Joint working group of Serbia, Albania, Northern Macedonia for energy cooperation

26.07.2022

Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic announced in Tirana that the relevant ministers from Northern Macedonia and Albania accepted Serbia’s initiative to form a joint working group for cooperation in the energy crisis and on strategic projects.

Mihajlovic, who spoke on the panel on energy security at the meeting of the Crisis Mitigation Group as part of the “Open Balkans” initiative, said that for the energy security of the region in the conditions of the national crisis, a community is needed for cooperation.

She said that there is no reason not to talk about connecting the market and joint balancing, which is needed in all countries of the region.

According to her, we will start working within the working group from next week and that we will present a proposal for joint investments to the presidents, that is, the prime ministers of our countries.

Mihajlovic reminded that Serbia has passed new laws in the field of energy, most of the by-laws, the drafting of strategic documents is nearing completion and it has a new investment plan.

The construction of gas interconnections with Bulgaria is underway, which will enable the diversification of supply sources, and we plan to connect with other neighbours as well, primarily Northern Macedonia and Romania, she said.

At the same time, we are interested in the possibilities of better cooperation and connection with Albania, when it comes to the planned LNG terminal, as well as for better connection in the region when it comes to the high-voltage network. All these interconnections enable greater energy stability not only for Serbia, but also for the region, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Source: Serbian Government

“This heatwave is the new normal”, WMO Secretary-General says

25.07.2022

landscape-klimatske promene — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

“We have broken an all-time high in the UK”, said Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General. “Heatwaves will happen more frequently because of climate change. The connection has been clearly demonstrated by IPCC”.

Stable high pressures, and hence the heatwave, are here to last for several days. This Tuesday was expected to be the hottest day of the year so far in France. Expected temperatures ranged from 36°C to 40°C with almost all parts of the country in heatwave alert, according to Météo France.

“The heatwave will continue at least until the middle of next week with continued high temperatures in much of Western Europe”, said Bob Stefanski, chief of Applied Climate Services at WMO. “This is alarming with over 40 days to go in the meteorological summer.”

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe was 48°C (Greece, 1977). A suspected new record may have occurred in 2021 (48.8°C in Sicily) and is being reviewed by WMO.

The new normal

“In the future, this kind of heatwaves are going to be normal. We will see stronger extremes. We have pumped so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that the negative trend will continue for decades. We haven’t been able to reduce our emissions globally” SG Taalas lamented. “I hope that this will be a wake-up call for governments and that it will have an impact on voting behaviors in democratic countries”, he said.

“I hope that this event will be a wake-up call for governments and that it will have an impact on voting behaviors in democratic countries”

According to IPCC, temperatures will rise more quickly in European areas than elsewhere. In the Mediterranean, a worrisome combination of climatic impact-driver changes (warming; temperature extremes; increase in droughts and aridity; precipitation decrease; wildifire increase; mean and extreme sea levels; snow cover decrease; and wind speed decrease) is expected by mid-century if global warming exceeds 2°C.

The IPCC Special Report on Extremes also shows that heatwaves will be more frequent, longer and more intense in the 21st century. Early warning systems and reinforced health systems will be needed.

Pollution & health

“Stable, stagnant atmosphere traps atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter, resulting in a degradation of air quality. Sun rays lead to ozone formation. Both impact health, particularly among vulnerable people, and also impact vegetal life“, said Bob Stefanski

Health systems are challenged by heatwaves. “When a heatwave goes along with high levels of pollution it exacerbates respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and conditions especially in large urban spaces that are not adapted to cope with these high temperatures,” said Maria Neira, Director of Environment and Health at WHO. “We have been alerting for a long time that climate change is severely affecting human health and therefore taking measures to reach the zero carbon and accelerating the transition to clean renewable sources of energy will be extremely important.”

Source: WMO

1.1 Billion Dinars for Projects to Increase Energy Efficiency in 38 Cities and Municipalities

25.07.2022

Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Mining and Energy, prof. Zorana Mihajlovic, Ph.D., in Smederevska Palanka, handed over contracts to representatives of 38 local self-governments that received funds for investing in increasing energy efficiency in public buildings through a public call, and said that increasing energy efficiency is a national project and a job that concerns all institutions, the economy and citizens.

“This is the eighth time that the state allocates funds for increasing energy efficiency in public buildings through a public call, and for the first time money is allocated through the Directorate for Financing and Encouraging Energy Efficiency, which is part of the Ministry and was founded precisely with the task of helping public sector, but also citizens, to work faster on increasing energy efficiency. The total value of the projects that are co-financed through the public call is 1.12 billion dinars, of which 687.6 million dinars are from the funds of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, through the Administration, and 436.3 million dinars are the participation of local self-governments. Everything we do through this project means a healthier environment and energy savings, from 30 to 50 percent per year, depending on the measures applied.

