SOLUTIONS OPTIMISING BUILDING EFFICIENCY

18.04.2023

Screenshot_21 — Photo: Schneider Electric

So far, the importance of digitalisation in business has been discussed on multiple occasions. This time, we aim to focus on building digitalisation and how it can help building owners and maintenance teams make the right decisions and reach their sustainability goals.

This is how Miloš Vuksanović, Sales Director for Commercial and Industrial Buildings, Serbia and Montenegro, Schneider Electric, starts his story about the importance of open BMS platforms and connected smart buildings. EcoStruxure™ Building Operation, as part of the EcoStruxure™ Building solution, is such a platform. In the anniversary year — 20 years of Schneider Electric’s operation here, Miloš Vuksanović talks about the significance of meeting sustainability goals and ways to achieve them.

“Our experience in industrial optimisation has confirmed the importance of openness, connectivity and interoperability of platforms, whose functions allow machines to work together in resolving the most complex issues organisations encounter on a daily basis”, explains Vuksanović at the beginning, add that these features are equally important for modern buildings and, as such, are an example of how to achieve zero CO₂ emission.

IN FOCUS:

“To keep global warming at 1.5 °C, it is vital to reduce GHG emission to 45 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Buildings emit nearly 40 per cent of CO₂, and building owners and managers have to find a way to minimise CO₂ emission as soon as possible.” Vuksanović refers to the Paris Agreement.

Schneider Electric believes that new and existing buildings must focus on modernisation, including their transformation to fully electric and fully digital. According to him, it means turning all fossil-fuel-based consumption — such as heating — into a more efficient electric methodology. It also means that with digitalization we receive data to use further for a deeper insight and control of buildings, costs, and efficiency.

Explaining how it functions, Vuksanović says that everything is based on collecting information and the use of automation, acting unanimously to achieve these ambitious goals. In that respect, he points out several items requiring it:

Systems in a building that communicate mutually — when all systems of a building that exchange information are really integrated and connected, the building maintenance team is enabled to make better decisions.
The flexibility of a system to adapt and respond to the needs of owners, tenants, and society as a whole today, as well as in the future.
Achievement of the full potential of all available data.

“New generations of the Building Management System respond to all these needs, and their implementation results in developing buildings of the future. A modern open BMS offers connectivity, interoperability and intelligence. It helps all devices in a building be connected into a shared control centre for managing all operations”, Miloš Vuksanović underlines.

He points to the solution of new generation smart buildings available today, including one from Schneider Electric’s portfolio.

Prepared by: Milica Marković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAN ONLY BE SOLVED THROUGH A JOINT EFFORT

17.04.2023

cup-čaša-plastika — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The waste that we create every day ends up in a couple of thousands of unregulated landfills and dumps all over our still beautiful country. What is waste? The Serbian Environmental Protection Agency’s (SEPA) website states that waste is any material or object created during production and service activities, as well as objects that are no longer in use or are not fit for further use and must be discarded. Therefore, waste is not only things that end up in the bin.

We have spoken with Stefan Simeunović, Director of the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency, about the current situation regarding unregulated landfills and polluters in the digitalization era and how to create a cleaner environment.

EP: Unregulated landfills are one of the biggest environmental problems in Serbia. How many unregulated landfills are there in our country, and what is the solution to this problem?

Stefan Simeunović: The data submitted to the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency by local governments show there are over 2,600 unregulated landfills throughout Serbia. Estimates are, however, that this number is almost 3,500 unregulated landfills and dumps all over the country, as well as that a fifth of the total generated municipal waste ends up in those locations. That is why unregulated landfills are one of the biggest environmental problems in Serbia.

Both last and this year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection launched two public tenders for cities and municipalities, which secured the co-financing of projects to remove unregulated landfills. Once the projects based on those tenders are implemented, close to 700 unregulated landfills will have been removed country-wide.

To preserve already cleaned locations, the Ministry also provided funds for video surveillance that local self-governments install on cleaned locations, providing certain technical requirements are met.

The Ministry’s competitions are extremely important because they encouraged cities and municipalities to think more about the problem created by unregulated landfills, to nominate projects and, with the support of the state, to finally come to grips with this problem that spans several decades.

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EP: Construction waste is a big segment of the waste deposited in unregulated landfills. How should both individuals and companies properly dispose of this type of waste? How do large companies in Serbia dispose of their waste?

Stefan Simeunović: There are two types of construction waste — non-hazardous waste that is similar in composition to municipal waste (recyclable, inert, etc.) and hazardous waste that requires special treatment (contains asbestos, a lot of heavy metals, etc.) to which special regulations apply.

The Law on Waste Management and by-laws prescribe that public utility companies cannot be engaged in the disposal of industrial waste, because they are solely responsible for providing utility services and the like. Companies with the appropriate license to remove industrial waste should be engaged, and appropriate documents should accompany each transport of waste.

Both national and local inspections are in charge of checking whether the company has properly disposed of its waste.

EP: In the future, polluters in all Serbian cities and municipalities will have to submit data relating to their negative impact on the environment to local governments in a digital format. What benefits does the digitization of this data create?

Stefan Simeunović: Earlier this year, the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency launched an important project called Green Digitalization, which was started and is being carried out by our employees as part of their daily activities. The project’s goal is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Registry of Pollution Sources by implementing innovative technologies, providing additional training for employees, improving the safety and reliability of the information system, as well as communicating with users.

The complete digitization of the National Registry of Pollution Sources is an essential process that should lead to the higher efficiency of the Registry’s administrators, facilitate reporting to entities that must submit data to the National Registry, and also satisfy the public’s need for environmental information.

Digitalization is a prerequisite for successful communication with legal entities and small business owners who are required to report to the National Registry. The significance of this project is best illustrated by the fact that every year the Agency collects over 180,000 reports related to environmental pollution that are stored in the National Registry, which annually generate more than 250 boxes of archived documents. The project eliminates paper reports which are now submitted online.

Regarding the communication between the Agency and users, and under the auspices of the Green Digitalization project, we have established an efficient Customer Care Centre, which provides significant support for businesses, as it deals with over 20,000 inquiries every year.

Creating a new module of the National Registry will boost the availability of data to all interested parties, which is in accordance with the Aarhus Convention.

Interviewed by: Milica Marković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

PERFECT TIMING AND THE RIGHT PARTNER FOR BUILDING A SOLAR POWER PLANT

16.04.2023

solar, obnovljivi izvori — Photo-illustration: Pixabay (mrganso)

Just ten years ago, the use of renewable energy sources in Serbia was negligible. Here and there, we came across projects of solar power plants for personal use, either on a holiday home in the form of an off-grid system with which the owners solved their electricity needs where there was no grid or on the roof of a company where they visionarily decided to invest and reduce their bills for electricity.

