Western Balkan coal power plants are health, economic liability for entire Europe – environmental organizations
Sixteen outdated coal power plants in the Western Balkans are a public health and economic liability for the whole of Europe, with people in the EU bearing the majority of the health impacts and costs, according to a new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Sandbag, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, CEE Bankwatch […]
Call for energy solutions (PoWER Project): March 4 set as submission deadline
Within the project PoWER (Ports as driving Wheels of Entrepreneurial Realm), a call for solutions has been launched and it will be open until March 4, 2019. The call aims at involving companies, SMEs, professionals, and researchers in the Adriatic – Ionian area in the search for new solutions and patents (products, services, business models […]
Proper environmental impact assessment, cooperation with local community key for renewable energy projects
Renewable energy projects, especially those concerning small hydropower plants, have not been without controversy in the region, with investors often not acting in good faith. The other side of the coin is that investors that have done everything they were supposed to have often suffered damage over regulatory changes. In this interview, Zoran Obradović, managing […]
Construction of SHPP near Štrpce halted, Podgorica to host talks on hydropower in the region
Amid the public outcry against the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) throughout the region, with the latest cases in Štrpce in Kosovo* and at the Krapska river in Macedonia, all interested parties will have the opportunity to exchange views during two meetings in Podgorica – a public debate on planned hydropower plants (HPPs) on […]
Renewable energy auctions to be mandatory for Energy Community from 2020
Renewable energy auctions will be mandatory for the Energy Community Contracting Parties from next year, Energy Community Secretariat Director Janez Kopač said, while Aleksandar Antić, the Serbian energy and mining minister, said that Serbia should prepare a bankable model for auctions by mid-2019. During a presentation of Serbia’s progress on the implementation of the Energy […]
Fewer small hydropower plants being built in Europe today than in previous decades – Energy Community chief
The intensity of the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) in the European Union is much lower today than it used to be in previous decades, Energy Community Secretariat Director Janez Kopač said, noting that he would not definitely reject or support such projects. According to Insajder, when asked about EU countries’ experiences with SHPPs, Kopač […]
EU moves to strengthen ‘right to repair’ in bid to reduce waste, cut GHG emissions
Fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, TV screens, and lighting should be easier to repair from April 2021 under the EU’s proposed new Ecodesign package strengthening the ‘right to repair’. Under the proposed new ‘right to repair’ rules, spare parts for the five popular consumer products should be available for at least 7 to 10 years, while […]
Balkan region maintaining record high air pollution, doesn’t tackle main sources
Author: Vlatka Matković Puljić, Senior Policy Officer, Health and Energy, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL) Yet another year, this winter, air pollution hits countries in the Balkan region hard – most of them for many consecutive days struggle with air pollution that is unhealthy to breathe. New World Health Organization (WHO) data[1] shows that Macedonia […]