Global Launch of the 2018 UN Emissions Gap Report
Today is the official launch of the 2018 Emissions Gap Report developed by the United Nations Environmental Programme. The official event will be held at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, France between 16:00 and 17:30.
The annual report from UN Environment serves as the world’s definitive assessment of the so-called 'emissions gap': The gap between anticipated emission levels in 2030, compared to levels consistent with a 2°C / 1.5° target.
A panel of authors and experts will offer the latest insight on the pace of climate change and climate action through a presentation of key findings from the Emissions Gap Report. Including the latest data on global emissions, analyses on the state of pledges made under the Paris Agreement (Nationally Determined Contributions) and a review of new climate action in the context of fiscal policy, innovation, and contributions from cities, states, and the private sector.
Programme Overview:
- How are we doing? The definitive measurement of global emissions
Presented by: Satya Tripathi, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Head of UN Environment in NY - Who is doing it? The latest assessment of Nationally Determined Contributions
Presented by: Anne Olhoff, Head of Programme, Climate Resilient Development, UNEP-DTU - What needs to happen? New scientific insight into the most effective climate actions to reduce the emissions gap
Presented by: Dr. Jian Liu, Chief Scientist, UN Environment - Funding climate action: New analysis of global emissions in the context fiscal policy
Presented by: Ernest Addison, Governor of Bank of Ghana - Inventing climate action: The current pace of climate action innovation
Presented by: Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London - Expanding climate action: The untapped emissions reduction potential from the private sector and sub-national level
Presented by: Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
About the Emissions Gap Report:
The Emissions Gap Report is UN Environment’s flagship report, presenting an annual assessment of current national mitigation efforts and the ambitions countries have presented in their Nationally Determined Contributions, which form the foundation of the Paris Agreement. The report describes the gap between the countries’ promises on how much they will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and the actual reduction required if we are to keep global warming to a global mean temperature increase well below 2°C by the end of this century.
Five times more electricity from RES produced in the Czech Republic
Last year, five times more electricity from renewable sources was produced in the Czech Republic than in 2003. In 2017, 9 618 GWh of electricity from renewable sources were produced in the Czech Republic, more than five times higher than in 2003 and a year-on-year increase of 2.4%.
This results from the Environmental Report for 2017, which was discussed by the government last week. Biogas, biomass and photovoltaics are the largest sources. The largest share is represented biogas (27%), biomass and photovoltaics. Other sources of green energy, which have made a significant contribution to production, are water (19%) and wind power plants (6%). The lowest share of electricity from renewable energy sources is the biodegradable fraction of solid municipal waste (roughly 1%). In almost all types of renewable sources, last year electricity production increased. Exceptions are hydroelectric power plants due to the drought and the low water flow.
Czechs meet the goal of the State Environmental Policy, which follows from the 2009 European directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. The share of these resources in final energy consumption should be 13% by 2020, the target was met in 2013. In 2016, this figure for the Czech Republic was 14.9%. The updated State Energy Policy aims to achieve a share of renewable energy sources in electricity production between 18% and 25% by 2040, according to the report, 11.1%. As in previous years, more electricity was exported last year imported. The balance for the whole year was 13 TWh, equivalent to 15% of the total electricity produced. Electricity exports last year were 28.1 TWh, imported at 15.1 TWh. The balance was 18.8% higher than in 2016. "In terms of availability of energy sources, the Czech Republic is a major exporter of electricity, with only Germany, France and Sweden having higher exports in 2016," the report said.
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Poland - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Poland
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Estonia - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Estonia
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
1. Information session – Biomethane for transport fuel
2. Renewable energy project financing: opportunities and limitations
4. Renewable energy project writing and management
5. Energy planning, sustainable energy action plans
6. Annual Renewable Energy Conference – Innovation in Renewable Energy
7. Energy day in Valmiera and study trip to Estonia
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Slovenia - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Slovenia
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
1. STAKEHOLDER SEMINAR (Energy policies, founding possibilities)
3. RES and EE in practice – technologies and financing
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Czech Republic - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Czech Republic
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
1. Local training for public authorities – Regional energy policies in context
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Hungary - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Hungary
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Lithuania - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Lithuania
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
1. Project preparation and implementation
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Macedonia - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Macedonia
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
1. Stakeholder engagement and motivation
3. Public speaking and Communication with media and politicians
4. EU Fundraising and Project Writing
5. Process of development of Regional Energy Map 2050 and Policy Analysis
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Latvia - Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Latvia
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
1. Energy Management and Local Government Energy Plans
2. Establishing an energy management system basic principles for a single municipality building
3. Establishing an energy management system for all municipal buildings
4. Data Collection and Creation of a Database
5. The process of establishing and implementing an energy management system in the municipality
7. Existing energy industry – what it is and how to describe it
8. Energy day in Valmiera and study trip to Estonia
9. Experience exchange trip – Energy Management in Vidzeme
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
PANEL 2050 Regional Trainings in Bulgaria- Summary
PANEL2050 partners conducted the regional trainings to increase the energy visioning and roadmapping capacity of local stakeholders. The documents below contain the training materials used during the trainings in Bulgaria
Compiled traninig materials/presentations
For more informations go to section Trainings where you can find single trainings programme and presentations:
1. Training on energy vision and roadmap
3. Energy planning as an instrument for sustainable development of Bulgarian municipalities
5. Stakeholder engagement and motivation
To learn more about our approach go to section PANEL 2050
UNIDO Expert Training for the implementation of Energy Management Systems (EnMS)
The Expert Training for the implementation of the Energy Management System (EnMS) – Module 1 – PLANNING, in accordance to the UNIDO Methodology and ISO 50001 (GEF – UNIDO EnMS EXPERT Training Programme), implemented in the frames of the GEF – Project UNIDO “Catalyzing market transformation for industrial energy efficiency and accelerate investments in best available practices and technologies” is held in the premises of REC CO Macedonia in the period from 18-21 June, 2018. The training is a part of the EnMS replication programme implemented in cooperation with EVN Macedonia in several companies in the Republic of Macedonia.
