Sustainability Indicators in Heating Systems Towards Climate Neutrality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Toms Prodaņuks

The European Union has declared the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, ensuring economy with zero net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To achieve this goal, the EU has announced the European Green Deal which includes an action plan to accelerate efficient resource usage while moving towards circular economy as well as to restore biodiversity and reduce pollution. The transition to climate neutrality is urgent and offers an opportunity to build a better future. In order to achieve climate neutrality, society and all economic sectors must play their part. Increasing the efficiency of heat production and reducing consumption is considered one of the key tools for achieving the EU’s climate and energy goals by 2030, which envisage at least a 40 % reduction in GHG emissions, using 1990 as a baseline, at least a 32 % share of renewable energy and a 32.5 % increase in energy efficiency. In accordance with the EU climate and energy policy, the Latvia’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2021–2030 has been developed, and it includes national objectives and main actions that are directly or indirectly related to the increase of the efficiency in heat energy production and the reduction of consumption focusing on renewable energy. The overall aim of the present Doctoral Thesis is to evaluate heating systems in Latvia using sustainability indicators, including heat energy producers and end-users, make proposals on potential methodologies to increase the efficiency of the heating system and to reduce GHG emissions, emphasizing the use of renewable energy sources. An evaluation of various technologies and methods has been developed, which offers complex solutions for increasing the energy efficiency of heat energy producers.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-168
Author(s):  
Yevheniia Ziabina ◽  
Tetyana Pimonenko

The industry attention to the environment has been reducing lately, leading to irreversible climate change, reaching the limit of mining, and critical indicators of СО2 emissions. That is why the EU has launched a new Green Policy which includes strategic directions for energy efficiency and which is expected to restore biodiversity and slow down the pace of climate change. Thus, on December 11, 2019, there was held the presentation of the “European Green Course”, the main targets of which are to increase the level of energy saving by creating closed cycles in the economy; to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; to form biodiversity and climate neutrality. Accordingly, countries that accept the terms of the green deal policy need to review all aspects of their economy, from energy production to food consumption, from industry to transport and construction. The purpose of the article is to analyse publications in order to identify public’s awareness of radical changes in economic and ecological spheres. The article provides a bibliometric analysis of research in the field of green deal policy, energy conservation and energy efficiency through the introduction of renewable energy sources. The authors selected 337 papers which were published in 1999-2019. Scopus provided the database for analysis. By means of VOSviewer the results of bibliometric analyses were visualized in a definitions map. It allowed identifying six clusters that combine 131 terms. As a result of the research, the connection between the terms – renewable energy sources and energy saving – was revealed with the help of the constructed bibliographic map.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Brożyna ◽  
Wadim Strielkowski ◽  
Alena Fomina ◽  
Natalya Nikitina

Our paper focuses on the renewable energy and EU 2020 target for energy efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We study the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in these two EU Member States through the prism of the Europe 2020 strategy and the 3 × 20 climate and energy package and economic growth (represented by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that allows to measure the national dynamics and provide cross-country comparisons) without attributing specific attention to issues such as the electrification of transport or heating, and thence leaving them outside the scope of this paper. Both Czech Republic and Slovakia are two post-Communist countries that still face the consequences of economic transformation and struggle with the optimal management of natural resources. Both countries encountered profound system transformation after 1989 that are apparent in all three measures of sustainable development used in our study. We show that it is unlikely that the planned increase in renewable energy in the Czech Republic and Slovakia will reach its targets, but they might succeed in reducing their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Our findings show that the energy intensity of Czech and Slovak economies increased in the early 2000s and then stabilized at a level about twice of the EU average. It appears that this value is likely to remain the same in the forthcoming years. However, implementation of GHG emissions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia may be at risk in case the proper energy policy is not maintained. Moreover, our results show how the increase in the share of renewable energy and improvement in energy efficiency go hand-in-hand with mining and exploiting the energy sources that is notorious for the transition economies. We also demonstrate that a proper energy policy is required for effectively reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. There is a need for commitments made by relevant stakeholders and policymakers targeted at achieving sustainable economic growth and energy efficiency. In addition, we demonstrate that there is a need for maintaining a proper balance between economic development and environmental protection, which is a must for the EU sustainable energy development agenda and all its accompanying targets for all its Member States.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 93-101
Author(s):  
T.A. Zheliezna ◽  
A.I. Bashtovyi

