What You Need to Know About Combatting Food Loss and Waste

03.10.2022

soup_hrana_kuhinja_supa — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

As the world searches for ways to counter the climate crisis, experts are turning to food systems for solutions. Research from the IPCC shows that food loss and waste is responsible for a staggering eight-10 per cent of global greenhouse emissions.

So, where does this food loss come from?

“Food loss and waste occurs at every stage of the supply chain but is concentrated on the farm and in the home,” says Clementine O’Connor, a food systems expert with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “The middle of the supply chain generates comparatively small volumes of food waste but has resounding influence over how food is grown, purchased and eaten.”

O’Connor’s comments came just ahead of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, which falls on 29 September. The day is designed to push governments, businesses and consumers to address a prime shortcoming of the world’s food systems, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres said are “putting historic pressure on our natural resources, climate and natural environment.”

Reforming food systems

The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021 revealed that around 931 million tonnes of food waste was generated in 2019, 61 per cent of which came from households, 26 per cent from food service and 13 per cent from retail.

Experts say there are some simple ways to stem those losses.

Consumers can help reduce the amount of food lost in transport by buying locally grown produce, including at places like farmers’ markets. Supporting local farms also fosters food security and can help domestic agriculturalists adapt to climate change,O’Connor says.

Growing your own food can help you enjoy produce at peak ripeness, but systemic changes, at country and city-level, are needed to dramatically reduce food waste, O’Connor added.

Urban solutions

About 70 per cent of food consumption occurs at the urban level. Experts say city governments can help create circular food systems by raising awareness about food loss, promoting urban agriculture, providing free food waste recycling services, and banning organic waste from landfills.

With food prices 34 per cent higher than this time last year, consumers also have a powerful incentive to reduce food waste. Yet new research from Unilever and the non-governmental organization Wrap shows that food waste costs families with children 780 pounds sterling per year in the United Kingdom and 1,900 US dollars per year in the United States. “Alongside reducing energy and water usage and rethinking transportation, cutting food waste is an important way we can all cut our costs,” O’Connor says.

An estimated 3.1 billion people worldwide do not have a healthy diet, and some 828 million people go hungry. Since 2019, the number of people experiencing hunger as a result of the pandemic has increased by more than 100 million. All of this means there is an urgent need to accelerate action to reduce food loss and waste.

Source: UNEP

Biogas – Reliable Energy for a Stable Future

01.10.2022

Considering the available energy sources and agricultural potential in Serbia, a total of 500 MW obtained from biogas can be achieved without any problems. Biogas power plants operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing energy stability and balance to the entire system. We talked with Lidija Carević from the Serbian Biogas Association about the current situation in our country regarding biogas, development potential, new technologies, and future plans.

EP: When was the Serbian Biogas Association founded?

Lidija Carević: The Serbian Biogas Association is a non-governmental and non-profit association founded in March 2012, when the three owners of the first biogas plants got together in an attempt to achieve the best possible business conditions in this sector. Today, the Association is a representative association that gathers about 50 members, biogas plants, and other institutions: equipment producers, a new line of investors in the biogas industry, universities, insurance companies, and consulting companies. In cooperation with domestic and international institutions, the Association is working intensively on the professional development of its members regarding using renewable energy sources and managing biogas plants. A special honor, but also an additional responsibility, was shown to us in 2020 when the Association got the approval from the Government to add the name of the Republic of Serbia to its name. Since August 2020, the Biogas Association has been called the Serbian Biogas Association.

In focus:

EP: What is biogas, and what is its potential in Serbia? Is biogas exploited enough?

Lidija Carević: Biogas represents a mixture of gases formed by the decomposition of organic matter in conditions without the presence of oxygen (anaerobic conditions). The formed mixture of gases mainly consists of methane (50-75 vol%) and carbon dioxide (25-50 vol%). In addition, biogas contains small amounts of hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and other gases in traces. The process of biogas formation is similar to the process of digestion in the stomach of ruminants, and this process is called anaerobic digestion. Biogas is generated from liquid and solid animal manure, organic waste and/or energy crops in a technological process in a hermetically sealed tank. Biogas is produced efficiently under controlled conditions in plants called biogas power plants. Biogas can be used to produce electricity and heat (cooling) energy within the cogeneration plant (CHP), for combustion, i.e., heat production, as well as for the production of pure methane (enriched biogas).

As a notable fact, it is good to know that in the Republic of Serbia there is still no legislation for the production of pure methane from biogas. As part of the fermentation end process, a high-quality fertilizer was obtained, which is allowed in organic agriculture, so we can say this is a complete process. Serbia’s potential in biogas production is huge. Considering that Serbia is an agricultural country and as much as 65 per cent of the Serbian surface is arable land, we are talking about a large amount of waste from farms, i.e., raw materials used to obtain biogas. Annual biogas production in Serbia is about 256 GWh/g. Currently, as many as 34 biogas power plants are fully operational in Serbia. Given that we are a young market, this is an impressive figure. An indicator that the market is developing in the right direction is that we currently have as many as 81 plants in temporary status, which means that the sector will grow significantly in the next two to three years.