The standards for energy management represent a proven and effective tool for the implementation of a sustainable industrial energy efficiency. Furthermore, the sustainability of energy efficient practices represents a challenge for the industry, because most of the optimized systems lose their initial efficiency with time, mostly as a result of changes in employees and production.
By using the well-known approach of "plan-do-check-act" integrated in the world-wide recognized standards for quality and environmental management systems such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, the Energy Management Systems standards represent a planned and overall guide, especially for industrial plants. The standards for Energy Management provide the integration of energy efficiency and system optimization in the day-to-day operation of industrial plants, as well as continuous improvement of energy performances.
The standards for Energy Management highly connect the business logic of Energy Management and the basic profit interests of the companies through the decrease of the daily operational costs, increased productivity, environmental compliance and responsibility, as well as improved global competitiveness.
The scope of this 4 day Expert Training is elaborating on the first module of the three expert modules – PLANNING, which is one of the most important modules, with which, to the representatives of the companies the UNIDO methodology (the Tool) is presented, especially in the area of methodology, energy consumption data gathering, significant consumers, regression analysis, models, list of possible savings measures and definition of the energy savings scope.
This training contributes towards the building of the national capacities for the implementation of an Energy Management System in the industry. Approximately 15 participants are present on the training from diverse industrial sectors and from the Ministry of Economy.
UNIDO qualified EnMS experts, Mr. Mirko Ristevski, grad. el. eng. and ass. prof. d-r Ana Lazarevska, grad. mech. Eng are training moderators.
Closer to sustainable energy future – even a small municipality needs Energy Action Plan
In the frame of the project PANEL 2050 some stakeholders in Vidzeme region (Latvia) took a major step towards sustainable use of energy resources in buildings. Some municipalities, Vidzeme Hospital and Lizuma Secondary School collected energy consumption data in their buildings and prepared Energy Action Plans on their own.
Vidzeme Planning Region organized several training sessions where stakeholders learned how to collect and analyze energy consumption data of public buildings, how to set energy efficiency targets and how to elaborate Energy Action Plans.
The buildings selected for this initiative include a social care center, schools, a gym, kindergartens, a house of culture, administration of municipalities, Vidzeme Hospital, Lizuma Secondary School and other public buildings. Energy Action Plans detail schedules of energy efficiency actions for the next 2-3 years.
The Plans were developed in Vidzeme municipalities – Ape, Alūksne, Cesvaine, Gulbene, Pārgauja, Priekuļi, Jaunpiebalga, Lubāna, Smiltene -, Vidzeme Hospital (Valmiera City) and also separate Energy Action Plan was developed for the Lizuma Secondary School (Gulbene municipality).
Photo: Forerunners of Vidzeme municipalities and Vidzeme Hospital with their Energy Action Plans
The stakeholders and more so the forerunners play a crucial role in development of Regional Vision for sustainable energy future and Regional Roadmap for Energy Future 2050 complimenting to the goals of low carbon society. Beside energy planning documents, the project PANEL 2050 encourages long-term initiative on a regional level titled “Energy Management in Vidzeme”. A new brand for this initiative has been developed recently to promote public awareness.
Baiba Norberte
Communication manager
Vidzeme Planning Region
E-mail: baiba.norberte@vidzeme.lv
http://www.vidzeme.lv/en/about_vidzeme
Further information
Aija Rūse
Project manager
Vidzeme Planning Region
E-mail: aija.ruse@vidzeme.lv
Intelligent electricity meters in Polish homes
By 2026, energy companies will have to install smart meters at 80%. electricity consumers in Poland - predicts a draft amendment to the Energy Law, published on Tuesday by the Ministry of Energy. Now such devices have less than 9 percent. Poles.
Installation costs for meters - estimated by the ministry for just over PLN 300 per piece, and the industry even twice as much - will be covered by the owners of power grids. Then they add them to our bills.
Poland with the highest electricity price in Europe
On November 3, 2018, wholesale electricity prices in almost all of Western Europe have leveled out, and only four EU countries have retained price independence. Among them was Poland with the most expensive current in the European Union.
The markets of industrialized central Europe, ie Germany, Austria, the Benelux countries and France, strongly integrate. The other strongly integrated group are the Nordic and Baltic countries. The Czech Republic and Slovakia as well as Hungary and Romania are also heavily burdened on the markets of Western Europe.
In Central Europe, Poland has the highest electricity price in the region. The other non-integrated country is Great Britain. Both on the London and Warsaw stock exchanges, electricity prices are not only least connected with the rest of Europe, but also the highest - in the UK exceeded PLN 285, and in Poland PLN 303 and was the highest in the entire European Union.