“On an annual level, the savings in electricity consumption will be nine million kWh, and the expected reduction in CO2 emissions is about 4,500 tons per year,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

She reminded that, in addition to public buildings, the state also co-finances investments in increasing energy efficiency in households, where about 25,000 households in all parts of Serbia have been covered so far through three public calls in the previous year. The total investment through subsidies from the state and local self-governments is about 2.7 billion dinars, of which 1.4 billion dinars are subsidies from the Ministry. Also, in cooperation with the World Bank and EBRD, we secured another 70 million euros for the continuation of the project, which we expect to cover more than 100,000 households.

She announced that the state will continue to issue public invitations, to increase where necessary the subsidies given by the state and that she believes that it is possible that in the next three years at least 45 percent of households will be covered by this project.

“If we know that today Serbia consumes about four times more energy than the average EU member to create a unit of GDP and almost two times more heat energy per square meter in households compared to the EU, it is clear how important this area is, even today. When we have an energy crisis, but also for the future. And when we hear how in other European countries citizens are called to save electricity, then we should imagine what we can do to get through this crisis as painlessly as possible. The state is there to provide money, to announce public calls, but only if we all work together on this, we can ensure that we have enough energy and a healthy environment”, said Mihajlovic.

The projects for which funds were allocated include elementary schools, municipal buildings, centers of culture, kindergartens, faculties, a center for social work, an indoor swimming pool, public lighting, and for the first time, the public call included the installation of photovoltaic systems and solar panels for the production of electricity .

The President of the Municipality of Smederevska Palanka, Nikola Vucen, said that investing in energy efficiency means significant savings in all municipalities, and as one example he cited the building of the Municipality of Smederevska Palanka, which has not been invested in for 60 years.

“In this year, the total investment of the municipality of Smederevska Palanka together with the Ministry is 80 million dinars, which is the largest investment in one year in this area,” said Vucen.

President of the municipality of Trstenik, Milena Turk, said that through this project, energy efficiency in the elementary school in Trstenik will be improved, as well as that the municipality has other joint projects with the Ministry in this area.

Mayor of Vranje, Slobodan Milenkovic, said that for the third year in a row, this city received funds from the Ministry on a public call for increasing the energy efficiency of public buildings, and thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for good cooperation and support to local governments.

Subsidies were awarded for projects in: Trgoviste, Niska Banja, Kursumlija, Gadzin Han, Uzice, Bosilegrad, Vranje, Raznje, Kraljevo, Svilajnac, Ljubovija, Novi Sad, Zajecar, Vrnjacka Banja, Novi Pazar, Nis, Boljevac, Valjevo, Kragujevac, Kuli, Priboj, Trstenik, Smederevska Palanka, Negotin, Ljig, Pirot, Backi Petrovac, Vlasotince, Smederevo, Knic, Kikinda, Subotica, Senta, Backa Palanka, Krupanj, as well as municipalities of Belgrade: Obrenovac, Palilula and Stari grad.

Source: Ministry of mining and Energy

How Secretive Methane Leaks are Driving Climate Change

24.07.2022

pollution-zagađenje-vadzuh — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Massive methane leaks, known as super-emitter events, have been taking place at oil and gas fields all over the world, from the United States to Turkmenistan. The releases, most of which can be traced to equipment failures, can last for weeks. One outside of a storage facility in Los Angeles in 2015 hemorrhaged almost 100,000 tonnes of methane — a potent greenhouse gas — into the atmosphere over the course of four months.

In June, researchers at Spain’s Polytechnic University of Valencia, said they uncovered the latest known super-emitter event at an oil and gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The installation discharged 40,000 tonnes of methane during a 17-day spell in December 2021 — equivalent to three per cent of Mexico’s annual oil and gas emissions. Researchers said the release may never have been known to the public if not for the fact that it was captured by a European Space Agency satellite.

While the discharge was caught, it remains challenging to trace emissions of methane, which is colourless, odourless and responsible for more than 25 per cent of the global warming the Earth is experiencing today. Due to its structure, methane traps more heat in the atmosphere per molecule than carbon dioxide (CO2) making it 80 times more harmful than CO2 during the 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere.

As countries develop plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the worst effects of climate change, experts say it’s vital to have a better handle on how much methane is being released into the atmosphere, including from super-emitter events. Cutting human-caused methane by 45 per cent this decade would keep warming beneath a threshold outlined by the Paris Agreement.

The big challenge is knowing exactly how much [methane] is being emitted, where it is being emitted and for how long it has been emitted.

Source: UNEP

Leveraging Urban Agriculture to Support Cities

22.07.2022

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Peter Feghali)

Cities, which occupy just 3 percent of the Earth’s land, account for up to 80 percent of energy consumption and 75 percent of carbon emissions.