The legislation did not exist, and nobody thought about incentives. It was only in 2017, when the EPS adopted the Rulebook on the operation of the distribution system, that the first positive steps were taken, and the electricity market was formed. During that period, more and more private individuals invested in power plants for their own needs, still not knowing when the investment would pay off.

In the following years, things changed significantly. On the market, there were not only power plants for investors’ own needs that were connected without procedures, but more “sustainable projects” appeared — power plants that deliver excess electricity to the grid and sell it to the electricity supplier.

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The adoption of the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources last year announced a new incentive program for renewable energy sources and increased workload for companies engaged in the design of RES power plants, primarily when it comes to wind farms and solar power plants. Soon afterwards, we found ourselves in the middle of an energy crisis, which served as an additional incentive for the transition to renewable energy sources.

The industry has a hard time accepting price jumps and reacts to drastic changes by turning to more efficient solutions. This is exactly what happened, so companies increasingly agreed upon the design and construction of power plants with firms that are their comrades on this path of transition. The CEEFOR company has been operating on the choice of construction, the slope of the panels and the surrounding soil.

The Toyo Tires solar power plant will cover 8.2 hectares. The annual production of electricity will amount to 10,148,927 kWh, which will contribute to the saving of 8,119,141 kg of carbon dioxide on an annual basis.

Along with the design of the solar power plant, CEEFOR was in charge of preparing the documentation needed to obtain a building permit, which was a challenge because it is a power plant with a capacity of over 1 MW that will be located on the ground, and a simplified procedure was not applicable in this case.

All the necessary steps, information on the location, geomechanical studies, obtaining an opinion for connection and conditions for design and connection from the electricity distribution company, then obtaining location conditions, development of all necessary projects, creation of environmental study, obtaining an energy permit, can be extended for several months. However, thanks to the good cooperation with the investor, local authorities, and all competent institutions, all the mentioned steps were completed in record time so that the investor (as well as the state) could start using the benefits of solar energy. for more than ten years. During its first decade, it tried to enable its clients and partners to reduce electricity consumption, as well as to contribute to the preservation of the environment with significant financial savings. CEEFOR offers its clients consulting and design services in the field of renewable energy sources, and their reference list is exceptional.

The Toyo Tires company recently joined this list, for which CEEFOR designed the Toyo Tire Taiyo solar power plant, with a total power of 8.4 MWp. The project included bifacial solar panels that enable the production of electricity from the rear side as well, thereby increasing the total output power of the individual modules. They are an excellent choice for power plants on the ground because they increase the output power by up to 20 per cent, depending The plan is for this power plant to acquire the status of a prosumer, that is, to use green electricity for their own needs. At the same time, all excess will be handed over to the electricity distribution network.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

SIEMENS — CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT CARES

15.04.2023

It has long been known that energy moves the world. In a literal sense, electricity and its sources move societies or threaten them when the energy flow is reduced. The competitiveness and prosperity of society are directly correlated with a stable and sustainable supply of electricity, and today we are increasingly talking about the role of energy in the process of decarbonization and the fight against climate change.

It is not easy to respond to the growing demand for electricity at a time when there is a global energy crisis and, at the same time to continuously reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases originating from the energy sector. For us to achieve this, this sector must be modernized and harmonized with all the achievements of modern society.

It is precisely the goal of the company Siemens Belgrade — to create a favorable environment for the smooth development of the energy sector that can respond to all emerging challenges.

Srdan Srdanović, Head of the Siemens Smart Infrastructure department, answered questions related to the development of energy infrastructure, the digitalization of the energy sector, and the challenges brought by the times we live in.

IN FOCUS:

EP: The Siemens department that you manage is called Smart infrastructure. What does Smart Infrastructure actually mean?

Srdan Srdanović: I believe there is some resistance to terms like “smart” because of their widespread use. That’s why we need to explain that thanks to smart infrastructure, which includes energy systems, meters and buildings, our cities will become better places to live in and greener. Smart infrastructure can reduce carbon emissions and energy demand and optimize energy supply. Demonstrating the purpose behind every “smart” idea, this infrastructure will be successful if consumers and companies stand behind the idea of digital energy transmission.

EP: What does your motto We create an environment that cares really mean?

Srdan Srdanović: Smart infrastructure supports what industries and organizations strive for; to be efficient, responsible, and smarter. Our company offers a wide portfolio of network control and automation, distribution of low-voltage and medium-voltage electricity, its redirection and control, and energy solutions. The portfolio is balanced in terms of all products, systems, solutions, and the entire range of services. Technology and human ingenuity unite and form a whole with our environment. If we want to take care of the world, the world must develop a new way of thinking about infrastructure. This means that it should reflect the needs and attitudes of modern society. In this sense, smart infrastructure supports how we all want to live — happily, comfortably, sustainably and in harmony.

EP: Where in Serbia has the smart infrastructure already been implemented?

Srdan Srdanović: We work with customers and partners in Serbia to create an ecosystem that intuitively responds to people’s needs and helps them achieve their goals. In the current health crisis, supporting the Clinical Center of Serbia, an institution that provides specialized health services for residents of the entire country, makes us especially proud. With the n-1 security principle implemented, the power supply is safe and reliable for our customers and patients. Smart infrastructure enables safe operation and tracking with real-time monitoring of every aspect of the energy su pply process and enables efficient operation of the Clinical Center of Serbia.

One of the projects is certainly the project of modernizing the medium voltage network in Serbia. Increasing the system’s reliability and ensuring that most customers are supplied with electricity in less than 30 seconds in the event of an outage in the city center was a big challenge for us. We delivered complete equipment for 30 substations and thereby enabled easy configuration and expansion of the system, but also reduced payments in terms of planned fines and provision of safe power supply to critical customers (hospitals, water supply, public transport, sensitive industrial production, public communication systems, etc.).

I would also add the flue gas desulfurization system for Thermal Power Plant Nikola Tesla A in Serbia. This factory was built in the 1970s, and today, it has to adapt to EU stan dards, especially concerning environmental protection. The new desulfurization system in the four blocks of TENT, A3, A4, A5 and A6 — with a capacity of 350 MW each, will enable this coal-fired power plant to operate for at least another 20 years following EU legal regulations.