EP: How much are the citizens in Serbia aware of the biogas potential? What is the situation in terms of education?

Lidija Carević: We work on educating the decision-makers, farmers, future investors, and the general public. Our primary goal is to promote biogas and create an image of biogas as a form of green energy that is most benevolent to the environment and attract new investments in this sector. We in the Association have provided a whole set of educational materials, such as professional brochures, a film about biogas, education materials, and a guide for investors. All materials are published on our website, and we are happy to share all the necessary information with those interested. We are also actively promoting the construction of small biogas plants. Our message is that every village should have its biogas plant, primarily for environmental reasons. Our emphasis is on the fact that of all renewable energy sources, biogas has the most positive impact on the environment.

Interview by: Milica Radičević

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

The Importance of Battery Energy Storage Systems in the Energy Transition

30.09.2022

Battery storage (1) — Foto: Shutterstock

The increasing demand of consumers to be supplied at all times with electrical energy to satisfy all their needs is one the basic causes for the complexity of an energy system. The growing consumption of electricity, as compared to the generation thereof, threatens the stability and operation of the overall system, resulting in voltage and frequency deviating from their nominal values.

The issue is additionally complicated by implementation of renewable energy sources and their growing share in the distribution grid. Taking into account their variable nature, specifically, the fluctuation in the electrical energy generation from these sources, the issue of voltage and frequency in the distribution grid is further complicated. Namely, the initiated energy transition and putting an end to thermal power plants, that is, giving up combustion of fossil fuels for generation of electricity, is aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, first of all, of CO2.

At the same time, the entire energy system is encountering a big challenge of stability and continuity of electrical energy supply. It is generally known that thermal power plants are the pillars of stability of any energy system, whereas renewable sources are unstable factors of the same. In order to ensure a stable and sustainable transition of the electrical energy generation system from thermal power plants to renewable energy sources, the expert community agrees that the construction of optimal systems for energy storage needs to be included, along with the continued increase in the installed power of wind turbines and solar panels. Several technological solutions for electrical energy storage are nowadays used, such as: battery energy storage systems, compressed air, flywheel-operated hydro pumps (reversible hydro power plants).

In focus:

Taking into account the advantages resulting from the use of a specific technology, the battery energy storage systems are distinguished as front-runners, compared to other technological solutions. What makes the battery systems specific is their flexibility in operation, efficient construction (implementation), efficient cost-effective solution and, as the most important of all, quick responsiveness measured in milliseconds. The battery energy storage systems are globally already present, with the installed power of more than 20 GW, while last month in our region a battery energy storage system of the installed power of 10 MW has been put into operation. The reason for connection of a growing number of such types of battery energy storage solutions include economic, environmental and technical benefits they provide.

These benefits directly include the improvement of the quality of electricity, mitigation of voltage deviations, frequency regulation, load transfers, load levelling and peak decrease. They facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, grid expansion and overall cutting down of costs of operational reserves and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. One of the positive examples in the region is the interest of the thermal power plant “Gacko” in the installation of the battery energy storage system. The thermal power plant “Gacko”, in cooperation with the company Lidac, a domestic leader in the field of battery management, design and maintenance of battery systems, has developed a preliminary design for the battery energy storage system of the designed installed power of 30MW. Thus, the thermal power plant would reduce the amount of coal combusted for generating electricity during on-peak hours. The battery energy storage system, positioned with conventional producers of electrical energy, would support the transition toward complete abandoning of fossil fuels for electrical energy generation. It is necessary to bear in mind that any erroneous assessment and designing could result in errors of misuse or incorrect position of a battery energy storage system, that could result in worsening the quality of electrical power in distribution grids, decrease in reliability and load control, and could also adversely affect the voltage and frequency regulation. The need for energy storage systems, in particular battery energy storage systems, does exist. However, we should be maximally cautious when developing their designs and positioning so as to avoid worsening of the existing situation of the energy system and gain maximum positive features and opportunities provided by such battery energy storage systems.

Prepared by: Nevena Đukić

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

Five Cross-cutting Barriers to Bioenergy Deployment and How to Address Them

29.09.2022

Bioenergy – solid biofuels, biogas, biomethane and liquid biofuels – already makes a significant contribution to the world’s energy supply, but half of the deployment currently takes the form of traditional uses of bioenergy for cooking and heating, mainly in developing countries. The situation needs to change. Inefficient applications of biomass must be replaced by modern and clean energy solutions, since they harm people’s health, damage the environment and reduce social well-being.