By 2050, nearly 70 percent of the global population is expected to live in urban areas, which experts warn will drive greater environmental change and contribute to the triple planetary crisis. To address the issues associated with rapid urbanization, governments must act decisively to build resilient and sustainable cities.

Safeguarding urban food security while limiting stress on human and environmental health is a key challenge cities face – and urban agriculture may be one of the solutions needed.

Reusing urban resources and promoting agriculture in cities provides myriad health, social and economic benefits. It can also alleviate the effects of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, according to a recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

Growing food closer to consumers reduces carbon emissions associated with delivery and storage, increases accessibility to healthier diets and promotes resilience in food systems.

With strong institutional governance, cities can embrace circularity in food systems and beyond to safeguard human and environmental health.

Source: UNEP

Save Gas for a Safe Winter: Commission Proposes Gas Demand Reduction Plan to Prepare EU for Supply Cuts

22.07.2022

gas_pipeline_gasovod — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Quinten de Graaf)

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Carl Nenzen Loven)

The European Union faces the risk of further gas supply cuts from Russia, due to the Kremlin’s weaponisation of gas exports, with almost half of our Member States already affected by reduced deliveries. Taking action now can reduce both the risk and the costs for Europe in case of further or full disruption, strengthening European energy resilience.

The Commission is therefore proposing a new legislative tool and a European Gas Demand Reduction Plan, to reduce gas use in Europe by 15 per cent until next spring. All consumers, public administrations, households, owners of public buildings, power suppliers and industry can and should take measures to save gas. The Commission will also accelerate work on supply diversification, including joint purchasing of gas to strengthen the EU’s possibility of sourcing alternative gas deliveries.

The Commission is proposing a new Council Regulation on Coordinated Demand Reduction Measures for Gas, based on Article 122 of the Treaty. The new Regulation would set a target for all Member States to reduce gas demand by 15 per cent between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023.

The new Regulation would also give the Commission the possibility to declare, after consulting Member States, a ‘Union Alert’ on security of supply, imposing a mandatory gas demand reduction on all Member States. The Union Alert can be triggered when there is a substantial risk of a severe gas shortage or an exceptionally high gas demand. Member States should update their national emergency plans by the end of September to show how they intend to meet the reduction target, and should report to the Commission on progress every two months. Member States requesting solidarity gas supplies will be required to demonstrate the measures they have taken to reduce demand domestically.

Energy saved in summer is energy available for winter

By substituting gas with other fuels and saving energy this summer, more gas can be stored for winter. Acting now will reduce the negative GDP impact, by avoiding unplanned actions in a crisis situation later. Early steps also spread out the efforts over time, ease market concerns and price volatility, and allow for a better design of targeted, cost-effective measures protecting industry.

Source: European Commission

WMO Has no Immediate Plans to Name Heatwaves

21.07.2022

sun-sunce-klimatske-promene — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The top priority of the World Meteorological Organization and its Members is to save lives through accurate forecasts and early warnings. A very successful example of this, in recent years, is improvements in Heat-Health Early Warnings and Heat Action plans, underpinned by strong collaborations between the meteorological, health, disaster management, and scientific communities.

WMO is aware of the current interest in developing heatwave ranking and naming systems. As the UN specialized agency responsible for weather, climate, and water, the WMO exercises a leadership role in coordinating globally recognized extreme weather naming conventions. The WMO Services Commission is therefore currently considering the advantages and disadvantages of naming heatwaves.

There is currently no agreed international system or protocol for naming or coordinating the naming of heatwave events. International and regional naming protocols are used to support risk management of different types of storms, including tropical cyclones. Storm naming protocols and agreed intergovernmental coordination mechanisms are required to prevent misnaming and to coordinate the naming of transboundary or regional scale events.

However, what has been established for tropical cyclone events may not necessarily translate easily across to heatwaves. Caution should be exercised when comparing or applying lessons or protocols from one hazard type to another, due to the important differences in the physical nature and impacts of storms and heatwaves.

A heat wave is broadly defined as a period of statistically unusual hot weather persisting for a number of days and nights. Indices based on local climatological conditions are used to objectively characterize and declare a heat wave. In most countries only designated national agencies, such as weather services or public health agencies, have the national responsibility to issue official heat warnings. Independent practices to rank and name heatwaves which are not coordinated with the official warning systems, may risk disrupting civil protection protocols and coordination efforts, bring unintended negative consequences, or reduce the effectiveness of established heat advisory and response measures. Coordination of “pilot heatwave naming” activities with the official heat advisory systems in a country is suggested to prevent any confusion and interference with existing public messaging and designated operational procedures and protocols.