The aim of the work is to analyze possible ways of decarbonization of the EU heat supply sector. The task of the work is to identify the most promising areas and develop appropriate recommendations for Ukraine. The heat supply sector of the EU and Ukraine needs decarbonization, for which there is a big potential and different areas of implementation of relevant measures. In Europe, such a strategy is set out in the Roadmap for decarbonization of the EU heating sector until 2050, the main provisions of which are in line with objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU Strategy on Heating and Cooling. European experts have developed the concept of a smart energy system, which was taken into account when preparing the Roadmap for decarbonization of the EU heating sector until 2050. A number of carried out studies have shown that a smart energy system with 50% district heating integrated with other parts of the overall energy system is more efficient than a conventional energy system or the one based on decentralized heat supply, in terms of the possibility of using a high share of renewable energy. It is recommended for Ukraine to finalize the Concept of green energy transition until 2050, taking into account European approaches to the development of heating systems and the use of modern biofuels. It is also recommended to expand the current Concept of heat supply of Ukraine to the level of a strategy with an emphasis on the development of district heating systems, wide involvement of renewable energy sources and new technologies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 01008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mykola Khomenko ◽  
Kateryna Pryakhina ◽  
Kostyantyn Latyshev

In article assessment of tendencies and prospects of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union in the field of renewable energy sources was carried out. Over the past decades, the theme of climate change, especially caused by human activity, has become one of the most acute and most exploited in scientific disputes. Today, the problem of finding new sources of energy is more than acute, with a special place occupy non-traditional ones. The reduction of Ukraine's energy dependence on traditional fuel resources is possible only through the development and use own alternative energy, which uses local resources – bioenergy as a fuel or does not require a fuel component at all – solar, wind and small hydropower. The European Union is one of the leaders in the implementation of alternative energy and renewable energy sources and initiates the creation of many organizations that finance alternative energy projects. Ukraine should ensure the effective convergence of its own legislation with the European Union, since it defined the European integration vector as a priority area of foreign policy development. At the same time, within the framework of the Union, the mechanism of environmental protection and progressive approaches to the implementation of energy policy, including in the field of renewable energy, can serve as the most constructive benchmarks for Ukraine's development in this area. Ukraine signed the Paris Agreement, and undertook certain commitments, namely: in accordance with the National Action Plan on alternative energy up to 2020, the objective was to reach 11% of RES in gross final energy consumption. Achieving this goal is possible only in the case of international cooperation with the EU in the field of alternative energy. However, today, the study of the prospects of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in this field is not developing sufficiently and there is a certain vacuum in solving strategic problems in this context, which determines the relevance of the topic.


2012 ◽  
pp. 233-235
Author(s):  
József Nagy ◽  
Marianna Sinyei ◽  
Lajos Vass

The usage of renewable energy sources (RES) and the increase of energy efficiency could be the solution for the difficulties of the rural impoverished inhabitants. A rural development company with the support of the communities designs the development resources from the EU and the Hungarian State for RES generation and organizes the ’1 village – 1 MW’ RES generation, storage, distribution and usage integration.


2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-290
Author(s):  
Biljana Kulišić ◽  
Margareta Zidar ◽  
Branka Jelavić ◽  
Julije Domac ◽  
Velimir Segon

Tourism, due its property of being an “invisible export” sector, has a strong multiplier effect over the economy. Tourists boost demand for numerous goods and services, one of them being energy. Unfortunately, energy sources are scarce for most of the countries in the region. Thus, one could think of another solution to the excess demand for energy than import. Namely, for more than a decade, renewable energy sources are in the central focus of the EU energy policy with an aim to ensure security, price stability, availably and affordability of energy to its citizens together with reduction of GHG emissions and making the EU economy more competitive. Combining tourism with renewable energy sources utilisation helps reducing the spill over effect from energy import. In this paper, the cross-section analysis based on environmental determination of tourism and renewable energy sources potentials is performed in order to indicate a pathway for implementation of renewable energy sources utilisation in the tourism and hotel industry.


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Dedinec ◽  
Natasa Markovska ◽  
Verica Taseska ◽  
Gligor Kanevce ◽  
Tome Bosevski ◽  
...  

As European Union (EU) candidate country, Macedonia is in the process of adoption of the EU strategic energy policies, harmonization of the national legislation with the EU legislation and defining the respective national goals. In this regard, the government has recently adopted a National Strategy for Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources (RES), prepared by ICEIM-MANU. The main goal of this paper is to assess the potential for greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions reduction by implementation of 21%-RES-scenarios from the Strategy. The corresponding emissions reduction is calculated against the baseline (reference) scenario developed within the Second National Communication on Climate Change. Furthermore, all potential RES technologies are analyzed from economic aspect and combined in a form of emissions reduction cost curve, displaying the total marginal cost of the GHG emissions reduction by RES. Finally, on the bases of the environmental and economic effectiveness of the considered RES technologies, as well as taking into account the country specific barriers, the priority actions for GHG emissions reduction are identified.


