• Energy Research

Since 2015, the intended climate actions of the Paris Agreement signatories have been reported as nationally determined contributions (NDC). These climate actions are fully aligned with the 13th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which calls for urgent action to combat climate change. The same, however, cannot be said for their relation to the other 16 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, since climate action can either enhance or compromise the prospects for SDG implementation. In light of this challenge, this paper proposes a simple method for quantifying the synergies and trade-offs between national climate actions and the SDGs. The method, referred to as Q-SCAN, makes use of a seven-step scale and the SDG Climate Action Nexus tool. The effectiveness of the method has been demonstrated on a case study of North Macedonia, a non-Annex I, Western Balkan country with a coal-intensive energy system. Based on the experience in the preparation of the country’s enhanced NDC, the paper elaborates how the method can be used to contribute to the alignment of the national climate actions with the SDGs and how it can be used to improve stakeholder engagement.

The cement industry is one of the largest carbon emitting industrial sectors in the European Union (EU)and in the world. In line with the EU commitment to combat climate change, the cement industry needs to decrease significantly carbon emission. The cement manufacturing process is not only a source of combustion related CO2 emissions, but it is also a large source of industrial process related CO2 emissions. There are several effective measures which can be applied in cement manufacturing processes to achieve emissions reduction targets. Simultaneously, these measures can reduce the local environmental impacts and improve the competitiveness of the cement industry. In this paper, the following measures for CO2 emission reduction were analyzed in order to identify their environmental effectiveness: use of alternative fuels, more efficient kiln process, and co-production of synthetic fuels. The study was done on the case of a Macedonian cement plant. It was confirmed that the implementation of the selected mitigation measures results in substantial CO2 emission reduction.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the “Report on Our Common Future” – the most important point in turning the world towards a more sustainable future, the 7th SDEWES Conference was aimed at looking into sustainable development WHATs, HOWs and WHOs of energy, water and environment systems and providing responsive scientific support to the emerging international, European, regional and national challenges.

Abstract Although previous climate change research has documented the effects of linking mitigation and adaptation in the energy sector, there is still a lack of integrated assessment, particularly at national level. This paper may contribute to fill this gap, identifying the interactions between climate change and the energy demand in Macedonia. The analyses are conducted using the MARKAL (MARKet ALlocation)-Macedonia model, with a focus on energy demand in commercial and residential sectors (mainly for heating and cooling). Three different cases are developed: 1) Base Case, which gives the optimal electricity production mix, taking into account country's development plans (without climate change); 2) Climate Change Damage Case, which introduces the climate changes by adjusting the heating and cooling degree days inputs, consistent with the existing national climate scenarios; and 3) Climate Change Adaptation Case, in which the optimal electricity generation mix is determined by allowing for endogenous capacity adjustments in the model. This modeling exercise will identify the changes in the energy demand and in electricity generation mix in the Adaptation Case, as well as climate change damages and benefits of the adaptation.

Macedonian energy sector is the main emitter of greenhouse gases with share of about 70% in the total annual emissions. Also, 70%–75% of emissions are associated with the electricity generation due to the predominant role of the lignite fuelled power plants. Recently, the government has adopted a strategy for the use of renewable energy sources (RES) which identifies a target of 21% of final energy consumption from RES by 2020. In this paper, analyses are conducted in order to investigate to which extent and in which way the absorption capacity of the power system for RES electricity can be improved. For this purpose, combining various conventional and RES technologies, including pump storage hydro power plant and revitalisation of the existing lignite power plants six scenarios for the power system expansion are developed by making use of EnergyPLAN model. Critical excess of electricity analyses are conducted in order to identify the maximal penetration of wind electricity. The results have shown that in the exiting capacities maximal penetration of wind electricity in 2020 is 13% of total electricity consumption. The revitalization of the existing lignite power plants and building of pump storage power plant would increase the wind penetration. Furthermore, the developed scenarios are comparatively assessed in terms of the associated greenhouse gases emissions and import of electricity.

In this paper, the current stage of RES use is examined, together with the national legislation on RES and the adopted supportive measures. The implementation of the adopted feed-in tariffs is discussed taking into account the proposed installed capacity limits, level and duration of support for the RES plants, system costs, market prices and the overall impact on the Macedonian power system. In the analyses, the possible mechanisms for financing the feed-in tariffs are also included. It has been shown that the prescribed feed-in tariff scheme has relatively low financial implications since the increase of the costs of supply is less than 5%.

Abstract A holistic perspective of various energy stakeholders regarding the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOTs) of the energy sector in Macedonia is utilized as baseline to diagnose the current state and to sketch future action lines towards sustainable energy development. The resulting SWOT analyses pointed to the progressive adoption of European Union (EU) standards in energy policy and regulation as the most important achievement in the energy sector. The most important problems the national energy sector faces are scarce domestic resources and unfavorable energy mix, low electricity prices, a high degree of inefficiency in energy production and use, as well as insufficient institutional and human capacities. The formulated portfolio of actions towards enabling sustainable energy development urges the adoption of a comprehensive energy strategy built upon sustainability principles, intensified utilization of the natural gas, economic prices of electricity, structural changes in industry, promotion of energy efficiency and renewables, including Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, enforcement of EU environmental standards and meeting the environmental requirements, as well as institutional and human capacity building.

Abstract In this paper the GHG mitigation potential of a power system with prevailing use of lignite is assessed through the example of the Macedonian power system. The analysis is conducted using the WASP model in order to develop three different scenarios (business as usual – BAU and two mitigation scenarios) for the power system expansion over the period 2008–2025. In the first mitigation scenario two gas power plants with combined cycle are planned to replace some of the lignite-based capacities. The second mitigation scenario, besides the gas power plants, assumes electricity consumption reduction related to the large industrial consumers and an increased share of new renewable energy sources. Detailed calculations of the GHG emissions are made for all scenarios. The comparison of emissions in 2025 and in 2008 shows that the increase of 78% in the case of predominantly lignite BAU scenario is reduced to 41% by the first mitigation scenario, and to 14% by the second mitigation scenario. The mitigation costs appeared to be less then 10 $/t CO2-eq for the first mitigation scenario, and even negative for the second one.

The impact of waste policies and measures from National Determined Contributions (NDCs) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is unexamined and creates conditions for policy conflict and incoherence. This participatory case study of North Macedonia quantifies synergies and trade-offs. Our results show twelve times more synergies than trade-offs. The most important synergies concern SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth (score: 10) and SDG 3: Good health and well-being (score: 5) since formalizing the recycling sector is expected to create jobs, economic productivity is expected to improve as a result of increased resource efficiency in industry, and declining pollution is expected to increase health through adequate waste management in landfills. On the other hand, the most important trade-off pertains to SDG 1: No poverty (score: −3) because the incomes of informal workers are expected to decrease, affecting financially vulnerable families. In conclusion, despite being the least emitting sector globally, the waste sector is a promising avenue for mitigating climate change because of its synergistic effects with the SDGs. Circular economy policies in line with the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle hold the most potential for synergies in developing countries. This case study generated momentum for policy implementation by highlighting policy synergies and ideas for the next revision of the NDC. Central to this was the process of fostering dialogue and learning among otherwise siloed policy actors. Energie and Industrie