EP: Due to the global energy crisis, the issue of energy transition is increasingly coming to the fore, and there is also the need to stop climate change. Is it possible to find technological solutions to these problems?

Srdan Srdanović: We live in times that are both fast and unpredictable, in which we depend a lot on circumstances in the world, but the fact is that advanced technologies are the answer to some of those changes. Innovation and digitization are key to completely redefining economies all over the world. A green, circular economy is not feasible without innovative solutions that will connect our real, physical world and the one we create in the digital domain. Siemens is one of the few technological leaders that brings those two worlds together, offering a synergy of hardware and software solutions that provide users with faster and more flexible operational processes. These smart solutions offer better productivity or infrastructure with efficient energy use.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STANDARDS

14.04.2023

novac-banka-pare-zelena-ekonomija — Foto ilustracija: Unsplash (Micheile Henderson)

Modern society has resulted in prosperity evident at every turn. We have the privilege today to drive electronic vehicles, we complete tasks at the simple click of a button, and robots are doing certain types of jobs alongside the human workforce. That’s not all, technique and technology are progressing at alarming rates and it’s anyone’s guess what the future will bring. As we continue to ruthlessly consume natural resources, mountains of paper, plastic, organic and hazardous waste is the by-product.

Luckily, self-aware individuals and responsible companies are doing their best to personally contribute to changing the way they approach available resources, as it is clear that things have to change. The first steps are the hardest, and many environmental frontliners, despite their huge desire for change, are unsure when it comes to choosing which environmental protection activities are most effective.

We have to admit that it is easier for large organizations to take the best course of action toward achieving environmental goals. Companies and banks, with large numbers of staff, clear rules, standardization and support tools can more easily achieve defined environmental protection and sustainable development goals and fulfil all energy efficiency measures.

IN FOCUS:

ProCredit Bank is a pioneer in the implementation of the EMS (Environmental Management System) in our country. This is a system of strategies created to manage and continually improve the bank’s and its related parties’ impact on the environment. For over ten years now, ProCredit Bank has implemented this set of carefully designed steps to monitor and maintain environmental protection.

ProCredit Bank is the first bank in Serbia to have obtained the ISO 14001:2015 Certificate, which confirms that the bank applies a sustainable Environmental Management System and fulfils all the requirements of the ISO 14001 Standard.

In practical terms, this means that in its internal environmental management, the bank monitors the consumption of electricity, water, fuel, paper use, waste generation and its treatment, and CO2 emissions.

Thanks to these records, the bank knows its exact carbon footprint. However, that’s not all. This stored data also calls upon and obliges us to find new ways to reduce consumption and generate additional savings. The long-term experience and improvements in the implementation of the EMS system, as well as the achieved results, indicate that we have taken a big step forward.

No paper and plastic waste

By digitalizing operations, ProCredit Bank has reduced its carbon footprint by introducing the centralization of employees and electronic channels used to make payments, open accounts and provide many other services.

Another huge step was taken in 2018, when the bank took the decision to eliminate the use of single-use plastic in its premises. The bank’s on-site kitchens are equipped with all the necessary multiple-use dishes for employees (plates, cutlery, glasses, cups) while plastic cups near water dispensers in branches have been replaced with biodegradable cups.

All banks operating within the ProCredit Group have adopted their own Internal versions of the document entitled „Guide — Reducing plastic in offices“. This document lists plastic objects most often used at work and provides sustainable alternatives. When procuring office supplies, and during every second procurement, care is taken in terms of the companies supplies are ordered from and the materials from which ordered supplies are made. Wherever there is room to implement sustainable solutions, the bank will choose the environmentally conscious supplier even if the cost of procurement is not the optimal choice. ProCredit Bank manages electronic and hazardous waste in line with the Law on Waste Management. Waste is sent for recycling several times per year, and a clear Waste Management Plan has been implemented.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

MORE WORKERS, MORE RECYCLED HAZARDOUS WASTE, A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT

13.04.2023

Postrojenje za reciklazu frizidera u kompaniji E-reciklaza — Foto: Udruženje reciklera Srbije

The origin, composition or concentration of dangerous substances that can cause danger to the environment and human health determine the categorization of an object as hazardous waste. Products that become special waste streams after use include tires, batteries and accumulators, electronic and electrical products, mineral and synthetic oils, vehicles, and medicines.

Special waste streams are controlled separately by regulations. They do not represent municipal waste, and it is forbidden to dispose of them in landfills. They must be treated with adequate technology following the law to prevent mercury, lead, cadmium, barium, and other elements from being released into the ground, water, or air. Even the recycling process itself carries a high risk to the environment.

Since 2010, when a system of incentives for reuse and recovery of waste was established, our recycling industry has disposed of one million and one hundred thousand tons of waste. During the last year, 120,000 tons of special waste streams were collected, and according to the data for this year, this trend continues.

IN FOCUS:

“Waste tires were recycled the most — more than 470,000 tons. The public somewhat neglects tires compared to some other types of waste. Still, they are easily flammable, so in landfills where they often end up and where there are frequent fires, it can happen that due to inadequate disposal, in case of combustion, numerous gases are released into the atmosphere harmful substances and poisonous gases, such as dioxins and furans, which are believed to be among the most toxic compounds ever made by man. After this explanation, it becomes much clearer why tires are potentially very dangerous. After tires, the largest amounts of electrical and electronic waste were disposed of 350,000 tons, 220,000 tons of batteries and 55,000 tons of waste oil,” explains Marko Vučenović, Secretary General of the Recyclers Association of Serbia.

Collection of hazardous waste

When we talk about special waste streams, the collection of hazardous waste from economic entities is clearly regulated, both in terms of their obligations and the possibilities and rights of collectors and operators. However, the problem arises when this type of waste comes from households. There is no regulation or infrastructure whatsoever.

“Local self-governments do not have a developed system for collecting special streams of waste, most often, they do it sporadically, and that is by organizing an action to collect this type of waste from citizens once or several times a year. It would be extremely important for local governments to establish centers for collecting special waste streams, which they are legally obliged to do. It is especially important for small household appliances that citizens could easily bring to dedicated centers so that these appliances would not end up in containers. For large devices, citizens often cannot provide transport, and one of the solutions can be for public utility companies and authorized operators to organize collection from citizens”, says Vučenović.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

COMPLETELY ECOLOGICAL

12.04.2023

The fact is that more and more companies in our country see the positive effect of environmentally responsible business. The progress made is evident not only in Serbia but also in the region. The strategic determination of these companies is reflected not only in applying the principles of circular economy and recycling but also in the active promotion of the idea, and sharing of knowledge and experiences from this field. We asked Tijana Koprivica, Chief Business Sustainability Officer at Delta Holding, one of the leading companies in Serbia and the region, what the sustainable operation of a large system like Delta entails.