Author(s):  
Bea Fodor

A megújuló energiatermelés szerepének erősödését figyelhetjük meg az utóbbi években, évtizedekben. A zöldenergiák iránti igényt három fő motivátorcsoporttal lehet indokolni: ellátásbiztonság növelése, környezetvédelem és gazdaságélénkítés. Ezek a szempontok együttesen a fenntartható fejlődést szolgálják, és egyre inkább előtérbe kerülnek mind az EU, mind pedig hazánk szintjén. Magyarország 2010 végén az EU által előírt, 2020-ra elérendő 13%-os megújuló energiaarányt meghaladó, 14,65%-os vállalást tett a Nemzeti Cselekvési Tervben, ezzel is kifejezve elköteleződését a zöldenergiák ösztönzése felé. A jelenlegi kapacitások több mint megkétszerezését igénylő cél a hazai megújuló energiaszektor számára érdemi lehetőségeket jelent, de ezek megvalósításához szükség lenne az ígért új zöldenergia-támogatási rendszer, mielőbbi életbe lépésére. ____ The role of the renewable energy generation is getting even bigger and bigger in the last years, decades. The demand for the green energy has three main motivators: energy security, protecting the environment and fostering innovation. These goals serve the conception of sustainable development, and their function is increasingly highlighted in the EU and in Hungary as well. The EU has prescribed Hungary to reach a 13% share of renewable energy sources in 2020, but in the Hungarian national renewable action plan we have aimed to top the EU request, and to reach a 14,65% in the renewable proportion. This shows that our country is committed to inspire the renewables. In order to reach this goal, Hungary has to more than double its green power plant capacity, which means great possibilities in the sector; but at the same time means challenges as well, because the new renewable promoting system needs to come into force as soon as possible.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 16-25
Author(s):  
István Vokony ◽  
Balázs Bonda ◽  
Attila Talamon ◽  
Máté Nagy ◽  
Gergő Holló

Abstract The organization - WEC Hungarian Young Professionals in Energy (HYPE) - in line with WEC’s (World Energy Council) visions aims for the dissemination of the principle of sustainable energy development in Hungary. The HYPE’s goals are to represent the Hungarian energy sector’s viewpoint at national, regional and international events; to introduce and evaluate the key energy issues by preparing studies; and to foster the development of future energy professionals. Sustainable development and the strongly related secure supply is one of the most important questions arise among energy engineering issues. One of the first answers for the above complex problem is renewable energy sources. To achieve success, that is to integrate renewable systems, it is essential to design, control and support engineering and financial background of electrical engineering structures. (The question is even more important for Hungary, where neither energy nor financial resources are abundant at all.) The long term energy politics of the European Union aims to provide well-being for its citizens. It can be derived to several sub-notions which the EU would also like to support therefore, such as the appropriate operation of the economy, access to electric energy for both households and corporate consumers on reasonable prices and attention to environmental protection and sustainable growth in the meanwhile. As of the above mentioned goals, the EU is committed to maintain the Europe 2020 strategy (20-20-20 initiative) which aims to reduce green-house gas emission by 20%, increase renewable energy sources to 20% (from 8.5%) and increase energy efficiency by 20% until 2020. The EU has launched several actions to achieve the 20-plans. Integration of electricity markets, development of networks and establishing investment capital is in progress. In the followings a chronology and overview will be presented to give a better understanding the aims, subsidy systems and energy politics’ targets. The study of WEC Hungarian Young Professionals in Energy brings opinion on the National Action Plan as well which is especially recommended to our readers.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Meisel ◽  
Markus Millinger ◽  
Karin Naumann ◽  
Franziska Müller-Langer ◽  
Stefan Majer ◽  
...  

With the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 (RED II), adopted in December 2018, the EU is continuing the political framework for the use of renewable energy sources in the transport sector for the period from 2021 to 2030. At the same time, the German federal government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector by at least 40% to 42% by 2030 compared to the 1990 GHG level. To investigate the possible effects of the European and national requirements on the German GHG quota, cost-optimal fuel mixes were modelled to achieve the GHG targets of 26 fuel options in each of the nine different scenarios. The results show clear differences between the scenarios that implement the RED II targets (including 14% renewables in transport by 2030) and those that implement the climate protection target (40–42% GHG reduction compared to 1990 by 2030). If only the minimum requirements of RED II are met, the German climate protection target is clearly missed without further measures. In order to achieve the climate protection target, a significant reduction in the final energy consumption in transport is required, as well as a very high GHG quota of 34.5%, meaning a high proportion of renewables of ca. 40% and using almost all the fuel options considered.


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