World Energy Trilemma Index 2018
World Energy Council (WEC) has published the latest state-of-the-art chart on performance in providing a safe and affordable energy system, which also takes into account the principles of environmental sustainability (World Energy Trilemma Index 2018).
The World Energy Council’s Energy Trilemma Index ranks countries’ energy performance on three dimensions: Energy Security, Energy Equity, and Environmental Sustainability, based on global and national data. The results show impacts of decisions and changes, suggesting where policy coherence and integrated policy innovation can help develop well calibrated energy systems in the context of the Grand Energy Transition. Robust energy systems are secure, equitable and environmentally sustainable, showing a carefully managed balance between the three dimensions. Maintaining this balance in the context of rapid transition to decentralised, decarbonised, and digital systems is challenging: there are risks of passive trade-offs between equally critical priorities. The 2018 Energy Trilemma Index Report shows that many countries are managing the balance successfully, with eight nations achieving a top AAA balance score.
The Energy Trilemma once more ranks Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden at the top, recognising the well-balanced energy systems in these countries. Denmark also achieves the highest score for Energy Security, followed by Slovenia and Canada, all demonstrating secure, diverse and resilient systems. The Energy Equity dimension ranking is topped by smaller countries, where connectivity is managed well, as well as countries where energy is affordable due to government policies: Qatar tops the list, followed by Luxemburg, Bahrain and the Netherlands. The Environmental Sustainability ranking identifies countries with low carbon and energy intensity, resulting in lower emissions: this highlights lower energy users per capita, including the Philippines, Costa Rica and Uruguay.
The Country ranking can be found here.
Source: WEC
Bill Gates and the EU join forces in a new fund for clean energy
The European Commission and Bill Gates-led Breakthrough Energy Ventures launched a 100 million-euro clean energy investment fund last Wednesday. Called Breakthrough Energy Europe, the pilot fund is designed to help companies there develop clean energy technologies and bring them to market.
It's part of an effort to fight climate change and "deliver on the Paris Agreement -- giving a strong signal to capital markets and investors that the global transition to a modern and clean economy is here to stay," the European Commission said in a news release.
Gates serves as chairman of investor-led Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which has contributed more than $1 billion toward companies working to eliminate emissions in electricity, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and buildings.
"To stop the planet from getting substantially warmer, we need breakthroughs in how we make things, grow food, and move people and goods -- not just how we power our homes and cars," Gates said.
He added that Breakthrough Energy Ventures' mission would "get a big boost" from the European partnership. Half of the committed 100 million euros will come from the European Commission and the other half from Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
"We need new technologies to avoid the worst impacts of climate change," Gates said in the release. "Europe has demonstrated valuable leadership by making impressive investments in R&D. The scientists and entrepreneurs who are developing innovations to address climate change need capital to build companies that can deliver those innovations to the global market. Breakthrough Energy Europe is designed to provide that capital."
Breakthrough Energy Europe could be a model for initiatives in other areas, the European Commission said in the release.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said it's imperative that Europe modernize its economy and industry to protect the planet.
"Pooling public and private investment in new, innovative clean energy technology is key to enabling long-term solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Juncker said.
Scientists May Have Found What Makes Batteries Degrade Over Time
Scientists May Have Found What Makes Batteries Degrade Over Time
It could pave the way for a better electric car or home solar power system.
If you've ever used a smartphone for more than a year or two, you know that the lithium ion batteries degrade over time and refuse to hold a charge like they used to when they were new—but the reason why has been little understood. But research published today in Nature Materials could have a few answers.
A group of researchers at Stanford University, the University of Bath, and MIT used the SLAC National Accelerator Lab's facilities at Stanford to monitor the movement of ionic lithium through batteries, charting its course.
William C. Chueh, an assistant professor at Stanford who performs research at SLAC describes batteries as, fundamentally, a negatively charged electrode, a positively charged one, and a separator in between the two. This creates an area of high energy and an area of low energy that lithium ions move between. The lithium is stored in a solid state, but moves through a liquid into the solid reservoir.
Lithium was thought to be anisotropic in these states, which means it has a preference for how it moves through the battery. But as it turns out, that's not entirely the case. Instead, it plots a messy course, leading to areas where it creates a hot spot in the battery. This damages the battery, reducing its power storage capacity, given how heat is a battery's worst enemy.
"We used very powerful X-rays from an accelerator, and we’re using these X-rays to look into these individual nanoparticles," Chueh says. "Our original expectation was that lithium moves in certain directions only. We actually saw lithium move in the direction it’s not supposed to move."
One of the problems could be that our understanding of the movements of the lithium compounds used in batteries is rather poorly understood, especially because looking at the ions at nanoscale hasn't been possible until recently.
As Chueh puts it, "Previous models don’t really explain how the liquid interacts with the solid. Kind of like in space, we think about how the particle behaves in a vacuum. But a battery doesn’t operate in a vacuum—it operates in a liquid."
But there is good news—by understanding all of the transport pathways of lithium, the team can help build a smarter battery. "Our conclusion from the paper is that in order to have good lithium transport, then you need to till this transport pathway—not turn it on but turn it off," Cheuh says. This includes designing selective transport channels, additional shielding on batteries, or a battery additive that would prevent against corrosion or the formation of hot spots.