Heatwaves can be forecast up to 10 days in advance in many areas (mainly extra-tropics and high latitudes) but lack skill at 3-day lead-times in many regions (mainly tropics). Forecast-based naming creates additional challenges that named events might not actually take place, might turn out to be less severe, or occur in different localities. This could potentially undermine any benefits of raised awareness through naming and create false alarms.

To protect communities from avoidable heat related illness the public should be aware of actions to take during extreme heat events, as well as recognize their personal vulnerability factors, such as age, medications, or medical conditions which can make prolonged exposure to heat even below heatwave thresholds also deadly.

Studies show heat-related illness and death are also strongly associated with ‘mild’ hot days, occurring outside declared heatwave events, including hot nights, prolonged occupational heat exposures, and exertional heat stress.

WMO, working with the relevant partners, will continue to support the development of heat early warning systems, including the update of extreme heat-related guidance and associated extreme heat risk communication strategies.

For further information on heat-health issues, consult the Global Heat Health Information Network, which is co-sponsored by WMO, WHO, and US NOAA and brings together the meteorological, health, and scientific communities.

Source: WMO

We are not Alone on the Path to Green Transformation

20.07.2022

Less developed countries are torn between the struggle to preserve energy stability and the domestic economy on the one hand and the pressures imposed by the global energy transition on the other. The main reason for their inability to keep pace with the rest of the world is the lack of financial resources, so achieving carbon neutrality in underdeveloped countries largely depends on advisory, moral and financial support.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) actively finances projects that contribute to climate change mitigation worldwide and thus represents one of the pillars of global green transformation. We talked about the EIB’s strategy and mission and their activities in the Western Balkans and our country with Alessandro Bragonzi, Head of the EIB Regional Office for the Western Balkans.

EP: The European Investment Bank is one of the main financiers of projects contributing to the fight against climate change. What kind of projects are we talking about, and in which countries are you implementing projects?

Alessandro Bragonzi: Under our Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025 adopted in 2020, the EIB has made a commitment to directing 50 percent of its lending to climate action and environmental sustainability by 2025. This goal was already achieved last year when we allocated EUR 27.6 billion to climate action globally, which represents 51 percent of our financing volume.

We have aligned all our activities with the Paris Agreement goals, confirming our role as a leader in climate financing. We plan to help mobilize EUR 1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability projects over the current decade. On the mitigation side, for example, there is a need for energy efficiency investments to reduce energy poverty in Europe or support for low-carbon public transport designed with the travel needs of different socio-economic groups, women and men in mind. Targeted investments in renewable energy – both on and off-grid – can support the 1.1 billion people that today lack access to electricity while tackling related gender inequalities.

Let me mention a few of the concrete climate projects the EIB is supporting across the globe. Together with the World Bank, we are implementing the City Climate Finance Gap Fund, which helps cities plan projects that cut emissions and improve daily life in urban areas. Also, Western Balkans’ cities benefit from this valuable technical assistance. In Uganda, the EIB is financing the distribution of 240 000 solar power systems for homes. Thanks to this investment, over a million people across the country will get electricity for the first time to power mobile phones, provide light and make cooking easier. A EUR 280 million EIB loan is enabling ArcelorMittal to develop steel production methods that reduce emissions and help the environment in several EU countries. We support forest renewal in Latin America through the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund, which manages 500 000 hectares of land sustainably. The EIB is financing Europe’s first floating wind farm off the coast of Portugal, towering 210 metres above the North Atlantic. An impressive feat of engineering, the three turbines generate enough electricity for 60 000 households, saving an estimated 1.1 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Details of the Bank’s activities in the sector and highlights of key projects are publicly available. The most recent example is the Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability Overview 2022, published in March.

In focus:

EP: The goal of the European Investment Bank is to make Europe a carbon-neutral continent by 2050. Is the same goal achievable for the Western Balkans countries since fossil fuels will have priority over renewable energy sources for a long time to come?

Alessandro Bragonzi: Under the European Green Deal, greenhouse gas emissions will need to be reduced by 55 percent by 2030. Carbon pricing, a cornerstone of Europe’s energy transition, will continue to play a key role, including through the extension of the EU ETS emissions trading scheme to new sectors. Inevitably, these developments will affect the EU acquis, a precondition for Candidate Countries in the Western Balkans to move forward with their EU accession process.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Alex Blokstra)

However, several countries in the Western Balkans still heavily rely on coal/lignite for power production, despite deteriorating air quality, adverse health effects and significant untapped potential for renewable energy. Serbia, for instance, has made significant progress, particularly in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, thanks to the adoption of new laws. The country has implemented a market-based support scheme via the newly adopted Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources. However, we are still waiting to adopt Serbia’s National Energy and Climate Plan, which clearly spells out its decarbonization commitments and pathway. The Western Balkans, in part of EIB goals to make a Just Transition. It needs our strong support to gradually move away from coal and increase the share of energy from renewables.