Modern forms of bioenergy are increasingly being used to generate electricity, for heat in buildings and industry, for transport fuels and as an industrial feedstock. For example, biomass-based aviation fuel is the most promising renewable option in the near and medium term.

However, increasing bioenergy deployment and realising its wider socio-economic benefits presents its own difficulties. Five major challenges across all end-uses that urgently need to be addressed:

Policy uncertainty and complex institutional structures are major barriers to most renewables, including bioenergy. Currently, bioenergy development is not receiving enough policy attention. Bioenergy policy making usually involves various government departments and cross-sectoral actors. Governments should set a long-term bioenergy strategy, with clearly defined targets and cross-sectoral co-ordination, to build confidence for investors and project developers. Mandates for bioenergy consumption and a ban on fossil fuel use can also be used to increase market demand.

Financial and economic barriers include fossil fuel subsidies, high costs and lack of access to affordable finance. Without measures accounting for the negative impacts of fossil fuel burning, most bioenergy options have a higher cost than fossil fuels. Financial and fiscal support measures can ensure that the production and use of bioenergy are profitable for enterprises and affordable for final consumers. Measures include the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies and the introduction of carbon pricing policies to fix energy market distortion, a lower tax burden or grants and subsidies to raise its competitiveness, and measures to facilitate affordable financing.

A low level of technology readiness remains another major barrier to novel bioenergy technologies, such as biomass-based aviation fuels and biomass for high-temperature industrial processes. A lack of infrastructure adds to the challenge, such as the need for onsite biomass storage and the ability of natural gas grids to accommodate biomethane. Policy support for innovation through research, development and demonstration can raise technology readiness and accelerate commercialisation.

Weak supply chains are one of the most dominant barriers. These include unstable feedstock supply, lack of qualified workers and sustainability risks. Regulations on quality control and standardisation can improve product quality and operational efficiency. Training, education and capacity building can improve workers’ skills in the design, installation, operation and maintenance of bioenergy systems. Most importantly, a context-based sustainability policy framework, containing appropriate measures, is urgently needed to ensure sustainable good practices.

A lack of awareness of bioenergy products and their benefits can also affect the engagement of stakeholders. Public campaigns and information-sharing activities raise public and business awareness. Accessible information on the availability and location of bioenergy resources (e.g. agricultural and forestry residues, organic waste) and infrastructure can also help project developers identify bioenergy feedstocks and the best project locations.

Increasing the deployment of bioenergy is an essential component of an energy transition that aligns with the 1.5°C Scenario. Bioenergy needs to make a greater contribution towards meeting the demand for energy in all end uses in the coming decades. While all stakeholders have a role to play here, policy makers have a particular opportunity to effect this change: the right mix of policies can increase the supply and use of bioenergy, improve its sustainability and minimise any negative impacts.

Source: IRENA

Electric BMW iX1 – Orders Available from November

28.09.2022

Fabian Kirchbauer Photography — Foto: BMW Group

The entry model into the world of BMW X is now more appealing than ever. In its third model generation, the new BMW X1 boasts a more prominent design, superior spaciousness, advanced digitalization – and, for the first time, an all-electric drive system. In the new BMW iX1, meanwhile, instantly accessible driving pleasure and modern versatility are brought together with locally emission-free mobility. A new control/operation system with BMW Operating System 8 and BMW Curved Display plus a far wider selection of automated driving and parking systems also help to define the forward-looking character of this Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) for the premium compact segment.

With its robust appearance and functional versatility, the new BMW X1 embodies an authentic experience of freedom and independence in day-to-day driving and on longer journeys. The interior’s progressive design and sophisticated ambience, and the much broader selection of standard equipment compared to the outgoing model, serve to underline its deeply embedded premium character.

There will initially be a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines. These will link up with a seven-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch as standard, and their drive power will be channeled to the road via either the front wheels or the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system, depending on the model. This starting quartet will immediately be followed by the all-electric BMW iX1 xDrive30 (electric power consumption, combined in the WLTP cycle: 18.4 – 17.3 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km; figures in NEDC cycle: –; estimates based on the car’s current development stage) as well as by a pair of plug-in hybrid models and another two conventionally powered variants with 48V mild hybrid technology. The new BMW X1 will be built at BMW Group Plant Regensburg, where models with combustion engines, plug-in hybrid systems and all-electric drive will all roll off a single assembly line for the first time.

The upright front end of the new BMW X1 gives it a much greater sense of presence, with slim LED headlights, a large, almost square BMW kidney grille, X-shaped lines radiating out to the sides and eye-catching chrome strips in the lower air intake serving as its defining elements. Adaptive LED headlights with matrix high beam, pulsating turn indicators and variable light distribution are available as an option.

Expressively sculpted surfaces and a long roofline are the distinguishing features of the new model’s dynamically stretched silhouette. When viewed from the rear, the slim tailgate window, horizontal lines, striking LED lights and flared wheel arches produce the typical SAV look.