This, in turn, could help increase the efficiency and longevity of batteries that go in hybrid and electric vehicles, and rechargeable batteries designed to store solar energy when the sun isn't out. These sorts of changes may take more than a decade to show up in batteries—but the team is hopeful that their research is adapted into battery manufacturing. And beyond this, there's still plenty to learn.
"Despite batteries being so ubiquitous, people don’t know how they work," Chueh says. "It’s kind of a miracle batteries work at all."
Source: www.popularmechanics.com
The energy sector in Macedonia
The energy sector in Macedonia
Macedonia relies predominantly on fossil fuels (low-grade lignite and oil) and hydropower, and is dependent on electricity imports. The total annual production of electricity in 2016 was 5,303 GWh, and another 2,191 GWh was imported to satisfy the total domestic electricity demand.
The electric power generation capacity in Macedonia consists of two thermal power plants with a total of 800 MW installed capacity, eight large and several small hydropower plants with 650 MW installed capacity. The smaller thermal power plant REK Oslomej is not currently in operation and talks about “urgent need of modernization of the obsolete equipment” have been going on for over two years.
There are two open cast lignite mines (Oslomej and Suvodol) with a total capacity of 7 million tonnes/year and estimated deposits for the next 15 years. Despite some investments in modernization, domestic production of electricity decreased by about 25 percent in the last ten years, and electricity imports have risen to 34 percent of total consumption.
Studies about the availability of lignite in the Pelagonia basin, which hosts the three Bitola power plant units, lead to the conclusion that even if two new lignite mines were opened in the region, Macedonia would still need to start importing coal from 2025 onwards. Imports of coal would contribute to more than half of the country’s total electricity production beyond 2030. It is also important to note that the two new mines would involve underground operations, with which the country has no experience to date. Also, an increase in the price of such locally-sourced lignite is anticipated due to the higher cost of coal production in the new mines and transport over longer distances and on rough terrain.
Natural gas is imported from Russia through a single entry point at the Bulgarian border. Gas is mainly consumed by industrial customers, while households have an almost negligible share of total consumption due to the very limited spread of distribution networks.
Under Energy Community commitments to increase the share of renewable energy in its mix, Macedonia has a target of 28% in gross final energy consumption in 2020.
In April 2017 Macedonia amended its National Renewable Energy Action Plan submitted to the Energy Community in 2012, to take into account lower biomass baseline data (17.2% compared to the 21.2% originally). In spite of this, the NREAP is not designed to achieve the country’s legally binding renewable energy target of 28%, instead only a 24% target in 2020 is foreseen. The NREAP sets out the trajectory for meeting the country’s 28% target only in 2030.
In spite of the incomplete legal framework for renewables, several renewable energy projects have become operational in recent years contributing to an increasing share of energy from renewable sources in the energy mix each year.
Macedonia has a 36.8 MW wind farm at Bogdanci and has been reported to be moving forward with expanding it. It was the first country in the Western Balkan region to put into operation a sizeable wind facility. Solar PV capacity is also the highest compared to neighbouring countries, but the potential is hardly tapped.
Like other countries in the region, Macedonia has big plans for hydropower but also for new lignite capacity.
As well as renovating the Bitola power plant, ELEM, the state-owned energy company, plans to rehabilitate and slightly increase the capacity of Oslomej power plant, extend its lifetime and run it on imported coal, as domestic sources are scarce. The EIA approval for Oslomej’s rehabilitation is being challenged in the administrative court by NGOs in Macedonia. Plans to build a 300 MW plant at Mariovo have also been around, however they do not seem likely to materialise anywhere in the near future, as the draft version of the new energy strategy for Macedonia, discussed in early 2015, postpones the opening of the power plant until 2033.
Regarding hydropower, a Bankwatch study has identified at least 64 plants that have gone online since 2005, and the hydropower boom is very much ongoing. In 2015 and 2016, 24 and 25 concessions were awarded respectively. 83 plants are still actively planned, 26 of them in protected areas. What is characteristic for Macedonia is that it still features the largest number of greenfield plants financed by the EBRD in the Western Balkans (20 plants, 15 directly and five through intermediaries).
Macedonia has plenty of room for energy efficiency improvements. Electricity losses in 2016 were 14.7 percent of the gross national electricity consumption, and practices such as heating on electricity have contributed to increasing energy costs for many households.
New action plan of the European Commission to develop sustainable and circular bioeconomy
The European Commission has put forward an action plan today to develop a sustainable and circular bioeconomy, as part of its drive to boost jobs, growth, and investment in the EU. It aims to improve and scale up the sustainable use of renewable resources to address global and local challenges such as climate change and sustainable development, according to a press release from the EU executive.
In a world of finite biological resources and ecosystems, an innovation effort is needed to feed people, and provide them with clean water and energy, the press release reads, adding that the bioeconomy can turn algae into fuel, recycle plastic, convert waste into new furniture or clothing, or transform industrial by-products into bio-based fertilizers. The bioeconomy has the potential to generate 1 million new green jobs by 2030, the commission said.
Delivering a sustainable circular bioeconomy requires a concerted effort by public authorities and industry. To drive this collective effort, the commission will launch 14 concrete measures in 2019.