EP: Delta-Pak, in charge of waste management, also operates among the members of Delta Holding, one of our country’s most important business entities. What does the business of an authorized operator in our market entail?

Tijana Koprivica: Delta-Pak provides the services of an operator for the management of packaging waste, advisors in the environment, chemicals, and transportation of dangerous goods. It performs these tasks for members of Delta Holding but also external clients. The organization operates according to the principles of social responsibility and sustainable development, which it shares with its clients and business partners.

IN FOCUS:

EP: How significant is it that Delta Holding has an in-house operator? What is it most reflected in?

Tijana Koprivica: The members of Delta Holding, as well as all other companies that import or produce packaging and place it on the market, must meet national goals regarding the management of packaging and packaging waste. Delta is a large system that operates in various businesses, and we recognized the capacity and economic benefit of managing waste independently. The availability of professional staff influenced the decision to offer this service and environmental consulting to other companies. For years, Delta-Pak has been a leader in fulfilling national goals for its clients.

EP: Delta-Pak also actively participates in projects related to raising awareness about protecting the natural environment. Which projects would you single out as the most significant?

Foto-illsutration: Unsplash (John-o-Nolan)

Tijana Koprivica: In the previous period, Delta-Pak implemented numerous projects aimed at supporting the community in improving the field of environmental protection and raising environmental awareness. Some of them are a project to assess the amount and morphological composition of packaging waste in city markets, catering establishments and shopping centers, and to educate volunteers about its proper selection and storage; education of agricultural producers on the proper disposal of packaging waste from plant protection products; establishment of an information system on marketed packaging and packaging waste. Our clients show a great interest in improving their business in the field of environmental protection, and we will continue to influence the awareness of others, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the citizens of Serbia through socially responsible activities. Through internal communication, we continuously educate our employees about how they can contribute to environmental protection through the Eco Corner on the internal portal and all other interested parties through social networks on profiles called Completely Ecological. Follow us, and you will get many useful tips and explanations regarding environmental challenges.

EP: Delta’s plan to use 60 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2030 is well known. How do you plan to achieve this goal?

Tijana Koprivica: We mainly provide electricity from conventional sources, but our goal is to use at least 60 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2030. Solar power plants have already been installed at seven locations, so four of our factories, two cold storages and the Napredak farm will replace 30 per cent of electricity from conventional sources with solar energy. In addition to solar panels, in 2021, the capacity of the biomass boiler at the Seme Sombor factory, which uses corn husks in the corn drying process, was expanded. There are also smaller biomass boilers for heating buildings on the estate Jedinstvo in Apatin and Napredak in Stara Pazova. The project for the solar power plant at the Sava Center is being developed, and other locations for solar and a biomass boiler will be considered.

Interviewed by: Milica Marković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO RENEWABLE ENERGY

11.04.2023

vetroelektrane_vetar — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Priscilla Du Preez)

According to some estimates, the usage of RES (renewable energy sources) will cover 70–80 per cent of all humanity’s energy needs by 2050. Although the most important purpose of using RES is to replace non-renewable sources of energy whose quantity is limited, it is not the only goal. A healthier environment, a stable supply of electricity, as well as the economic progress along with the creation of new job positions, are also important benefits that we can expect from the application of RES. Despite the current geopolitical situation and the challenges brought by the pandemic, projects that contribute to a greater representation of renewable energy sources continue. We spoke with Eric Scott, the founder and president of Akuo, an independent energy producer, about how his company sees the further development of the green energy market, what is the potential for the Balkans and our country, and why the process of energy transition should be accelerated in our region.

EP: Tell us something about your entry into the world of renewable energy sources. What did it look like at the beginning, and where are you now?

Eric Scotto: We are pioneers in renewable energy sources because we started back in 2003, and at that time, we were building wind farms in France, Turkey, and Poland. At that time, the market was very small, in France, the potential of wind power plants was less than 12 MW, and already in 2004, we built the largest wind farm with a power of 57 MW. Two years later, we realized that it was important to diversify the technology because we didn’t want to be a company dealing only with wind energy but renewable energy in general. We started developing solar projects, even biomass projects, and then we started doing business in more countries. Today we have 20 offices worldwide and mainly focus on wind energy, solar energy, and electricity storage.

IN FOCUS:

EP: You said that you do business in several countries — does this also apply to the Balkan countries? What is the potential of Serbia and the region regarding renewable energy sources?

Eric Scotto: The Balkans are very important to us primarily because this part of Europe still relies heavily on fossil fuels. Another reason is that the Balkans are rich in natural resources. We knew that the Balkans would have to turn to renewable sources at some point, and we are here to support this transition. In the Balkans, we started projects in Croatia, where we built a 42 MW wind farm, and the development of some solar projects is underway. We should also mention Montenegro, where we built a wind farm that is still reputed to be one of the largest in the region. Although we shouldn’t compete on who will build the biggest wind farm, it is very important to show how RES projects in the Balkans are progressing. As for Serbia, we are developing several wind projects with the capacity of 85 MW and 80 MW, and their construction is planned for next year. We are also developing solar power plant projects in North Macedonia and a project in Kosovo. The Balkans certainly have great potential in the production of green energy — one summer day this year brought us the largest production from wind power plants in Montenegro in the entire Balkans.

EP: In addition to constructing classic wind and solar power plants, what else is included in your portfolio?

Eric Scotto: I have already mentioned our experience in electricity storage projects, which I believe can be of great importance for the Balkan countries in the energy transition process. We are also developing agro-solar projects that combine food production and solar energy so that agriculture and solar projects will no longer compete for land. In addition, the projects of floating solar power plants built on hydropower reservoirs are very interesting because they can use the existing network, while on the other hand they contribute to saving water.

Interviewed by: Nevena Đukić

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

STRONGER DETERMINATION AND POLITICAL WILL TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS RESOURCES

09.04.2023

kiša_list_biljka_kapi — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Mikael Kristenson)

What should Serbia do to reduce environmental pollution, preserve biodiversity and adequately respond to the challenges of climate change? Will the legal framework be realigned with the Green Agenda? We looked for answers to these questions in a conversation with Radovan Nikčević, who has been dealing with energy and sustainable development topics in the Western Balkan countries for more than two decades and was recently appointed manager of the Green Agenda project in Serbia which is implemented under the UNDP’s auspices.