EP: How much has the EIB allocated so far for the Western Balkans, and which projects are key to decarbonizing this part of Europe? Alessandro Bragonzi: Since 2009, the EIB has invested close to EUR 9.5 billion in the Western Balkans. Our goal is to support sustainable economic development and the EU integration process by improving living and business conditions for people across the region in terms of transport, water accessibility, energy supply, education, and healthcare quality. Regarding climate goals, we are supporting the public and private sectors. For example, we launched a dedicated credit line in 2021 to encourage SMEs to adopt climate and energy-efficient projects and practices, enabling a faster transition to a sustainable and circular economy.

In Serbia, together with the EU Delegation, UNDP, Sweden, and the Serbian government, we are helping Serbian companies, and local self-governments implement environmentally friendly projects to reduce the carbon footprint and pollutant emissions, waste and air pollution and help protect biodiversity and the ecosystem.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are providing technical support for preparing the Vlašić renewable energy project, which will facilitate the construction of a 50 MW wind farm in the Travnik region. Thanks to these efforts, the country can boost its energy supply, increase power generation from renewable resources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, thus stimulating sustainable growth. At the same time, we are investing in large-scale projects that help reduce CO2 emissions, such as modernization of railways, improvement of inland waterways along the Sava and Danube rivers and the upgrade of urban transport in Sarajevo and Niš. These investments will enable a gradual shift in passenger behavior from private to public and more climate-friendly modes of transportation.

Interviewed by: Milena Maglovski

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

UK Government Boosts Space Tech Funding To Cut Carbon Emissions And Improve Energy Security

20.07.2022

Funding for pioneering new space technologies will help to cut carbon emissions, improve energy security and enhance the UK’s reputation as a science superpower, the Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced today.

Three million pounds of grant funding will be made available for space-based solar power (SBSP) projects that collect the Sun’s energy using solar panels orbiting the Earth and can deliver clean energy, day and night, unaffected by the weather.

The technology has the potential to boost energy security by providing reliable, affordable alternative to expensive and volatile fossil fuels, while reducing the UK’s contributions to climate change.

Grant funding will also be made available for cutting-edge weather monitoring sensors to aid more accurate weather forecasts. The sensors will be put into orbit for the first time, thanks to a partnership with data and analytics company Spire Global.

The Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder (HYMS), developed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space, will help meteorological agencies and businesses around the world involved with planning, shipping and flood warnings. It is four times more powerful than the sensors used on existing satellites.

In a further demonstration of the government’s commitment to the sector, Morecambe and Lunesdale MP David Morris will serve as the first ever National Space Champion. He will work closely with industry to ensure the UK’s space sector continues to grow, attract investment, and develop innovative products. Morris is a longstanding advocate for the UK space industry and chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Space.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

,,Space-based solar power could provide an affordable, clean and reliable source of energy for the whole world to benefit from, helping the move away from expensive fossil fuels. Today’s investment is an exciting example of how we can go even further in our ambitions to make the UK a science superpower.”

,,I am also delighted that the HYMS technology, developed in Oxfordshire, will be put into service by Spire Global to help improve weather forecasting.”

,,These projects are major milestones for our National Space Strategy, developing the UK’s space capabilities while boosting the economy and delivering high-skill jobs.”

National Space Champion David Morris MP said:

,,It is a privilege to be asked to be the first UK National Space Champion and the appointment shows the government’s commitment to the sector and its commitment to its growth.”

,,The UK space sector is fast becoming a world leader and I look forward to being a champion for the industry within government to ensure we are able to spearhead the industry to even further growth.”

An independent report found significant commercial potential in developing SBSP’s underlying technologies as products in their own right – particularly with regards to wireless power transmission and solar power.

Similarly, the HYMS occupies a footprint fifty times smaller than current technology, which makes it possible to launch dozens of HYMS-equipped satellites, together forming a constellation that can track fast moving extreme weather events such as hurricanes.

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

,,Satellite technology is helping us solve some of the most significant challenges we face. We’re working with the space sector to drive innovation, catalyse investment and bring tangible benefits to people and businesses across the UK.”

,,As these two new projects show, space is not only vital in helping us monitor the weather and our environment, it can also provide new solutions to our future energy needs and support the global fight against climate change.”

,,I would like also like to welcome the appointment of a National Space Champion and I look forward to working with David Morris to support our growing sector.”

The UK space sector employs around 47,000 people directly around the UK and supports around 190,000 jobs in the supply chain. By building on the commitments of the National Space Strategy to grow the economy and lead pioneering scientific discovery, these two projects will help to protect and grow these high-quality jobs across the country for generations to come.