The measures will include scaling up and strengthening the bio-based sectors, which is to be achieved through the establishment of a 100 million EUR Circular Bioeconomy Thematic Investment Platform to bring bio-based innovations closer to the market and de-risk private investments in sustainable solutions, as well as by facilitating the development of new sustainable bio-refineries across Europe.
Another key objective will be to rapidly deploy bioeconomies across Europe, the commission said, noting that member states and regions, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, have a large underused biomass and waste potential.
To address this, the commission will develop a strategic deployment agenda for sustainable food and farming systems, forestry and bio-based products; set up an EU Bioeconomy Policy Support Facility for EU countries under Horizon 2020 to develop national and regional bioeconomy agendas; and launch pilot actions for the development of bioeconomies in rural, coastal and urban areas, for example on waste management or carbon farming.
Also, a key objective is to protect the ecosystem and understand the ecological limitations of the bioeconomy, noting that Europe’s ecosystem is faced with severe threats and challenges, such as a growing population, climate change, and land degradation. To this end, the commission will implement measures that include an EU-wide monitoring system to track progress towards a sustainable and circular bioeconomy.
Public-private partnerships for energy efficiency policies - PUBLEnEf Webinar
Public-private partnerships for energy efficiency policies
Thursday, 18 October 2018 from 10:00 to 11:30 (CEST)
Energy efficiency is the best investment in sustainable energy that has multiple benefits. Yet, its vast potential is not realised. What are the challenges – as it’s seen by the industry? How can regional and local authorities can foster such investments? What are the financial hints and tricks to make a project attractive for those who finance it?
This webinar aims to discuss these questions among others and assist those considering to draft and implement ambitious local and regional EE policies and actions.
Agenda:
Adrian Joyce, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EuroACE):
The EE implementation challenge
Christiane Egger, Upper Austria Energy Agency (OO ESV):
Carrots and sticks in motivating the large public
Marie-Laure Falque Masset, Energy Agency of Ile de France (ARENE IDF):
Energy clusters for the implementation of successful pilots
Katarzyna Dziamara-Rzucidlo, Energy Efficiency Finance Group (EEFIG):
Grants or financial instruments – or how to make your EE project attractive for the financial sector? What support is there for you?
Moderated by Kristina Dely, Energy Cities, the association of cities in their energy transition
The Macedonia Energy Forum 2018
The Macedonia Energy Forum 2018
The Macedonia Energy Forum 2018 will be a podium to share and directly communicate the world trends in energy and their influence in Macedonia and the Balkans. The Forum is conceived as a competent gathering of eminent experts, scientists, businessmen, and high officials of the government, who will be able to present their findings, suggestions, visions, and policies on energy stability and energy development strategies. The forum will discuss traditional as well as new energy sources, gasification projects, and maximum utilization of renewable energy sources, as well as reflections on the world trends in energy, which are expected in the coming years.
An important contribution to the discussion will be given through an interactive relationship with the present visitors to the forum, from where will draw questions and dilemmas about the topics listed, and which will be asked for thoughts and answers from the panelists.
The idea of the Forum is to encourage a regular formal dialogue on various topics related to energy, to contribute to clarifying the interests of energy investors in this region and to offer alternative solutions in terms of geostrategic energy positions.
The Macedonian Energy Forum will be held for the first time this year as part of the strategy of the Republic of Macedonia to organize international events and conferences which is an essential part of the process of Europeanization of the society.
This is a year of new challenges, challenges that will not bypass the energy sector. We hope that the Macedonian Energy Forum will grow into a tradition that will contribute to the establishment of energy stability in this region and will encourage a wave of new investments.
PUBLEnEf project Final Conference
A new Energy Efficiency Directive has been agreed upon and Europeans now have their new target: 32,5% for 2030. Public authorities through their energy efficiency strategies will be the main drivers for implementing the necessary measures and monitoring their impact towards this new target.
The PUBLEnEf H2020 project has been focusing precisely on mobilising public authorities at local, regional and national level and connecting them. Based on needs assessments and good practices analysis, the partners developed policy roadmaps in 12 cities and regions across Europe to implement energy efficiency pathways towards sustainability.
In the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities, this event will explore the capacity of local and regional authorities to lead the transition to an energy efficient society. EU level representatives will present the new policy framework for energy efficiency and the latest financing opportunities. Successful approaches will be discussed and effective tools will be shared. You’ll have the chance to exchange with fellow experts and policy makers on the key dimensions of energy efficiency policies and together explore the latest trends and solutions.
10 October 2018 , 9am - 4pm Palais des Académies, Brussels
Click here to check out the AGENDA
Ignalina, the champion of renovation, has managed to renovate all of its apartment buildings
With the apartment buildings renovation (modernization) program under way, some cities have renovated some of their apartment blocks, others can count them in double digits, while Ignalina has upgraded more than 100 apartment buildings. After a year and a half, upon completion of the final works, it will become the only city in the Eastern European region in which all the apartment buildings are renovated.
According to Aleksandr Dolgov, chief engineer of “Ignalinos butų ūkis”, all the city's apartment buildings now save at least 50 percent of thermal energy. He points out that such savings are minimal - there are a number of renovated houses with savings of 60 and 70 percent, while one house saves up to 78 percent heating energy consumption. Dolgov states that only high-quality renovation works can help to achieve effective energy savings.
