit from Lebanon.

UNEP coordinates and hosts the Champions of the Earth award. UNEP’s reputation as the global, non-partisan authority on environmental issues is built from 50 years of ground-breaking scientific research that informs global environmental policy.

Source: UNEP

MENA’s Transforming Role in an Evolving Energy Landscape

27.10.2023

windmills-g02815a220_1920 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (SailingOnChocolateRoses)

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been leading fossil fuel production for decades, creating tremendous economic growth.

However, fossil fuel-driven growth has proven to be unsustainable for both people and planet.

As the climate action clock ticks, and with the global community in a race to curb carbon emissions, the MENA region is redefining its role within an evolving energy landscape – one in which fossil fuels inevitably play a diminishing role.

Today, even without subsidies, solar and wind power stand cost-competitive with fossil fuels and have emerged as the preferred choices for new power generation. In fact, renewables accounted for 86 percent of all new power generation in 2022.

This trend is not merely set to continue; it is accelerating significantly, extending even beyond the power sectors.

For MENA countries, transitioning to a renewables-based energy system offers a pathway to simultaneously meet growing energy demand, promote economic growth, maximise socio-economic benefits, and achieve decarbonisation objectives.

Recognising this, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are far from standing idle. In a strategic shift towards enhanced climate ambition, nations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have embraced net-zero emission targets.

According to IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023 (WETO), global renewable power capacity must triple from approximately 3,000 GW to just over 11,000 GW by the year 2030.

The world is seemingly aligning to meet this objective with G7 countries, adopting IRENA’s targets for the group, and more recently, G20 countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, echoing IRENA’s global goal to triple renewable energy capacity in New Delhi.

Nonetheless, the goal to triple renewable energy capacity is not confined to these nations alone; it is a global target that requires concerted efforts at the regional level to ensure that all countries are adequately represented and involved.

As an important milestone in the lead-up to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, MENA Climate Week in Riyadh stands as a significant opportunity to cultivate regional unity across the MENA region and drive coordinated action, with an eye toward forging a global consensus at COP28.

Recently, the UAE has embraced this level of ambition, pledging to triple its own renewable energy capacity by 2030. This endeavour is particularly noteworthy as the country prepares to host COP28, reflecting a genuine commitment to leading by example.

Building political momentum and commitment is a critical first step, but it is just the beginning. Everything, from our communities and energy frameworks to our everyday lives, is anchored in the current energy system. Yet, this has to change.

We need the courage to create a new reality and translate pledges into projects and actions.

IRENA’s WETO envisions three pillars that will form the foundation for a way forward.

First, building the necessary infrastructure and investing at scale in grids, via both land and sea routes, to accommodate new production locations, trade patterns, and demand centres.

Due to its abundance of low-cost renewable power and a strategic geographical location near Europe and Asia, the MENA region possesses a competitive advantage in becoming a key green hydrogen hub. Developing a system that cultivates and amplifies this potential will be crucial for the region.

In this regard, it is vital that International Financial Institutions and Multilateral Development Banks strategically prioritise their resources to maximise impact, especially in enhancing the region’s physical infrastructure, to encourage the scaling up of private investments.

Secondly, ambitious targets must be followed by effective policies and regulations that encourage investments. Fossil fuel investments in the Middle East are still significantly higher than renewable energy investments, indicating an urgent need to align financial flows with ambitious climate targets.

Although fossil fuels will inevitably remain a part of the energy mix for some time, their share must dramatically decrease as we approach mid-century.

The third priority is developing the necessary institutional capacities to help ensure that skills and capabilities match the energy system we aspire to create. This is crucial not only for a just transition but also for ensuring a workforce is ready for a new system.

Oil-importing economies in the MENA region exhibit higher levels of youth unemployment, necessitating extensive training, education, and capacity building.

Concurrently, oil-exporting countries will require deliberate policy attention to retrain workers and forge new employment opportunities by cultivating local industries and manufacturing, thereby replacing roles once sustained by the previous energy sectors.