EP: You were involved in the preparation of the Sofia Declaration by which the Western Balkan countries undertook to work together with the EU towards achieving climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. Is there any progress made?

Radovan Nikčević: Seen as a whole, the region still has room to change its attitude towards the environment at full capacity and to start fulfilling the obligations it undertook when signing the Green Agenda Declaration in Sofia in November 2020. There are certain initiatives and projects in place, but the relevant processes must be expedited, and for these countries to be more efficient and effective. There is often a lack of determination and solutions at the regional level. To a large extent, there is also a lack of political will to change the paradigm of our treatment of resources, economic activities and the environment in general. Perhaps we can look for reasons in the pandemic and war conflicts that significantly shook the global economy and disrupted priorities, but we should also look into the lack of regional support. This should certainly not be an excuse for the absence of a more decisive reaction and the creation of a long-term vision with a clear goal. That goal is primarily climate neutrality, but also changing how we perform economic activities, travel, commute to work and meet our daily needs. The Sofia Declaration is a complex and demanding document, and fulfilling its obligations will require extremely large investments and financial strains. In fact, it is best to say that every dinar invested in future development will actually be a dinar for the green transition. Also, when we invest in the future, we will have to take into account and ensure the principle of investment sustainability. All in all, neither the environmental picture nor the perspectives regarding that topic have changed significantly over the past two years.

IN FOCUS:

EP: An action plan was adopted last year, which stipulates measures and obligations for all countries in the region so they can align with the European Green Plan. How consistent are the regional countries in fulfilling these obligations?

Radovan Nikčević: The preparation of the action plan itself was a long-term and demanding process that included, first of all, governments from the region, but also various international organizations active in the segments covered by the Green Agenda, and to a certain extent, civil society. Of course, all of this was done with great support and close cooperation with the European Commission. The region is not alone in this whole system, as there is a network of organizations that provide support to the entire process of a comprehensive transformation of society. Of course, this process and dynamics largely depend on the readiness of countries to implement reforms through the development of a strategic and legal framework, but also through applying concrete measures. This is precisely where there is ample room to expedite the transition and act more decisively in terms of fulfilling the obligations stipulated in the Action Plan. However, what transpired was that experiences can be exchanged through regional approaches and cooperation, but concrete problems cannot be solved. Therefore, we must turn to ourselves and see what each of us can do.

EP: You have recently stated that the regional countries must harmonize the environmental and legal frameworks with the Green Plan. What can you tell us about Serbia’s efforts in this direction and whether the energy crisis has affected the alignment with the Green Plan?

Radovan Nikčević: Harmonizing strategic and legal frameworks is not only an obligation under the Green Agenda but also part of the accession process. The European Green Plan confirmed this and stipulated another set of both strategic goals and regulations that must be transposed into the national legal framework. In previous years, Serbia passed a large number of laws relating to environmental protection and about 200 by-laws. However, with new, increased climate ambitions (Fit for 55), and a set of regulations in other sectors such as energy, transport and agriculture, it will be necessary to update and further harmonize the legal framework. This is a continuous process. The Environmental Protection Strategy — Green Agenda, which is expected to be completed in September 2023, should provide clear guidelines for the further development of both the strategic and legal framework. On top of the activities on creating an appropriate environment for the green transition, the fact remains that the economic sector, local self-governments and even individuals are interested in the implementation of concrete measures and innovative solutions that contribute to decarbonization, stimulate circular business models or have other positive effects on the environment. Finally, as far as the crisis and its impact on the acceleration of the alignment with the Green Plan are concerned, the effects are still not visible. A period of uncertainty is ahead of us during which we are going to realize where we stand and whether there are renewable alternatives to natural gas, on which a large part of European industry rests, or whether, as it is already happening in Europe, we will have to reach for long-forgotten coal reserves, which, of course, can have unfathomable consequences from an environmental point of view.

Prepared by: Milica Marković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management

BAMBI’S STRONG AND STRATEGIC COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

08.04.2023

After Bambi became a member of the Coca-Cola HBC family in 2019, the company’s ambitions in the area of business sustainability have increased significantly. A synergy with a company with an international reputation has resulted in a new experience in observing topics related to environmental protection and an even more subtle approach to solutions. To approach sustainability strategically, Bambi produced a document – Sustainability Mission by 2030, defining specific goals in this area, and set up an inter-sector team with the primary task of supporting the implementation of green solutions and working on responsible treatment of natural resources.

In July 2020, Bambi switched completely to using renewable energy sources, with two-thirds of the fleet replaced by vehicles using liquid petroleum gas. Substantial efforts have been focused on reducing water consumption, with an impressive 55 per cent saved in 2010-2021. Joining the World Without Waste initiative, Bambi has also defined reaching zero waste by 2025 as a goal. A set of activities has been initiated towards with goal through infrastructure investments and constant employee education about waste management. In 2022, following the company’s plans to increase the production capacity, Bambi realized a project of constructing a recycling yard covering 500m² and enabling temporary packing of all types of waste generated at the plant premises. Although construction materials prices rose suddenly and almost doubled, with the investment exceeding the projected budget significantly, the company was determined the importance of building such a facility. When designing the facility, materials with a function of improving its energy features were selected, and the recycling yard can accept up to 30 different types of waste.

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“Our new recycling yard also enables better control regarding further recycling or treatment resulting in obtaining energy,” says Nataša Jovanović, Environmental Specialist, adding that benefits of the recycling yard are confirmed not only by the fact that different types of categories of waste are managed but also that the company gets an energy efficient space, standardized concerning safety at work as well, all in their of environmental protection. Furthermore, the company strives to complete the cycle of waste use by improving collaboration with waste operators and working additionally on packaging waste management.

“In collaboration with Sekopak, we are planning a range of activities for 2023, contributing not only to the improvement of the primary waste selection but also to the education about proper waste disposal and recycling as the most beneficial way of turning waste into new good and prevent unnecessary waste accumulation. We believe that our example will also inspire our fellow citizens, especially the youngest ones, to add even more responsibility towards the planet and themselves to their daily habits,” notes Nataša Jovanović.

Out of the total volume of waste generated at the plant premises, 98 per cent is already treated sustainably from the environmental aspect. Great results and planned initiatives confirm that Bambi truly perceives the local community as its home and that it will work on its greener and more sustainable future through specific activities.