The success was determined by the right first steps
“The renovation owes its success to the right first steps - we strived to present the benefits of renovation to the residents of the city as attractively as possible”, explained Vidmantas Čepulėnas, Head of the Ignalina Investment and Strategic Planning Department, and explained that the money spent on the renovation will be financially covered by the saved energy.
He admits that despite the attractive argumentation, the start was not easy. The residents were skeptical, but after the renovation of the first five apartment buildings, residents of other housing also wanted to renew their house. Mr. Čepulėnas says that everything started with the support received from the status of problematic territories, a sum of 8.6 million litas. Then the first apartment buildings were renovated, but it was really difficult to find proactive residents who would dare to be the first ones to renew their homes.
“At that time, the cost for renovation of apartment buildings was financed up to 85%. Obviously, such conditions allowed for an almost free housing renewal, we only had to persuade people to take advantage of such an opportunity. In addition to publicity in the press, public meetings were held with residents, during which the conditions and benefits of renovation were explained”, says Mr. Čepulėnas.
He remembers that few inhabitants were interested in the possibility of renovation. After a lot of effort, 5 apartment buildings were renovated, with their residents contributing only the remaining 15% of the total cost. When the first winter arrived, news broke out that the heating price for the residents of the renovated houses has halved. Then, most of the city residents also wanted renewed housing. Seeking to have their housing at the top of the selection, the residents even offered to contribute not only 15, but 18 percent of their funds for the renovation, and the residents of the last house renovated under that program covered one third of the renovation funds from their pockets.
In 2012, after the end of the program, “Ignalinos enervizija” program was prepared and approved. By then the renovations were covered only by 50 percent from the state funds, but there were even more people wanting to renovate their housing than before. Ignalina managed to get a soft loan from the bank for 20 years, which is being covered by saved heating costs.
Since the third renovation phase in 2013, renovations for all the rest of the houses have been planned and purchased. After a year and a half, Ignalina will have renovated 100% of its apartment buildings.
According to Vidmantas Čepulėnas, in essence, the renovation did not cost at all for the inhabitants, as the cost of public utilities with heating in old, not renovated housing usually amounts to a couple of hundred euros. After the renovation, these costs dropped by half, €100, a sum of money which is now intended to cover the bank loan: “Essentially, the financial burden of the inhabitants has not changed, but they live in renovated homes.”
The source of the article in Lithuanian language: www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/kvadratinis-metras/nekilnojamasis-turtas/renovacijos-cempionei-ignalinai-pavyko-renovuoti-visus-daugiabucius-973-1030860
EU energy storage growth ‘depends on regulators’
The head of the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) has acknowledged that the prospects for the technology are good, but regulations must keep pace if the sector is to flourish in the EU.
EASE Secretary General Patrick Clerens said the association was optimistic about the growth of the European energy storage market, with the technology ‘undoubtedly an essential component of a decarbonized energy system.
“However, in order to reach the energy storage capacity that will be needed to fulfill system needs, we need a forward-looking regulatory framework that recognizes the unique value and role of energy storage, while allowing for investment security and long-term contracts.”
He explained: “In the past, policymakers have been slow to recognize the role and benefits of energy storage for the energy transition. This is likely because energy storage technologies were considered too expensive and perhaps also because they were not so well understood. Now, this is beginning to change. Renewables deployment is increasing, leading to a higher need to carbon-neutral flexibility services.”
Clerens added that experts are predicting continuous cost declines for many storage technologies, so policymakers are beginning to recognize the immense value of energy storage and are looking to build more supportive regulatory frameworks to allow for the market to develop.
“While our activities are focused at the EU Institutions level, we are always looking to countries’ storage policies to learn from missteps and identify best practices. For example, we are closely following developments in the United Kingdom and in Ireland, where policymakers are looking at ways to incentivize flexibility options including storage.”
“For example, system constraints are leading to the development of new ancillary services, such as Enhanced Frequency Response, that can be provided by energy storage devices.”
Financial toolbox for implementing energy efficiency measures in buildings
Knowledge of financial support opportunities as well as available technology solutions in the market plays a crucial role for building managers to make decisions on energy efficiency investmentsin buildings. The project "Effective Financing Tools for Implementing Energy Efficiency in Buildings" (EFFECT4buildings) in collaboration with public building managers develops financial tools andmethods to improve profitability, facilitate the financing of energy investments and lower the risks of implementing energy efficiency measures (retrofitting, upgrading and deep renovation) in buildings.
Find more about the project "EFFECT4buildings" and financial toolbox in our International Newsletter: https://issuu.com/vidzemesplanosanasregions/docs/effect4buildings_newsletter_septemb_13fe1aa5412920
EFFECT4buildings project is implemented with the support from the EU funding Programme Interreg Baltic Sea Region (European Regional Development Fund) and Norwegian national funding. The aim of the project is to improve the capacity of public building managers in the Baltic Sea Region by providing them a comprehensive decision-making support toolbox with a set of financial instruments to unlock the investments and lower the risks of implementing energy efficiency measures in buildings owned by public stakeholders.
Climate Policy and the Nordics - NEPR Conference in Stockholm 24 October
Climate change caused by emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is one of mankind’s key challenges. Taking it on requires global action. The Nordic countries aim to take the lead in this process and to set an example for other countries, policies need to be effective in reducing emissions, cost-efficient, scalable and consistent with international agreements. But are they?
