SO2 emissions in Western Balkans coal plants six times above limit in 2019
There was no improvement last year on air pollution from lignite-fired industrial facilities reported to the European Environment Agency by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia, Bankwatch said. A comparison with the national emissions reduction plans reveals coal plant sulphur dioxide emissions were increased and that they were six time higher than […]
Environmentalist groups unite to protest small hydropower, pollution in Serbia
More than forty environmentalist organizations participated at the demonstration in front of the building of the Government of Serbia in Belgrade against the construction of thermal power plants on coal and demanding a ban on the run-of-river or derivative-type hydropower plants. The movement that has been urging authorities in Serbia to abolish the construction of […]
Climate targets warrant closure of all gas, coal power plants soon, study shows
If solutions to turn emissions negative aren’t scaled up substantially in the mid-term to cap global warming, there is little choice but to decommission facilities for the production of electricity from fossil fuels at roughly half of their lifespans. International climate treaties and goals imply gas and coal power plants must be decommissioned 10 to […]
PPC begins voluntary layoffs at coal mines with program for 890 workers
The state-owned company PPC managing lignite open pits and thermal power plants in Greece launched the first round of the voluntary layoffs for employees in the fossil fuel business. Workers aged 55 and higher who apply are entitled to compensation of EUR 35,000 each. Minister Kostis Hatzidakis says PPC may let go up to 5,500 […]
Serbia issues draft spatial plan for coal-fired thermal power plant Kolubara B
A public consultation was launched on the draft spatial plan for the special purpose area and the strategic environmental impact assessment report for Kolubara B. Serbia is moving ahead with the development of the coal power plant project, arguing “it is not possible” to replace the fossil fuel with other sources “in the near term.” […]
Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia plan to burn coal beyond 2030 – report on final NECPs
A new report published by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and ZERO looks into the final national energy and climate plans (NECPs) of 15 member states including countries in Southeastern Europe – Croatia, Greece, Romania, and Slovenia. In their initial drafts, a number of countries had already put forward much needed coal phaseout goals in […]
IRENA: Renewables increasingly cheaper than coal competitors on cost
IRENA found 56% of renewable capacity added last year achieved lower electricity costs than new coal power plants. Furthermore, by the end of 2021 it would be cheaper to build new photovoltaic facilities than to keep running active coal power plants of as much as 1.2 TW, more than half of the world total. New […]
Delaying coal phaseout would be expensive for Bulgaria, Romania and Greece
The drop in market prices of power amid the coronavirus crisis opens the way for a less costly closure of thermal power plants that burn lignite. Postponing the coal phaseout in Balkan states would magnify expenses, according to a study released by the Southeast Europe Energy Transition Network. The COVID-19 pandemic sent market prices of […]