Notes to editors

-HYMS was developed by RAL Space, the UK’s national space laboratory, at Harwell Space Cluster in Oxfordshire, with GBP 600,000 funding from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) National Space Innovation Programme.

-The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) RAL Space will work with data and analytics company Spire Global to prepare HYMS for deployment in space, with the long-term objective of providing a full constellation of satellites.

-Work will be carried out both in Oxfordshire, at RAL Space, and in Glasgow where Spire Global has its UK headquarters and satellite manufacturing facility. The space industry supported 8,440 jobs in Scotland in 2020, almost a fifth of the total 46,995 jobs in the space industry across the whole of the UK. The UK space sector generates an income of GBP 16.5 billion a year. Scotland will also host the UK’s first vertical small satellite launches next year, from the SaxaVord and Sutherland spaceports.

-STFC is part of UK Research Innovation.

-More information on the Space Based Solar Power concept can be found in the report Space based solar power: de-risking the pathway to net zero, commissioned by BEIS. Funding for the SBSP Innovation Programme has been made available from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

-David Morris has been the Member of Parliament for Morecambe and Lunesdale since 2010. He has previously served as a member of the Commons Science and Technology Committee and was the government’s ambassador for freelancers and the self-employed (2014-2016). He was appointed an Assistant Government Whip in July 2022, and currently chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Lancashire.

Source: GOV.UK

Montenegro Introduces Auctions for Renewable Energy Sources

19.07.2022

windpark_vetropark — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (American Public Power Association)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bill-Mead)

Montenegro plans to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix with a comprehensive programme of renewable energy auctions that will bring private investment into the sector.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is helping the Ministry of Capital Investments of Montenegro to implement the programme with dedicated technical assistance, financed by grants from the EBRD, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance through the High-Impact Partnership on Climate Action (HIPCA) and Italy through the Central European Initiative (CEI).

The aim is to assist Montenegro in boosting the use of clean energy and in building a sustainable and diversified power sector by creating an enabling business environment for private investment. The country, which has strong wind and solar energy potential, will be able to benefit from these resources at competitive prices.

The programme, which was presented in Podgorica, will first support the authorities in developing a comprehensive legal framework in the form of a new renewable energy law that will lay the foundation for accelerating the growth of renewable energy sources. This will be followed by support for the design and implementation of a competitive bidding process to award market-based support for renewable electricity generators.

Remon Zakaria, Head of the EBRD in Montenegro, said: “We are very pleased to support the introduction of best international standards for scaling up renewable energy investments in the country. By reforming the energy sector, Montenegro will be able to harvest its rich sources of renewable energy and positively contribute to the environment and the economy.”

“Considering that our country has significant potential for renewable energy, such as hydro, wind, solar energy and biomass, our priority was and remains the production of renewable, clean energy. We want to turn climate and environmental challenges into our opportunities and competitive advantages, by ensuring a fair and inclusive transition towards climate neutrality. In line with its priorities in energy sector, Montenegro will continue activities to ensure secure energy supply, the development of a competitive energy market and sustainable energy development, with active cooperation with everyone who has the same goals,” said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Capital Investments Ervin Ibrahimović.

The majority of electricity in Montenegro is produced at the Pljevlja lignite-fired thermal power plant and the Perucica and Piva hydropower plants. Competitive procurement processes for renewables will allow the country to increase its share of solar and wind projects and decrease its reliance on coal.

In addition to environmental benefits, boosting investments in renewables could potentially help the country diversify its economy, which currently relies heavily on tourism. The existing underwater electricity cable that connects Montenegro with Italy, as well as other interconnections with neighbouring countries, could help position the country as clean energy exporter.

The EBRD has been supporting Montenegro in developing a sustainable and diversified energy sector through policy dialogue, technical assistance and investment. To date, the EBRD has invested more than 700 million euros in the country.

Source: EBRD

Mihajlovic: Those Who Shut Down Serbian Energy Industry Put us in a Situation Where We Depend on One Gas Supplier

19.07.2022

power-poles-energetika — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Mining and Energy, Zorana Mihajlovic, said today that those who fought for nothing to change in Serbian energy sector and for it to remain closed, have put Serbia in a position where today it depends on one supplier.

“Having only one supplier, no matter who it is, is the biggest mistake for any economy, let alone for small economies when it comes to energy security. It is not the first time that they have attacked my knowledge and work because I tell the truth about Serbia’s gas security and because I point out the possibilities for the development of Serbian energy. For those who wanted to close Serbia, attack is always the best defense. But let’s wait for September of next year and for the gas pipeline to be completed, and I believe that we will have a contract with Azerbaijan much earlier”, said Mihajlovic, answering questions from journalists while visiting the construction site of Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection.