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

THE VISION OF THE FIRST SUNNY CITY IN OUR COUNTRY

07.04.2023

Pirot_pogled — Foto: Wikipedia/Đorđe Marković

Pirot is a town in southeastern Serbia whose first historical records date back to the 3rd century and it was also once known as the Tures settlement during Ottoman rule. Pirot had to wait until 2016 to be given the formal status of a town. The town is known for its abundant cultural tradition and turbulent history. In the gourmand community, it became popular because of its flat sausage, which, together with its traditionally weaved carpets and cheese, represent Pirot’s Holy Trinity of tastes, smells and colour, to quote the locals. Although these are good reasons to present this particular city in this magazine issue, another good reason to feature this town in our magazine is the fact that Pirot made great strides in environmental protection and sustainable energy development in the last few years. We talked with Vladan Vasić, the long-term municipal president and the first mayor of Pirot, about ongoing projects, opportunities and plans for the future.

EP: The primary selection of waste is in its infancy in Serbia, with Pirot being one of the first cities where households will separate waste. What can you tell us about this project?

Vladan Vasić: The primary waste selection project involves the sorting of municipal waste at the point of origin. The Pirot district is one of the four regions in Serbia that is included in the project which stipulates the procurement of bins, containers and auto-garbage trucks and is financed by the IPA 2017 programme. The project envisages the distribution of 240-litre-blue-plastic-bins to all households in the city, to be used for the so-called dry fraction of waste which includes paper, cardboard, bags and PET packaging, the allocation of dry waste blue containers in residential blocks and yellow containers for depositing glass waste. The project is in the final implementation phase and so far, around 2,200 bins have been distributed in 63 streets. The allocation of containers in residential blocks will begin soon. I would like to add that a hall with a secondary waste separation line was built at the regional landfill. In early August, the first quantities of separated primary waste were collected from households which previously had been given appropriate bins. The first results are encouraging, as a certain quantity of clean material has been collected which can fetch a good price on the secondary raw material market.

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EP: Air in Pirot was extremely polluted during the last heating season, and the media reported that the concentration of harmful particles was five times higher than allowed. What is the main source of air pollution in Pirot and how to eliminate its harmful effects?

Vladan Vasić: Since 2013, Pirot has been carrying out regular monitoring of SO2, soot, NO2, total sediments, lead, cadmium and zinc in air sediment. In the past three years, the data from the report show that the quantity of soot exceeded permitted values, especially in the winter months. On a monthly level, the values were excessive in the period between 5 and 10 days, and the causes of this are industrial plants that use coal and fuel oil, a substantial increase in the number of cars in the city, and people using solid heating fuel. An automatic air quality measurement station became operational in August 2021, which registers data in real-time that is monitored on the State Network for Automatic Monitoring of Air Quality website and it measures the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 particles and SO2. People can see these measurements on their mobile phones and computers. The city invested significant funds in the construction of a new power plant that no longer uses fuel oil but compressed gas as an energy source. At the same time, all the boiler rooms in the apartment blocks were shut down. In cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, we carried out tenders for the procurement of biomass stoves for individual households. We also implemented a project that financed the installation of biomass boilers in four schools and one kindergarten that were not connected to the district heating system. The coal-fired boiler room in the town centre, which was located on the premises of the vocational high school and the Pedagogical Academy, was shut down.

EP: Renewable energy sources are one of the prerequisites for clean air, and given the line Ministry’s incentives, the new Renewable Energy Sources Law, and the increasing prices of fossil fuels, now is the right time for investments. Which type of RES has the greatest potential in Pirot?

Vladan Vasić: Thanks to its natural characteristics, the city of Pirot has great potential for the production of energy from renewable sources. Solar and biomass energy are areas that stand out for their potential and available opportunities. The city of Pirot has significant experience and implemented projects using biomass, such as the first PPP project in Serbia (heating in four schools). In recent years, projects have been launched to build several large-capacity solar power plants, both by domestic and foreign investors, with an installed capacity of around 100MW. Also, last year, the City of Pirot decided to procure and instal solar power plants that would work in the buyer-seller mode for certain facilities under the City’s authority. As a result, several design and construction projects are currently ongoing — a 27kW-power-plant on the premises of public enterprise Komunalac, a 150kW-power-plant at the secondary separation facility of PUK Regional Landfill and a 150-kW-power-plant at the pumping station facility of public enterprise Vodovod i Kanalizacija. Also, 15 kW and 5 kW power plants were installed on the roofs of the Economic and Technical School. Under the auspices of the Public Competition, launched by the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the plan is to co-finance citizens to install solar power plants in buyer-seller mode with a total power of about 90kW. The potential is great, we have set goals and many activities have been implemented that will pick up the pace even more in the coming period. Our vision is to develop the maximum capacities for the use of solar energy sustainably and for the city of Pirot to bear the epithet of the first sunny city in our country.

EP: The Energy Efficiency Fund was also established. What has been done so far in Pirot in that respect and what are your plans?

Vladan Vasić: The City of Pirot was one of the first local governments to form its Energy Efficiency Fund. The motive behind this is to co-finance energy efficiency measures which would benefit citizens, i.e. natural persons. Funds come from the city budget but also other sources such as donations or the Republic of Serbia’s budget. In the past five years, activities were carried out that included co-financing of up to 50 per cent of the value of projects, such as the drafting of energy efficiency studies for 14 residential buildings, the drafting of project documentation for energy rehabilitation for 16 residential buildings, the installation of heat energy consumption metres on the internal heating installation for 7 groups of customers/end users of district heating system, and works on thermal insulation of the fronts on 7 residential buildings. The total amount of allocated funds is about 38 million dinars. Also, in 2021 and cooperation with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the City of Pirot’s Energy Efficiency Fund, launched a public competition after which we gave out grants to citizens to be used for energy rehabilitation of family houses in Pirot. As part of this competition, around 9 million dinars have been allocated for co-financing of energy rehabilitation measures. The subsidy budget for the 2022 competition will be 30 million dinars.

Prepared by: Milica Marković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

A BETTER LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND INCENTIVE MEASURES ARE A CONDITION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY

06.04.2023

Ekostar Pak is one of the leading packaging waste management systems operators in the Republic of Serbia. Since its foundation in 2010, this company has recycled around 640,000 tons of packaging waste. During the past year alone, it sent almost 80,000 tons of packaging for recycling.

Through cooperation with more than 800 clients throughout Serbia, Ekostar Pak strives to be a reliable partner to the economy and fulfill its extended responsibility in recycling of packaging waste such as paper, plastic, glass, metal, and wood. These activities make it possible to reduce the amount of waste packaging that ends up in landfills since waste, with the adequate collection, becomes a resource for making a new product.

