Introduction of national emission trading schemes similar to the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) is the best carbon pricing option for the Energy Community Contracting Parties, reads preliminary conclusions of the Secretariat’s study on carbon pricing. The proposal to introduce national emission trading schemes is better than to introduce the carbon border adjustment mechanism envisaged by the European Green Deal, the document adds. The presentation of the main preliminary findings of a study on carbon pricing options for the region, which will be finalized next month, was held during the ..read more

Even with the expected expansion of renewables, the planet is facing a major increase in temperature, BloombergNEF’s study indicated. Global warming of 3.3 degrees Celsius by 2100 would bring a massive risk of an irreversible change in climate patterns. Investments necessary by 2050 for avoiding the scenario are estimated at as much as USD 130 trillion. While the coronavirus will take out energy sector emissions that would be equivalent to a 2.5-year volume if there was no pandemic, and the volume of greenhouse gases seems to have peaked last year, energy policy and investments have a long way ..read more

Albania will launch the third auction for the construction of a solar photovoltaic park, with a planned capacity of 100 MW, local media reported. It would be the third auction for large solar power plants in the country. In August Albania signed a contract for the 140 MW Karavasta project with Voltalia, which would now be the biggest photovoltaic power plant of its kind in Southeastern Europe. The first auction for the project in the Akerni salt flats has been on hold for almost two years, ever since India Power’s consortium gave the best bid at Albania’s first auction. The new solar park wil ..read more

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a forestry programme to strengthen sustainable and multipurpose forest management in Kosovo*. The programme will introduce communications technology and remote surveillance tools, such as drones, and blockchain-based technology to better monitor and protect forests. Since forests have a major role in fighting climate change, they are also an important natural asset in Kosovo, according to FAO’s press release. The programme, designed by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Rural Development, has received USD 2.6 ..read more

Average household electricity prices in the Energy Community contracting parties (EnC CPs) including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia (without Ukraine) decreased by 1.6% to 7.66 euro cents/kWh in 2019 compared to 2018. However, average industry electricity prices increased by 11% to 7.27 euro cents/kWh. According to the ACER Market Monitoring Report 2019 – Energy Retail and Consumer Protection Volume, this price for household consumers was 2.8 times lower than the price for EU households in 2019. On the other hand, the price f ..read more

Regular desulfurization finally started in RiTE Ugljevik’s thermal power plant. The project was implemented by Mitsubishi Power, which recently received a similar order for the Nikola Tesla B coal-fired unit in Serbia. Almost a year after testing started, the RiTE Ugljevik mine and coal power plant just took over the desulfurization system from Mitsubishi Power, formerly known as Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems. The construction of the unit cost EUR 85 million, financed through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, better known as JICA. Interim Chief Executive Officer Čedomi ..read more

While power utility Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) is handing over the construction site of the new unit 7 in Tuzla coal power plant to Chinese partners, the Secretariat of the Energy Community is announcing possible sanctions over state aid. EPBiH has initiated the construction of a 450 MW unit to replace obsolete units 3, 4 and 5 at thermal power plant Tuzla. It earlier secured a EUR 614 loan from the Export-Import Bank of China or Chexim – China Exim Bank, and China’s Gezhouba consortium was hired to build it. As part of the dispute settlement procedure, a hearing will be held before the advi ..read more

The Municipality of Volos launched a project for a photovoltaic facility of 50 MW, intended to help it lower energy costs of its buildings and utility firms and assist low-income households. An agricultural cooperative is building a solar complex with small energy communities in the same area, while two companies have a 284 MW solar power system in the pipeline which should include Volos. A local authority in Thessaly is emerging on the national map of renewable energy. The Municipality of Volos said it would be first in Greece to install a solar park, worth up to EUR 30 million. Surplus annua ..read more

Investors in US markets will soon be able to speculate on water prices, opening the way for an artificial jump in costs for households, farmers and other users. Climate change and the privatization of natural resources are fueling conflicts around the world, raising risks for us to become thirsty and exposed to infections. Can anyone own water or is it a public good? Several states in Latin America are among the best historical examples of how not to manage water. Chile allowed the privatization of the resource already four decades ago and the population has been suffering the consequences unt ..read more

Bucharest, Sofia, and Zagreb are on the list of the 24 cities with the highest total damage from air pollution, according to a study conducted by SE Delft on health-related social costs in 432 cities in the European Union, United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland. In total, over 130 million people live in the places covered in the 30 countries, with an average of 301,754 inhabitants per city. In 2018, total social costs for all 432 cities surpassed EUR 166 billion. The average cost per city is over EUR 385 million, the study finds. Social costs are costs affecting welfare and comprise both dire ..read more