When she was asked about the attacks in media because of Nis-Dimitrovgrad project, she stated that as long as the gas interconnection project exists, there have been stories about how Serbia cannot get gas in that direction, that there is not enough of it or that we do not need it.

“The gas we receive from the Russian Federation is not disputed, but due to the economy of Serbia and the citizens who use gas, we have to be safe, and that means having other suppliers. I believe that we will build other interconnections, with Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, we are thinking about interconnection with Croatia, because only a region connected by gas pipelines can be energy safe”, she said.

She added that she expects Serbia to have sufficient quantities of gas for this winter through the contract with “Gazprom”, in warehouses in Hungary and from the Serbian part of the warehouse in Banatski Dvor, but that it is important to build not only new interconnections, but also new warehouses. “The plan is to build a new warehouse that will only be owned by Serbia, in Itebej or at another location, whose capacity would be one billion cubic meters, and the value of the investment is estimated at around 200 million euros,” said Mihajlovic.

She also stated that she hopes that the countries through which Serbia is supplied, primarily Bulgaria and Hungary, will respect their contractual obligations, but that the country also has prepared crisis plans in case of unforeseen situations.

Source: Ministry of energy and mining

Renewable Power Remains Cost-Competitive amid Fossil Fuel Crisis

18.07.2022

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (NIcholas Doherty)

Costs for renewables continued to fall in 2021 as supply chain challenges and rising commodity prices have yet to show their full impact on project costs. The cost of electricity from onshore wind fell by 15 per cent, offshore wind by 13 per cent and solar PV by 13 per cent compared to 2020.

Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021, published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today, shows that almost two-thirds or 163 GW of newly installed renewable power in 2021 had lower costs than the world’s cheapest coal-fired option in the G20. IRENA estimates that, given the current high fossil fuel prices, the renewable power added in 2021 saves around USD 55 billion from global energy generation costs in 2022.

IRENA’s new report confirms the critical role that cost-competitive renewables play in addressing today’s energy and climate emergencies by accelerating the transition in line with the 1.5°C warming limit and the Paris Agreement goals. Solar and wind energy, with their relatively short project lead times, represent vital planks in countries’ efforts to swiftly reduce, and eventually phase out, fossil fuels and limit the macroeconomic damages they cause in pursuit of net zero.

“Renewables are by far the cheapest form of power today,” Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA said. “2022 is a stark example of just how economically viable new renewable power generation has become. Renewable power frees economies from volatile fossil fuel prices and imports, curbs energy costs and enhances market resilience – even more so if today’s energy crunch continues.”

“While a temporary crisis response might be necessary in the current situation, excuses to soften climate goals will not hold mid-to-long-term. Today’s situation is a devastating reminder that renewables and energy saving are the future. With the COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE ahead, renewables provide governments with affordable energy to align with net zero and turn their climate promises into concrete action with real benefits for people on the ground,” he added.

Investments in renewables continue to pay huge dividends in 2022, as highlighted by IRENA’s costs data. In non-OECD countries, the 109 GW of renewable energy additions in 2021 that cost less than the cheapest new fossil fuel-fired option will reduce costs by at least USD 5.7 billion annually for the next 25-30 years.

High coal and fossil gas prices in 2021 and 2022 will also profoundly deteriorate the competitiveness of fossil fuels and make solar and wind even more attractive. With an unprecedented surge in European fossil gas prices for example, new fossil gas generation in Europe will increasingly become uneconomic over its lifetime, increasing the risk of stranded assets.

Source: IRENA

Energy Community Power System Can Support at Least 30 GW of Renewables Without Additional Investments Into Flexibility

17.07.2022

wind_energy_vetroenergija — Photo-illustration: Unsplah (Karsten Wurth)

As the energy transition advances in the Energy Community Contracting Parties, the share of power generation from variable renewables such as wind and solar will increase manyfold.

The Energy Community power system with currently planned investments until 2030 can integrate as much as 30 GW of variable renewables without additional investments into flexibility sources, reveals an Energy Community study. Higher levels of variable renewables will require a more flexible power system to balance supply with demand, but investments will be substantially lower if existing cross-border infrastructure is better utilized and short-term electricity markets are operational and coupled with the EU.

“The energy transition is irreversible and today’s study shows that nothing should stand in the way of more renewables. Against the background of the energy crisis, we must look for cost-effective solutions to unlock higher renewables potential. Further electricity market integration is the clear way forward”, director Lorkowski said.

The study assesses the flexibility needs and options to balance each Contracting Party’s power system on different time-scales (daily, weekly and annual) until 2030 and 2040 under different assumptions mainly linked to the speed of renewables uptake and level of market integration.