The director of Ekostar Pak, Bojana Perić, points out that the activities of the national operator imply that financial resources collected from the economy are invested in the collection and recycling of packaging waste to fulfill the prescribed obligations and achieve the set goals regarding the reuse and recycling of packaging placed on the market for a given year. Based on the latest report, more than 62 per cent of packaging was recycled in Serbia. More precisely 226,000 tons of packaging waste was used as a resource.

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Bojana says that her company advocates for the consistent implementation of primary selection, that is, the separation of waste at its place of origin, which is the first necessary step if we are talking about recycling.

“Only by properly separating the waste into certain fractions according to the future treatment can we get a raw material that can be used again. It is a misconception that everything recyclable can go in the same bin and that we will get a resource that we can use to make a future product. We should first separate the waste into containers such as buckets, containers, and bags, and then transport them separately to the line for secondary separation and preparation for future treatment,” emphasizes Bojana.

One of the key roles in the establishment and functioning of primary selection belongs to local self-governments. That is why Ekostar Pak launched the ECOpractice campaign, through which it will present the results of a joint cooperation to all existing partners from public utility companies and invite other local governments to join the partnership. A few months ago, a NALED study was published on the improvement of the current primary selection system, where it was recommended that the recycling system should be available to all households, as well as that recyclable waste should be collected in two separate streams. This would imply a separate separation of paper and cardboard from other recyclable waste (plastic, metal, tetra pack and glass).

A separate collection of wastepaper is particularly important because this raw material must not contain impurities or moisture. If the paper is damp or wet, the process of decomposition, rotting and swelling begin even during storage, making its further use impossible. Such paper can only be burned or taken to a landfill. Today, the public can often hear different opinions on whether it is more important to introduce a primary selection or a deposit system (that is, the introduction of a deposit that is paid when purchasing beverages and which is returned if the packaging is returned).

Prepared by: Milica Marković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

SERBIA ON THE PATH OF GREEN TRANSITION

28.03.2023

srbija — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Ivan Aleksić)

The most important step that lies ahead for Serbia in order to become a European Union member is the transfer of the regulations of this political and economic community to the national legal system, and their subsequent adequate application at all levels. On this path, the adoption of environmental policies contained in Chapter 27, whose goal is better health of the population, preservation of natural resources, competitive economy, a better quality of life, as well as the fight against climate change at the global level is one of the most demanding tasks.

In addition to harmonizing legislation and passing numerous laws, we need to reach all standards that ensure successful environmental protection, an adequate fight against climate change, as well as efficient waste management and control of greenhouse gas emissions. Although we are no longer at the very beginning, we still have a long transition road ahead of us. The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the European Green Deal are of great importance both for Serbia and the countries that are currently in front of “the gates” of the European Union and are moving towards fulfilling the goal of making Europe climate neutral by 2050. We spoke with Sandra Dokić, Assistant Minister for Environmental Protection, about the changes that await us regarding environmental protection, waste management and conservation of natural resources.

EP: The negotiating position for Chapter 27 was adopted in January 2020. How is the accomplishment of set goals going?

Sandra Dokić: Considering that more than one-third of the EU’s acquis communautaire relates to the environment, apart from the harmonization, fulfilling the set standards requires extremely large investments in the coming period which, according to estimates for some environmental sectors such as water, waste and air, amount to around 12 billion euros. Because of all this, we can say with certainty that this is one of the accession chapters for which we will need a lot of time, commitment, and the active participation of the public and private sectors, as well as the citizens themselves, in order to reach the set standards.

For the sake of complete transposition of EU directives into our legal system, we need to pass around 80 different regulations (laws and by-laws), but we must be aware that EU regulations are constantly changing too and that requirements and standards are being improved, so we are in a process of constant monitoring of changes and harmonization. A very topical segment, such as climate change, is a great challenge for us and we have to fulfil a multitude of obligations that we are facing for the first time. In March of last year, the Republic of Serbia made a big step in this direction by adopting the Law on Climate Change, and we are currently working hard on preparing relevant by-laws.

The Law on Climate Change establishes certain obligations for the industry and energy sectors in the shape of a system for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in industrial and energy facilities and the air transport sector. This specifically means that we will have information on national GHG emissions not only at the sectoral level but also in industrial and energy facilities, such as EPS, NIS, ironworks, cement plants, heating plants (above a certain capacity) and others. Plants above a certain capacity will have the obligation to submit an application for obtaining a greenhouse gas emissions permit and a monitoring plan, i.e. to calculate emissions (according to established methodologies), as well as to submit emission reports verified by an independent verification body recognized by the Accreditation Body of Serbia. Permits for GHG emissions, for all existing as well as new plants, will be issued by the Ministry. Establishing this system is a prerequisite for entering the EU Emissions Trading System. We have demonstrated our commitment to this segment and our ambition to contribute to the reduction of global warming on a realistic basis by the fact that in August, the Government, following the Ministry’s proposal, adopted the National Determined Contribution (NDC), which stipulates the reduction of GHG emissions by 33.3 percent by 2030 in compared to 1990.

EP: With the help of UNDP, you also created a circular economy roadmap for Serbia. What does this document stipulate?

Sandra Dokić: The Ministry of Environmental Protection is the umbrella institution for defining the strategic circular economy framework, which is why in 2020, as part of the UNDP project “Circular Economy Platform for Sustainable Development in Serbia”, it created the Circular Economy Roadmap for the Republic of Serbia. This is the first document of its kind in the region and it was modelled after developed EU countries. The document provides guidelines for the development of a modern, resource- and energy-efficient circular economy in our country. In 2020, an Ex-ante analysis of the effects of the circular economy was drafted. The analysis concluded that the circular economy, as a multi-sector topic, needs a separate public policy document to define the relevant strategic framework. Following this conclusion, a proposal for the Circular Economy Development Programme in the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2022 to 2024 with an Action Plan was prepared. This public policy document has been submitted to public discussion and we expect its adoption after the formation of the new government. The programme’s overall goal is to create a stimulating environment for the development of the circular economy to support the green transition.

The measures and activities that are defined through five special goals will secure support to the economic sector in the transformation to a circular business model and local governments in the creation of circular communities, while the waste management system and the use of green public procurements and voluntary instruments will be improved. There will also be special emphasis on raising the awareness of the interested public and educational institutions about the circular economy concept. All this will contribute to establishing the foundation for the transition to the circular economy.

EP: You actively participated in the implementation of the Circular Economy – Nordic Experiences project. How applicable are the experiences of developed countries in our circumstances?