The robust aura of the new BMW X1 can be intensified to great effect with the specific design elements of the xLine model, which include stylistic underride protection. The M Sport model also offered as an alternative to base specification places the focus firmly on dynamic driving pleasure with features such as its large cooling air inlets.

All model variants come as standard with 17-inch light-alloy wheels. 18-inch light-alloy wheels are fitted on xLine and M Sport cars, although these models are also available with 19-inch and – in a first for the BMW X1 – 20‑inch wheels. Customers can choose from two solid and ten metallic shades for the exterior paint finish – including a Frozen paint option from BMW Individual for the first time.

However, the most interesting information to our editorial board, is that the fully electric version of this model, the BMW iX1, will be available for configuration in November, and the price for our market will then officially be formed. The first deliveries on our market are expected at the beginning of next year. The BMW iX1 will bring the experience of locally emission-free driving pleasure to a vehicle segment enjoying worldwide growth, making it accessible to a very wide target audience. The compact SAV powered by the latest BMW eDrive technology will therefore give a major boost to the accelerated ramp-up of electric mobility. The improvements in sustainability compared to the predecessor model can be partly attributed not just to the wide-ranging electrification measures, but also the increased use of green energy, both for production and in the supply chain, and the greater quantities of secondary raw materials and natural materials used.

The BMW iX1 xDrive30 is the first all-wheel-drive electric car introduced by the brand in the premium compact segment. Two highly integrated drive units at the front and rear axles deliver a combined output of 230 kW/313 hp (taking the temporary boost effect into account), and post overall torque of 494 Nm (364 lb-ft). The electric all-wheel-drive system ensures supreme traction and directional stability in all situations. The BMW iX1 xDrive30 completes the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 5.7 seconds. The fully electric model will be available for configuration in November, and the first lug-in hybrid models with increased electric range, petrol and diesel engines with 48V mild hybrid technology.

Source: BMW Group Press

Heat Pumps – A Safe Solution for Savings

28.09.2022

living-room-modern-tv-g886da51d4_1920 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Whether you heat your home with electricity, wood, or gas, or you have central heating, the market situation is so uncertain that you can’t even assume how much heating will cost you next winter. That is why many have already started preparing for cold days now when the tropical heat begins. Many are looking for a long-term solution so that they can calmly welcome the winter without fear of imminent price increases.

Heat pumps are a great option for users who want to save money and the environment from negative impact. For starters, don’t let the name “heat” fool you. It is used for heating but also for cooling. It works on the principle of transferring thermal energy from one space to another. This means it cools the rooms of your home in the summer and heats them in the winter. In addition, it can be used throughout the year to heat domestic hot water, which further increases savings.

Heat pumps use energy from air, groundwater, or earth. Therefore, they have a minimal impact on environmental pollution. They only need a minimum amount of electricity when they need to start the pump compressor. For 1 kWh consumed, the heat pump produces 2-6 kWh of energy for heating or cooling.

For example, for a 40-square-meter apartment heated by a heat pump with a geothermal water supply, the monthly electricity bill would be 1,000 dinars. The bill for central heating of the same apartment would amount to around 5,000 to 6,000 dinars per month and is paid throughout the year. Electric and gas heating is even more expensive, and it is especially worrying that it is not known how much these energy sources will cost.

In focus:

Tests of the land on which the construction of the building is planned are being done more often, showing the potential of heat pumps. First, it is checked whether there are geothermal waters and possibilities for installing heat pumps. Also, heat pumps are very suitable for houses with a well. The test determines whether there is groundwater and if it turns out there is, then it makes perfect sense to install this system because despite the initial high costs, the return on investment will be realized in two to three years.

ProCredit Bank pays special attention to renewable energy sources and energy efficiency investments. Environmental protection is one of the main priorities both for the bank and its clients. ProCredit Bank’s energy efficiency loan is designed so that citizens can get a return on investment of up to 20 percent.

Funds in the amount of up to 600,000 dinars can be used for the installation of heat pumps. You can apply for energy efficiency loans online; ProCredit Bank experts are there for all questions, while additional information can be found on the bank’s website.

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

Global Ocean Observing System Report Card Released

27.09.2022

okean_ribe — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Francesco Ungaro)

A new Ocean Observing System Report Card – a high-level annual report providing a deep insight on the state, capacity and value of our Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) – has just been released.

The GOOS Ocean Observing System Report Card was prepared in collaboration with WMO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and other GOOS partners and experts, and produced by its operational centre Ocean OPS.

The report card focuses on how an integrated observing network adds value to society across three delivery areas of climate, operational services and ocean health. It highlights physical, biogeochemical and, for the first time, biological observations, providing a global view of the state of ocean observations and identifying progress, key challenges and opportunities to enhance the system.