It identified that there will be no need for additional investments into flexibility sources until 2030 when variable renewables (wind and solar) might reach 30 GW. The study underscored the pivotal role of cross-border interconnectors and market coupling in providing the flexibility needed to enable higher penetration of renewables and decarbonisation in the Energy Community. Annualised investment needs/costs between 2030 and 2040 into additional flexibility sources will drop by as much as EUR 150 million if organised spot (day-ahead and intra-day) and balancing markets are coupled between the Contracting Parties and with the EU. Market integration will also allow the absorption of an additional 5 TWh per year of variable renewable production from the EU that would otherwise be curtailed.

The study concludes by setting out policy and regulatory recommendations to minimize overall system costs, including on energy sector governance, electricity market design, renewable energy development and carbon pricing. The Contracting Parties are recommended to define a flexibility strategy as part of their National Energy and Climate Plans.

The study was prepared by Trinomics and Artelys consultancies.

Source: Energy Community

Five Threats To the Water That Sustains our Farms

16.07.2022

lastic-smeće-voda — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Since the 1950s, innovations like synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides and high-yield cereals have helped humanity dramatically increase the amount of food it grows. But those inventions would be moot without agriculture’s most precious commodity: fresh water. And it, say researchers, is now under threat.

Pollution, climate change and over-abstraction are beginning to compromise the lakes, rivers, and aquifers that underpin farming globally. That is raising the spectre of widespread food shortages – a situation made worse by the Ukraine crisis.

“For two-plus generations, now, humanity has lived in a relative time of plenty,” said Leticia Carvalho, head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Marine and Freshwater Branch. “But we’re undermining the freshwater resources that make it possible for us to grow crops. And if we keep doing that, the consequences could be severe.”

The amount of fresh water per capita has fallen by 20 percent over the last two decades and nearly 60 percent of irrigated cropland is water-stressed, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The implications of those shortages are far-reaching: irrigated agriculture contributes 40 percent of total food produced worldwide.

Here’s a closer look at what is behind the decline of the world’s per capita freshwater reserves and how those challenges are affecting farmers.

Drought and aridification

Research shows that global warming is sparking longer-lasting droughts, like the record-setting dry spells that have gripped East Africa and the Western United States. This, say experts, is a prime example of climate change in the flesh.

According to the Global Land Outlook, a report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, over one-third of the world’s population currently lives in water-scarce regions.

At the same time, global warming has been blamed for increasingly severe flooding, as seen recently in India and Bangladesh, with dire consequences for farmers.

Mismanagement of groundwater

Groundwater supplies 43 percent of the water used for irrigation. But improvements in drilling technology over the last few decades have led to its unsustainable extraction in parts of the world, such as India.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 10 percent of the global grain harvest is being produced by depleting groundwater resources.

Sound management practices and technological advancements, like drip irrigation, can lessen the pressure on groundwater reserves, say experts.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Angela Compagnone)

Saltwater intrusion

Intensive irrigation can lead to a rise in the water table, siphoning salt into the soil and the roots of plants, affecting their growth.

As well, the overuse of groundwater can combine with climate-change-induced sea-level rise to cause saltwater to penetrate coastal groundwater aquifers. This can damage crops and their yields and affect drinking water supplies.

UNEP estimates that around one-tenth of rivers around the world are affected by salinity pollution.

Pollution

In some arid areas, there has been an increase in the amount of wastewater used to grow crops. Pathogens in that water can cause cholera or diarrhoea, though farmers are often not aware of those potential consequences. (Washing or boiling vegetables greatly reduces the risk of illness.)

The problem can be exacerbated by flooding, which can inundate sewage systems or stores of fertilizer, polluting both surface water and groundwater. Fertilizer run-off, can cause algal blooms in lakes, killing fish. Storm run-off and forest fires are further risks to farming and food security.

In some places around the world, pollution is also seeping into groundwater, with potential long-term impacts on crops, though more research is needed to establish the precise effects on plants and human health.

Land degradation

Humanity has altered more than 70 percent of the Earth’s land area, causing what the Global Land Outlook called “unparalleled environmental degradation”. In many places, the ability of soils to store and filter water is waning, making it harder to grow crops and raise livestock. If current land degradation trends continue this century, scientists predict that there could be disruptions to food supplies, says the report.

Extreme weather caused by climate change, like heavy rains followed by periods of drought, can accelerate land degradation.

Solutions

Adopting drip irrigation and other means of increasing water use efficiency, a target within the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, would help reduce demand on freshwater supplies worldwide. Another approach that can help – and is being promoted by UNEP and others – is the improved management of water resources.

The coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources can maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. It is a long-term process involving local communities, individuals and institutions in the management of water systems. Lake Dojran, shared by North Macedonia and Greece, is an example of where such approaches are promoting conservation and restoration. Another example is Sudan: in 2020, UNEP published a report which explored how communities there were using water management techniques to adapt to climate change.

Source: UNEP

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