Sandra Dokić: The goal of the Circular Economy – Nordic Experiences project, which was implemented by Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, was to convey experiences and examples of good practice to the experts in Serbia by organizing a series of conferences in which experts from the Nordic countries. This was also an opportunity to highlight the benefits of the circular economy, as well as the challenges that these countries faced in the previous period. The circular economy is considered a great opportunity for a green transition, because the application of this concept saves resources, encourages innovation, reduces pollution, creates new jobs and increases competitiveness. Waste management was one of the areas that got the most attention at the mentioned conferences. There is no universal way to transition to the circular economy, as each country has its own idiosyncrasies and needs to find its own model that will be efficient and sustainable.

Nevertheless, it was good to hear from Scandinavian experts that achieving circularity at their level requires time, significant investments, great patience and commitment. The result is a healthier environment and that waste can be turned into both a resource and money. Despite the long transition process, it is encouraging to know that there are good practice examples in our country too, both in the economic sector and local communities. These circular economy pioneers have recognized this concept as a way to save resources and energy, and at the same time, contribute to reducing their carbon footprint, which is a very positive effect from the perspective of climate change.

EP: The Ministry has been investing a lot of great effort in the rehabilitation of unregulated landfills throughout Serbia. How far have you come with this project?

Sandra Dokić: There are about 3,500 unregulated landfills and unfortunately, this decades-long problem cannot be solved overnight. Last and this year, the Ministry allocated significant funds for the rehabilitation of 750 unregulated landfills on the territory of local governments that responded to the Public Call and received funds for that purpose. It is extremely important that waste is no longer disposed of at the location of the cleared unregulated dump, which means that locals must behave more responsibly towards the environment. However, cleaning up unregulated dumps is not the only thing that needs to be worked on. In order to fully regulate this area and establish a waste management system at the EU level, we need to build the required infrastructure and acquire the necessary equipment, which will cost around 1.2 billion euros.

In Serbia, at the moment, a lot of work is being done on establishing a waste management system in over 80 local self-government units whose projects are in various stages of implementation – from planning to construction. I also have to mention that, for the first time, our Ministry, with Minister Irena Vujović at its helm, has shown determination to completely clean up the so-called historical waste in Serbia (hazardous and non-hazardous) that was amassed in the period after the year 2000 in bankrupt factories or during the privatization process. This is the first time that such a campaign is being carried out to clean all the waste from all locations in a period of three years (2021 to 2023), which will cost 1.8 billion dinars. These activities are carried out in line with all prescribed standards under the supervision of our inspection. Considering the long period that has passed since the storage of waste, a special kind of caution is required during these activities.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

ABB Formula E Showcases Energy Efficiency in Motorsport Crazy Brazil

23.03.2023

This weekend, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is bringing the inaugural São Paulo E-Prix to Brazil, the world’s seventh most populous country with a strong tradition and fan base for motorsport.

Set to be another fast track that shows off the increased power of the Gen3 car, the 14-turn, 2.96km circuit winds around the streets of the Anhembi district of the city. The cars will start on a main straight usually reserved for carnival floats, before continuing through two additional straights and a combination of tricky chicanes, sweeping corners and tight turns.

It’s fitting for ABB, official charging partner of the series, to be partaking in this demonstration of the future of e-mobility in Brazil. ABB was named among the 100 most influential companies in mobility in the country in 2021, according to a survey promoted by Connected Smart Cities and O Estado de São Paulo.

ABB’s E-mobility business has grown year after year in Brazil, driven by increased adoption of EV fleets including last mile fleets, with vehicles such as electric trucks, vans and delivery vans. Projects that have contributed to this growth include ABB’s collaboration with energy company, EDP Smart, and automotive manufacturer, Audi, where ABB DC Wallbox chargers were installed at Audi dealerships across the country. The e-mobility sector is a priority among companies with firm environmental policies given the potential impact of the adoption of electrified vehicle fleets on achieving CO2 reduction targets. This uptake in EV adoption is reflected in the 47 percent increase in EV sales in the first two months of 2023 (compared with 2022) according to ABVE – The Brazilian Association of Electric Vehicles. This is key to lowering emissions in mega cities like São Paulo.

Luciano Nassif, Country Holding officer, ABB Brazil, said: “The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship being held here in Brazil, where motorsport passion runs high, is an opportunity to educate a large number of people about the benefits of energy efficiency and more sustainable forms of transportation. ABB has been working in Brazil for more than 110 years to drive sustainable progress and, for us, this is another positive step in the journey to enable real change.”

Energy management and efficiency are factors that are not only central to the sport but also to the ABB solutions being implemented in a range of projects throughout Brazil to improve sustainability. One such project is with Saneago, a sanitation company operating in the state of Goiás, where ABB is modernizing the drive systems for motors and electric pumps. ABB provided a digital solution made up of intelligent sensors, which work together with 15 electric motors and frequency inverters to control speed and optimize energy consumption, enabling savings of more than 6000 MWh per year.

ABB’s focus in Brazil extends beyond saving energy, to ensuring more of the energy used is renewable. The company recently announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of the state of Ceará (CE), Brazil, to develop a hub for the production of green hydrogen in the state. The agreement aims to carry out feasibility studies with local companies in order to evaluate the possibility of developing projects in this area and position the country as a producer, exporter and distributor on a global scale. Brazil is one of the countries that produces the most renewable energy in the world.

The São Paulo E-Prix is one of this season’s FIA Girls on Track locations, where ABB will be running a robotics workshop as part of its global partnership with the program. Girls aged 12-18 will learn basic programming with one of the company’s GoFa™ collaborative robots. Ahead of the race ABB has also released the latest video in its FIA Girls on Track video series. Featuring Formula E Sporting Director, Claudia Denni, the video showcases her high-pressure role, her route into motorsport and the career challenges she has faced.

A new episode of the company’s podcast, ABB Decoded, is also now available. ABB ambassador and reigning champion, Stoffel Vandoorne, discusses his career path to Formula E, the differences in driving the new Gen3 car and the importance of being part of a sport which is driving the EV revolution.

Following the race in São Paulo, the series will head to Berlin, for a double-header race weekend on April 22nd and 23rd. The season 9 calendar features 16 races in 11 global locations.

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com

About Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship:

As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport certified net zero carbon since inception, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings dramatic racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities providing an elite motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation.

The Formula E network of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, and host cities are united by a passion for the sport and belief in its potential to accelerate sustainable human progress and create a better future for people and the planet. www.FIAFormulaE.com

For Formula E media enquiries, please contact – media@fiaformulae.com

Source: ABB

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