The 2022 Report Card includes several key areas:

– Global view of the state of the Global Ocean Observing System

– Monitoring ocean carbon uptake to allow more accurate climate model projections

– Advancing coastal inundation forecasts and early warnings

– Phytoplankton observations – vital for understanding changes in food webs and shifts in marine life

– Involvement of new communities through the GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes

State of the ocean observing network

Despite the long-term impacts of the pandemic and the unforeseen market changes leading to increased costs to implement and maintain the observing network, GOOS stakeholders are working hard to restore pre-pandemic levels of observations.

Most activities are slowly returning to normal and continued automation is supporting increased data delivery. However, a few regions and networks remain affected, and GOOS is catalyzing discussions to address these needs.

“Continued and new targeted investment in ocean observing is vital to ensure we characterize how our ocean is changing, what changes are likely in the future, and how we can mitigate and adapt to our changing earth system”, says David Legler, GOOS Observations Coordination Group Chair.

Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC Executive Secretary, expressing IOC support to the development of the GOOS, says: “I hope the ocean observing system will be able to recover from the pandemic, withstand the inflation, and will keep delivering new bioecological and biogeochemical data, observations in the polar ocean, with the full output of the Argo network. International cooperation is the cornerstone for that capacity and IOC, capitalizing on the opportunities offered by the UN Ocean Decade and the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, stands ready to facilitate continuous efforts around ocean observing”.

Ocean carbon monitoring

In the past 20 years GOOS has developed the capability to observe some aspects of the global ocean carbon, and the number of surface and ocean interior carbon observations is growing. However, Mathieu Belbéoch, OceanOPS Manager says that today the carbon network is immature and only 5 percent of the platforms at sea carry a biogeochemical sensor, including carbon dioxide sensors.

“To help improve our understanding of the carbon cycle, reduce uncertainties about greenhouse gas sources and sinks, thus supporting Paris Agreement mitigation action, WMO is seeking to establish a Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System, strengthening the international observing infrastructure and related modeling and assimilation efforts“, says Lars Peter Riishojgaard, WMO Integrated Global Observing System Director.

Forecasting and early warning of coastal inundation

“GOOS in situ and satellite observations are essential contributions to advance weather and flood warnings for coastal zones and communities which are increasingly at risk from rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storm surges”, reports the Report Card.

Recently, several wave buoys were deployed on the south coast of Fiji enhancing forecasts and warnings of coastal inundation. The Fiji Minister for Infrastructure, Disaster Management, Land and Mineral Resources and Meteorological Services declared that work done by the Fiji Meteorological Service had enabled better planning and sound decisions prior to and during the advent of severe tropical cyclone Harold in April 2020.

Global phytoplankton observations

Marine phytoplankton form the base of marine food webs and support other forms of life, including commercial fish valued at ~USD 401 billion/year.

An important goal of GOOS is to improve forecasting of the ecosystem services provided by phytoplankton that support the Blue Economy, and this can only be achieved through gathering continued global phytoplankton observations.

Currently, a large set of satellite measurements provide information on phytoplankton distribution in the upper layers of the ocean at all times of the day and through the year. Complementary to satellites, in situ observing instruments provide information about the composition of species of phytoplankton, the pigments they contain, and their distribution.

Developing partnerships and capacities through the GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes

Increasing cooperation between observers, modelers and communities, involving the civil society in ocean observing, as well as bridging the gap between technology innovation and user capacity are only some of the focuses of multiple new actions under the GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes, highlighted in the Report Card. All these activities represent an important way to connect people with the ocean and get more ocean data, this way supporting the implementation of the GOOS and maximizing societal benefits.

“Enhanced ocean observations will form the foundation for thriving blue economies and sustainable development. Together the 3 GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes – Observing Together, Ocean Observing Co-Design and CoastPredict – will provide essential support needed to give us the ocean we need for the future we want”, says Emma Heslop, GOOS Acting Director.

The Ocean Observing System Report Card was prepared by OceanOPS, GOOS Observations Coordination Group, GOOS-BioEco and BGC panels, OOPC panel, and the Secretariats of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and of the World Meteorological Organization.

The Ocean Observing System Report Card is available here.

Source: WMO

The Clean Energy Economy is Gaining Ground, But Greater Efforts are Needed now to Get on Track for Net Zero by 2050

26.09.2022

cape-ortegal-vetar-vetroelektrana — Photo-illustration: Pixabay (makunin)

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Zsuzska321)

Despite encouraging signs of progress across a number of sectors, stronger efforts are needed to bring the world on track to reach net zero emissions by mid-century, according to the IEA’s latest appraisal of global progress on clean energy technologies.