Having hosted COP27 in Egypt last year, and with COP28 set to take place in Dubai later this year, the MENA region possesses a unique opportunity. It can ensure the emerging energy system not only accommodates but also capitalises on the region’s abundant renewable energy potential and strategic geographical proximity to major global markets, thereby securing its position in an evolving energy landscape.

The path forward, while demanding extensive planning, investment, and collaboration, unveils a promising future wherein development is inclusive and beneficial, safeguarding the interests of all nations and future generations.

Source: IRENA

Open Science Conference: We need dramatic climate action to meet unprecedented challenges

24.10.2023

Climate change impacts are becoming increasingly severe, posing unprecedented challenges. Dramatic climate action is needed to limit global warming, requiring unprecedented societal transformations to sustain the future of life on Earth, a major international scientific conference was told today.

More than 1,400 scientists, politicians, policy-makers, intergovernmental agencies and Non Governmental Organizations are participating in the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Open Science Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.

The five-day hybrid event will hear dozens of presentations from the world’s leading experts on issues including: rapid and/or irreversible changes in the climate system; impacts on food security and water availability; urban health; the carbon and water cycles; global energy budget; regional climate change; global and regional monsoons; extreme events; climate interventions; climate services, models and predictions and more.

“This once-in-a-decade event comes at an extraordinarily critical time in the history of Planet Earth, where the impacts of climate change are being felt every day around the world, in the oceans and on the land, from the Arctic to the Antarctic,” said conference co-chair Helen Cleugh.

For more than four decades, the WCRP has coordinated research which unequivocally concludes that humans are changing the Earth’s climate. Through advances in climate science, we can now project plausible future climates and the consequences, said Prof. Cleugh.

“Society must cope with ongoing changes and their impacts: the emergence of complex risks, including drought, heavy rain and flooding, heatwaves, extreme fire weather, other weather and climate extremes often occurring at the same time,” said Detlef Stammer, the other co-chair.

The reasons for this year’s unprecedented spikes in temperature increases in the atmosphere and the ocean are still being investigated. But they illustrate the complexity and connectivity of the climate system, and the urgent need for find sustainable solutions based on understanding of the entire Earth system, he said.

“A giant leap is required by societies embarking on a new path to a sustainable world. It requires that we fundamentally reconfigure our economies, energy, food and health systems so that they work for both people and the planet,” said Prof. Stammer.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sergey Pesterev)

Global South

The conference is hosted by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) on behalf of the Government of Rwanda and the University of Rwanda, from 23 to 27 October 2023 in Kigali. It includes a 2-day symposium run for and by early and mid-career scientist, before and after the main event.

It is the first time the conference takes place in Africa – a continent which has done little to contribute to climate change but bears a disproportionate burden.

Africa is experiencing higher temperatures, heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones, prolonged droughts, desertification, and stronger cyclones. This has devastating impacts on communities, with serious health and economic implications involving displacement, migration, water shortages and food crises.

“Climate change is a fact. It is not a hoax. In Rwanda we are victims of climate change. Last May we had floods that killed more than 130 people in one night,” said Environment Minister Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya.

“Our policy should be a science-based policy, informed by research,” she said.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed said the Open Science Conference would be crucial to identify key breakthroughs in climate science and research and to ensure that they benefit everyone, including the Global South,

“Weather, climate and water sciences provide the basis for climate action and can supercharge progress towards the sustainable development goals across the board,” she said in a video message to the opening plenary.

African and Least Developed countries are priorities for the global Early Warnings for All initiative, which seeks to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected by life-saving early warnings by the end of 2027, said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

The initial investment of 3.1 billion US dollars will yield massive benefits. Early warnings are part of coordinated climate change adaptation policies, which must be based on skilfull predictions and include an understanding of complex risks, including all weather and climate extremes, that may be compounding in nature.

“The nexus of science and technology and climate action is a crucial point of concerted action needed to mitigate impacts of climate change. We need a powerful alliance of science, research and technology to inform policy on climate action,” said Macharia Kamau of the International Science Council.

The Open Science Conference will conclude on 27 October with the Kigali Declaration which will be forwarded to inform the COP28 climate negotiations in Dubai.

More details from WMO opening press release here

Source: WMO

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