These questions will be addressed at the NEPR conference held in Stockholm on 24 October, 2018. The following six topics will be discussed by invited researchers, experts and policy makers:
- Are climate policies in the Nordic countries cost-effective?
- What are the global impacts of national climate policy in the Nordic countries?
- To what extent does volatility of solar and wind energy production limit its potential?
- Should new Norwegian oil fields be opened up?
- How can the EU emission-trading system be made an efficient climate policy?
- How can insights from political economy research help design effective international climate agreements?
More information and registration: http://www.nordregio.org/events/climate-policy-and-the-nordic-countries-conference/
Macedonia's Sieto Mulls 200 Mln Euro Solar Roof Project
INTERVIEW - Macedonia's Sieto Mulls
SKOPJE (Macedonia), July 3 (SeeNews) – Macedonian solar energy equipment supplier Sieto DOO is considering a 200 million euro ($282 million) solar roof project, aiming to increase green energy production in the EU-aspiring country in the next 10 years, Sieto's director said.
The idea is Macedonia to receive a grid-connected dispersed solar station with photovoltaic (PV) panels on 10,000 rooftops with capacity of three to five kilowatts (Kw) for each house, Sieto’s director Zvonko Markovski told SeeNews in a recent interview.
Implementation of this project without additional government support and a feed-in tariff would be impossible, he added.
Macedonia's energy regulator has allowed privately-held solar operators to sell their electricity output to state-owned transmission operator Makedonski Elektro Prenosen Sistem Operator (MEPSO) AD at a feed-in tariff of 0.46 euro per kW from last September.
The price is attractive and the highest in the region, compared with 0.04 euro per kW of electricity generated from conventional sources, which is the selling price of power distributor EVN Macedonia AD formerly known as EVN Elektrostopanstvo na Makedonija AD, Markovski said.
Sieto also needs cheap credits of 15,000-25,000 euro for each house, or a total of 200 million euro for the entire project, he added.
Markovski believes households will be able to borrow money from state-run Macedonian Bank for Development Promotion (MBDP) after the government said it will offer cheap loans carrying an interest rate of up to 6%.
Currently, Macedonia can use a $5.5 million grant from the Global Ecological Fund (GEF) to finance sustainable energy projects.
Privately-held Sieto was set up in 1992 as an industrial electronics parts producer. It has been involved in solar energy projects for over eight years. So far, it has installed solar panels for different corporate clients at some 40 locations across the country.
In June, Sieto opened the first solar park in Macedonia, located in the village of Kadino near Skopje. The investment worth some 70,000 euro has capacity of 10,200 Watt-peaks (Wp) with annual production of 22-25 MWh.
It is a long-term and profitable investment, as the life expectancy of such systems is 40 years, whilst the invested money can be returned in six years, Sieto’s director said.
"Macedonia is a sunny country, with over 270 sunny days a year, that is why we should focus more on solar energy production," he added.
Sieto is in talks with several investors to install solar systems at different locations in Macedonia by the end of the year.
Even though the company has been affected by the global economic crisis, Markovski said that the best way to combat it is to continue investing.
In 2006, Sieto built an “energy-independent ecological house” near the solar park in Kadino, which also served as measurement centre for various parameters, the first such project in Macedonia and the third in Europe. The idea is to combine solar and wind sources to generate electricity and heating energy for the needs of an individual house, said Markovski.
Projects for building solar and wind parks, however, are still rare in Macedonia. According to Markovski, Macedonia is lagging behind most of its peers in the region like Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria, in solar energy generation.
Yet, several initiatives for developing renewable energy projects in Macedonia have been launched recently. Local media reported that Spanish engineering company Invall planned to invest up to 720 million euro in the construction of wind farms with a combined capacity of 588 megawatts (MW) in eastern Macedonia, the country’s windiest region.
Macedonia's Economy Ministry recently unveiled a draft energy strategy that foresees production of up to 100 GWh of power from solar and wind generators, as well as production of 60 GWh of heating energy from the solar installations by 2020.
Aiming to boost solar energy production, Macedonia's government said in June it will offer incentives to 500 households to install solar panels by financing up to 30% of the investment, or maximum 300 euro per family taking part in the programme. An identical scheme was implemented in 2007.
European Union directives require each member state to produce about 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Macedonia was granted an EU candidate status in 2005 and awaits a date for the start of accession negotiations.
Global Wind Summit: World’s Biggest Wind Industry Gathering
The WindEnergy Hamburg expo will bring 1400 exhibitors from over 100 countries, while the WindEurope Conference will host more than 500 expert speakers and presenters
From 25 to 28 September the world´s largest wind industry event, the Global Wind Summit will take place at the Hamburg Messe fair site. Comprising the world’s leading wind industry expo WindEnergy Hamburg and the WindEurope global on and offshore conference, the event shows the highlights of one of the most innovation-driven sectors.
The great importance of wind energy for the energy needs of the world is an uncontested fact. The industry is making giant strides in overcoming its core challenge: to further reduce the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) while opening up new markets. New technologies, products and applications have enabled wind energy to be competitive with fossil energy sources even today. Now the challenge is to further drive the energy turnaround towards achieving a decarbonized energy supply infrastructure.