The annual Tracking Clean Energy Progress (TCEP) update assesses 55 components of the energy system – sectors, technologies, infrastructures and cross-cutting CO2 mitigation strategies – and evaluates their progress in 2021 towards reaching key medium-term milestones by the end of this decade that are set out in the IEA’s pathway to Net Zero Emissions by 2050. The TCEP analysis is available as a comprehensive online resource on the IEA’s website.

Recent technology developments and policy actions suggest momentum is accelerating in some important regions and sectors. Initial estimates point to 2022 being a record year for renewable electricity capacity additions, with an increase of about 340 gigawatts, roughly equal to the entire installed power capacity of Japan. China accounts for about half of those additions. This year is also expected to see another all-time high for electric vehicle sales, lifting them to 13 percent of total light duty vehicle sales globally. The pipelines for both hydrogen projects and carbon capture and storage facilities continue to expand, and last year saw record sales of heat pumps. A pilot project last year used hydrogen to produce fully fossil-free steel, and the first commercial production of sodium-ion batteries without lithium is set to start next year.

“There are more signs than ever that the new global energy economy is advancing strongly,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “This reaffirms my belief that today’s global energy crisis can be a turning point towards a cleaner, more affordable and more secure energy system. But this new IEA analysis shows the need for greater and sustained efforts across a range of technologies and sectors to ensure the world can meet its energy and climate goals.”

On the policy front, the United States’ historic Inflation Reduction Act – enacted in August – provides USD 370 billion in energy security and climate change investments, giving a boost to a huge array of clean energy technologies, from solar, wind and electric vehicles to carbon capture and hydrogen. Meanwhile, with its REPowerEU plan, the European Union is raising its renewables and energy efficiency targets and putting significant resources behind achieving them.

Governments are also spending more on clean energy research and development, which could reach USD 35 billion in 2022, while venture capital investments in clean energy start-ups reached an all-time high in 2021. Governments are supporting major R&D and demonstration projects through measures such as the US Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EU Innovation Fund, Japan’s Green Innovation Fund and China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, with an increasing focus on heavy industry, hydrogen, and carbon capture.

Despite these positive signs, this year’s TCEP, which evaluates the state-of-play in 2021, found that only two components – electric vehicles and lighting – were fully on track for their 2030 milestones in the IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 Scenario, the same two as the previous year. EV sales doubled worldwide last year to account for almost 9 percent of the car market, while over 50 percent of the global lighting market now uses LED technology. Of the remaining tracking areas, 30 were rated as “more efforts needed” and 23 were “not on track”. Areas not on track include improving the energy efficiency of building designs, developing clean and efficient district heating, phasing out coal-fired power generation, eliminating methane flaring, shifting aviation and shipping to cleaner fuels, and making cement, chemical and steel production cleaner.

Along with TCEP, the IEA is also releasing an expanded clean energy innovation tracker, which includes an update of the Clean Technology Guide, as well as a new publicly available global database of clean energy demonstration projects that provides project-by-project information including location, sector, technology, technology readiness, status, funding and timeline of operations. The database responds to the need to monitor how public and private support for demonstration projects translates into projects on the ground.

Clean energy transitions will require a diversity of technologies and fuels across all parts of the energy system, calling for comprehensive and ambitious policy packages that adequately support transitions in all sectors, the TCEP analysis shows. This current decade is a critical time for laying a strong foundation for achieving longer-term goals.

Source: IEA

How is Air Quality Measured?

26.09.2022

driving-school-saobraćaj-auto-zagađenje — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Maruf_Rahman)

Air pollutants come from a variety of sources, including human-caused emissions – like fossil fuel use in vehicles and cooking – and natural sources, such as dust storms and smoke from wildfires and volcanoes.

Air quality monitors are outfitted with sensors designed to detect specific pollutants. Some use lasers to scan particulate matter density in a cubic metre of air, while others rely on satellite imaging to measure energy reflected or emitted by the Earth.

Pollutants tied to human and environmental health impacts include PM2.5, PM10, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. The greater the density of pollutants in the air, the higher the Air Quality Index (AQI), a scale that runs from zero to 500. An AQI of 50 or below is considered safe, while readings above 100 are deemed unhealthy. According to UNEP partner IQAir, only 38 of 117 countries and regions averaged healthy AQI readings in 2021.

How is air quality calculated?

Air quality databanks process readings from governmental, crowd-sourced and satellite-derived air quality monitors to produce an aggregated AQI reading. These databases may weigh data differently based on reliability and the type of pollution measured.

UNEP, in collaboration with IQAir, developed the first real-time air pollution exposure calculator in 2021, which combines global readings from validated air quality monitors in 6,475 locations in 117 countries, territories, and regions. The database prioritizes PM2.5 readings and applies artificial intelligence to calculate nearly every country’s population exposure to air pollution on an hourly basis.

Source: UNEP

Agriculture Commissioner Lends Support for new EU-Wide Fertilisers Strategy

24.09.2022

tractor-traktor-poljoprivreda — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Zoe Schaeffer)

EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has offered tentative support to creating an EU-wide fertilisers strategy to help protect farmers against potential future shortages.

A potential initiative to boost domestic production of fertilisers to reduce reliance on third countries – particularly Russia- was discussed in August during a meeting between Spanish agriculture minister Luis Planas and his French counterpart Marc Fesneau.

At the time, the French stressed the need to set up “an EU strategy for fertilisers like the energy strategy,” concerning the REPower EU plan to limit reliance on Russian fossil fuels. At the same time, Planas highlighted the importance of regaining strategic autonomy in the production of fertilisers.

The topic was again in the spotlight during the informal meeting of EU-27 agriculture ministers in Prague on Friday (16 September), where calls to address the issue holistically were reiterated.

“We need to seriously consider this strategy,” the Commissioner told reporters ahead of the informal meeting, calling the prospect “very interesting”.

He added the situation is “now so complex,” and there is a problem with ensuring an adequate supply of fertilisers and substitution mineral fertilisers while reducing livestock numbers and changing animal production.

A representative of the EU farmers’ association COPA-COGECA backed the move in a press conference on 12 September to help secure a steady supply of fertilisers across the EU.

According to data from the industry association Fertilizers Europe, Russia and Belarus provide 60 per cent of the EU’s fertiliser. Sanctions introduced in March on imports of potash from Belarus and interruptions to trade with Russia have put significant pressure on supplies.

This has left the sector scrambling for other sources, prompting mines in Eastern Germany to start test drilling for additional potash and look to alternative suppliers, such as Morocco.

Source: EURACTIV.com

Renewable Energy Jobs Hit 12.7 Million Globally

23.09.2022

solar — Foto-ilustracija: Freepik Photovoltaic photo created by senivpetro - www.freepik.com

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Science In Hd)

Worldwide renewable energy employment reached 12.7 million last year, a jump of 700,000 new jobs in one year despite the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the growing energy crisis, according to a new report.

Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2022 identifies market dynamics as major factors influencing employment generation in renewables, along with labour and other costs. Solar energy was found to be the fastest-growing sector. In 2021 it provided 4.3 million jobs, more than a third of the current global renewable workforce.

The new report was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) during the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh, USA.

With rising concerns over climate change, post-COVID-19 recovery and supply chain disruption, national interest is growing in localising supply chains and creating jobs at home. The report describes how strong domestic markets are key to anchoring a drive toward clean energy industrialisation. Developing renewable technology export capabilities is also dependent on this, it adds.

Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General, said: “In the face of numerous challenges, renewable energy jobs remain resilient, and have been proven to be a reliable job creation engine. My advice to governments around the world is to pursue industrial policies that encourage the expansion of decent renewables jobs at home. Spurring a domestic value chain will not only create business opportunities and new jobs for people and local communities. It also bolsters supply chain reliability and contributes to more energy security overall.”

The report shows that an increasing number of countries are creating jobs in renewables. Almost two-thirds of all these jobs are in Asia, according to the new report. China alone accounts for 42 per cent of the global total, followed by the EU and Brazil with ten per cent each, and the USA and India with seven per cent each.

ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder said: “Beyond the numbers, there is a growing focus on the quality of jobs and the conditions of work in renewable energies, to ensure decent and productive employment. The increasing share of female employment suggests that dedicated policies and training can significantly enhance the participation of women in renewable energy occupations, inclusion and ultimately, achieving a just transition for all. I encourage governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations to remain firmly committed to a sustainable energy transition, which is indispensable for the future of work.”

Source: IRENA

S Stands for Solar Power, Stability, Sun

21.09.2022

Who would have thought that in the 21st century, we would face an energy crisis whose end is still not in sight, which has caused trouble to even the most developed economies in the world? It is clear that there is no time to wait – industries, households, and public energy companies must turn to renewable energy sources as soon as possible and ensure energy independence and stability as well as survival in times of crisis like this.

Every kilowatt of green energy, whether a few solar panels on the roof of a house or large solar farms, leads us closer to the goal that by 2040, the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix of Serbia will be 40 percent. The domestic company MT-KOMEX, which is soon celebrating its thirtieth birthday, greatly contributes to the energy transition goals. They help citizens and companies step into the world of solar energy, start producing electricity themselves, and significantly reduce electricity bills.

MT-KOMEX has many satisfied customers whose roofs and estates are now equipped with solar panels from renowned global manufacturers. The list of locations is expanding every day, and we will try to present what the whole process looks like in practice.