The new preference for public invitations to tender for onshore and offshore wind projects represents a global paradigm shift that encourages the industry to accelerate the speed of innovation. The Global Wind Summit, which will begin in exactly 4 months, will offer answers to the question what technologies are the best response to this paradigm shift.
Exhibitors, visitors and conference participants from roughly 100 countries are expected to attend.
“Together with WindEurope and its top-flight conference programme the world´s leading expo Wind Energy Hamburg will highlight the industry’s global core topics,” stressed Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress, at today’s advanced press conference in Hamburg. “This makes the Global Wind Summit the international hotspot of wind energy.”
Pierre Tardieu, Chief Policy Officer of WindEurope, the voice of the European wind industry, agreed: “Wind will be at the heart of any successful electrification strategy, it is doubling down on technology development and digitalization, it is actively preparing to move towards a merchant environment and it is entering new markets. Standing still is not an option if we want to maintain this excellence, so wind is breaking new ground.
The WindEurope global on- and offshore conference at the Global Wind Summit will be a unique opportunity to exchange with captains of industry, leading policymakers and wind energy experts on how the industry gears up for these challenges”.
Tardieu emphasized the importance of the European wind industry: ”Wind energy is a key part of Europe’s industrial base. The business of producing, installing and operating wind turbines supports over 260,000 quality high-skilled jobs. It generates € 60bn in turnover. The European wind industry has a 40% share of all the turbines sold globally and exports €8bn in technology and services every year. The WindEurope global on and offshore conference will continue to support this platform at the global level.”
A view shared by Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council. “For both onshore and offshore wind, the Global Wind Summit in Hamburg is the place to learn about key policy and market developments, best practice from around the world, and to have a look at the latest technologies and how they are being deployed.”
Cost efficiency, dynamic markets, smart energy
With 1400 exhibitors from roughly 40 countries, WindEnergy Hamburg is the only global industry expo for the onshore and offshore segments. It covers the entire value chain, “in a breadth and depth no other event anywhere in the world can offer,” said Aufderheide. “WindEnergy Hamburg 2018 focuses on three key topics: Dynamic Markets, Cost Efficiency, and Smart Energy. This is how we explicitly address the key challenges facing the industry.”
Dr. Gernot Blanke, CEO of the international project developer wpd, stressed: “Increasingly we see public invitations to tender for onshore and offshore wind energy projects aiming to reduce the levelised cost of electricity. Bringing this paradigm shift in line with specific site requirements is one of the key challenges for project developers operating internationally.” Both in the national and the international competitive environment, achieving further improvements of the cost and energy efficiency of wind turbines play a major role.
Henrik Stiesdal, one of the pioneers of wind energy and the owner of close to 650 patents in the field of wind energy use, said: “The increase in efficiency of existing turbines means that we could already generate nearly 50 percent more power just through higher towers and bigger rotors alone. Nevertheless, there is still potential for optimization: for Onshore I see a realistic limit of 50 % and for offshore of 65 % in capacity factor.”
In addition, Stiesdal sees further potential in digital energy solutions. “Normally we have a proportion of 25 % for maintenance and service in the overall costs. Digital solutions could give us the possibility to cut these costs by half. Today we have wind turbines as stand-alone units: Digitization may open the opportunity to build intelligent wind parks and thereby reduce the wake effect. Overall I see an optimization potential of 50 % for the next years”.
All in all about 35,000 industry visitors from around the world are expected to attend the Global Wind Summit. The nine halls of the world’s leading wind industry expo are nearly fully booked. The exhibiting companies hail from approximately 40 different countries, with 22 nations represented by regional and national pavilions.
There will be a number of new countries this year, including South Africa, Iceland, Latvia and Lithuania. The WindEurope global on and offshore conference which will take place in parallel at the fair complex will offer a highly qualified programme including more than 500 expert presentations, speakers and workshops covering current or future wind industry topics.
CEESEN is participating in the civil society actions at European Union Level
On the 20 September 2018 in Brussels the meeting ‘Civil society and municipalities: building sustainability through collaboration’ took place. Welcoming remarks were introduced by Peter Schmidt, President of the Sustainable Development Observatory, EESC member.
Meeting included 4 breakout sessions running in parallel dedicated to creating impactful collaboration between citizens and municipalities: (1) Taking a systemic approach to collaboration; (2) Resourcing collaboration in a strategic and sustainable way; (3) Sharing power and nurturing real collaboration; and (4) Exploring the role of the EU to support collaboration.
There also was a panel discussion ‘Collaboration between Communities and Municipalities; Challenges and Possibilities’ with Andrew Cooper from European Committee of the Regions and Philippe Lamberts, Member of the European Parliament.
One of the main topics discussed at the meeting was the financial sustainability of the community-led initiatives. It was noted that the EU cohesion policy serves as an important mechanism to foster the financial support of EU to the local initiative in a systematic way. The issue of structural funds was discussed by representatives of DG CLIMA and DG REGIO mentioning that the local initiatives and urban sustainability projects will be stressed in the upcoming cohesion Policy funds
CEESEN was repsented by UTARTU at the conference and being involved in the panel discussions and focus groups. CEESEN member stressed the importance of tailoring the specific methodologies for different parts of the Europe for enforcing the sustainable development and energy transition on local level. CEESEN was invited to proactively bring local experience and input in the development of Roadmap 2050 upcoming packages.