Construction in two phases for over one megawatt of solar energy

For example, the last solar power plant completed by MT-KOMEX was built in two phases, the first with a capacity of 490 kW and the second with 600 kW. The construction of the first phase was preceded by a careful assessment of radiation on the horizontal plane, which ensured optimal conditions for the construction of the plant, as well as a thorough analysis of the roof. The new 490 kW of solar capacity will provide the investor with 596,700 kWh of green electricity per year. The return of the invested 330,000 euros is expected in six and a half years, and the cost for the maintenance of the solar power plant will be 500 euros per year. And that’s not all; the mentioned investment will provide benefits to the client of the company MT-KOMEX and the entire society, since the CO2 savings will amount to 477,360 kg per year.

In focus:

An engineer at MT-KOMEX, Ivan Kićanović, explained that every construction site brings new challenges that need attention, but that a well-coordinated team solves all obstacles in the shortest possible time and with the best results.

“In this particular case, well-arranged roof surfaces were a mitigating circumstance for installing photovoltaic panels themselves, while a slightly longer DC and AC distribution was performed without major problems. The power plant was built and put into operation before the scheduled deadline, so we can certainly say that we have met the client’s expectations”, says Kićanović.

The second phase of stronger capacity was built within the same power plant but on a facility that is slightly away from the facility where the first phase was built. For an additional 600 kW of the solar power plant, 454,223 euros have been invested, and the expected annual production will be 751,093 kWh. The maintenance costs here are 500 euros a year, while the return on investment is expected in about six years. The second phase of the solar power plant brings benefits in the form of annual CO2 savings of 600,639 kg.

Equipment is important

MT-KOMEX takes care to carefully select the solar panels and all the accompanying equipment of the solar power plant to maximize the solar potential of the facility.

Every power plant is different, and in the specific case mentioned, MT-KOMEX engineers opted for 1,458 single-crystal Canadian Solar Half-Cells 370W solar panels for the first phase and 1,632 Luxor Solar single-crystal solar panels LX410M/182-108+(410W) for the second phase. For both phases, Fronius inverters, AC distribution cabinets, a monitoring system and “Smart meter” smart meters were used as additional indispensable equipment that makes this solar power plant maximally efficient.

When maximum attention is paid to every detail of the solar power plant, the result will follow: “According to the client, and according to the monitoring system which shows that the power plant produces electricity greatly, we can proudly confirm that the client is satisfied. In addition, he has already recommended us to new clients”, says Kićanović.

He adds that over 80 solar power plants built by MT-KOMEX will soon be joined by another in Novi Sad. With a power of 1,140 kW, the power plant is in the final phase of construction. When it is put into operation, its production will contribute to saving a total of 1,020 tons of CO2 , our interlocutor explains. Firmly believing in a sunny future, MT-KOMEX continuously builds solar power plants diligently, thus building a future with no air pollution and electricity shortages. Over 100 satisfied customers and more than 20 MW of installed capacity of solar power plants speak for themselves, and this seems to be just the beginning for the MT-KOMEX expert team.

Prepared by: Milena Maglovski

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

Modernisation of Heating Plants for More Efficient Heating, Better Air Quality

21.09.2022

Photo: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic signed memorandums of understanding in Kragujevac, within the framework of the project “Renewable energy sources of districts in Serbia”, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and 11 cities and municipalities participating in the development of the project.

The memorandums were signed in the presence of representatives of the EU Delegation in Serbia, and the project, whose total value is EUR 40.5 million, includes Becej, Bogatic, Vrbas, Vrsac, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Nis, Novi Pazar, Pancevo and Paracin.

On that occasion, Mihajlovic pointed out that, thanks to the greater use of RES in the production of thermal energy, the citizens of the aforementioned local governments will receive better heating and a healthier environment, and the local governments will have a more stable district heating system.

The Deputy Prime Minister specified that the EBRD finances the project with a EUR 30 million loan, and the Swiss government and the EU donate EUR 7.5 million and EUR 3 million respectively, noting that all projects will be completed in the next four years.

These projects will enable other cities to use renewable sources for the production of thermal energy, as Priboj and Mali Zvornik have been doing since last year, and as Novi Pazar will do starting from this heating season, Mihajlovic noted.

Source: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

1...798081...407 Page 80 of 407

More:

In focus:

In focus:

In focus:

More:

More:

In focus:

More:

More:

More:

More:

More:

In focus:

More:

More:

Newsletter

Calendar of events

2025 June

Events for 30 June

Events for 1 July

Events for 2 July

Events for 3 July

Events for 4 July

Events for 5 July

Events for 6 July

Events for 7 July

Events for 8 July

Events for 9 July

Events for 10 July

Events for 11 July

Events for 12 July

Events for 13 July

Events for 14 July

Events for 15 July

Events for 16 July

Events for 17 July

Events for 18 July

Events for 19 July

Events for 20 July

Events for 21 July

Events for 22 July

Events for 23 July

Events for 24 July

Events for 25 July

Events for 26 July

Events for 27 July

Events for 28 July

Events for 29 July

Events for 30 July

WRITE US