• Energy Research
• 2021-2025close
• 13. Climate action close
• 7. Clean energy close
• 2. Zero hunger close
• Serbian close

The City of Belgrade is in the process of establishing a new waste management system through a public-private partnership. The project includes the construction of a municipal waste to energy recovery system. The recovery system is designed as a combined heat and power municipal solid waste mass burn incinerator. The impact of utilizing residual municipal solid waste for the generation of heat and power in lieu of coal and natural gas was assessed in terms of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The contributions of energy derived from the waste to energy facility to the total energy consumption in Belgrade were also evaluated.

The immense attention that has been given to environmental issues in recent years can be attributed to a large amount of scientific evidence, according to which the existing and projected patterns of economic activities cause its degradation, which in turn questions the future of these economic activities. Development in the 21st century should be based on the rational use of natural resources, with minimal reversible damage to the environment. The development understood in this way is the starting point of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy. Appropriate environmental measures have been prescribed for the realization of the planned developmental path, with the obligation to implement and adhere to them gaining more importance. Since its establishment, the Common Agricultural Policy has not focused on the environmental impact of agricultural production. More precisely, the possible environmental consequences of agricultural production on the environment had not been considered, which in turn led to significant problems. The problems that arose were the basis for the development of the environmental policy which defined the principles, measures and determinants for environmental protection and its improvement in the course of time. The analysis of measures and tools in the field of environmental protection, which are an integral part of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy, was performed in order to point out their importance through reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy in preventing risks of environmental degradation and improving agroecosystem sustainability. In the part of the dissertation related to empirical research, in terms of agricultural development and environmental quality, the degree of interdependence of ecological and economic performances of agricultural production at the level of the EU member countries was analyzed. The EU countries have been classified into homogeneous groups through cluster analysis, according to the achieved level of environmental performance, thus showing the position of the countries between groups in relation to the achieved environmental performance, highlighting the recommendations for further direction of agricultural production and actions in combating climate change which is, needless to say, harmful to the environment. Based on the analysis of predictions of future values and the extent of environmental consequences, climate change has been recognized as an environmental indicator with the most influential negative impact on the environment.

Several unfavorable processes are taking place in the field of energy: large capacities of renewable energy sources (with variable and unpredictable availability) are being put into operation without detailed analises of its influence on electric power systems (EPS), large thermal and nuclear power plants (those who ensured the stability and reliability of EPS) are being closed, energy transmission systems are being cut off for political reasons as well as the import of some most important energy sources (natural gas, coal, oil). Those processes significantly change the role of hydropower plants in the EPS. All types of hydropower plants are becoming specialy important, especially those with water storage reservoirs and large installed capacities. Their role in regulating and ensuring the reliability of EPSs is significantly increasing. Beside the storage hydropower plants, pumped-storage hydropower plants become more important due to their possibilities to regulate the system in conditions of sudden changes of the power of wind and solar power plants,. The article discusses the processes in the world in terms of hydropower, the available hydropower potential in Serbia, as well as the real possibilities for its utilization. The most important hydropower systems remaining for construction are presented in the article. It is pointed out the necessity to clearly delineate which energy sources are really renewable and which contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas. The importance of spatial planning which should protect the spaces necessary for the construction of hydropower systems is particularly emphasized. U svetu se odigravaju nepovoljni procesi u energetici: nedovoljno prostudirano se uvode u pogon velike snage obnovljivih izvora energije čija je raspoloživost vrlo promenljiva i nepredvidiva, zatvaraju se velike termoelektrane i nuklearne elektrane koje su obezbeđivale stabilnost i pouzdanost elektroenergetskih sistema, iz političkih razloga se prekidaju transferi energije i uvoz nekih ključnih energenata (prirodni gas, ugalj, nafta). Ti procesi radikalno menjaju ulogu hidroelektrana u elektroenergetskim sistemima. Sve vrste hidroelektana dobijaju na posebnom značaju, a posebno akumulacione hidroelektrane velikih instalisanih snaga. Značajno se povećava njihova uloga u regulaciji i obezbeđivanju pouzdanosti elektroenergetskih sistema. Zbog regulacije sistema u uslovima nagle promenljivosti snaga elektrana koje koriste vetar i Sunce, pored akumulacionih hidroelektrana velikih snaga, veliki značaj dobijaju i reverzibilne, pumpno akumulacione hidroelektrane. U članku se razmatraju procesi u svetu na planu hidroenergetike, raspoloživi hidroenergetski potencijali Srbije, kao i realne mogućnosti za njihovu realizaciju. Prikazuju se ključni hidroenergetski sistemi koji su preostali za izgradnju. Ukazuje se na neophodnost da se metodološki jasno razgraniči koji energetski izvori spadaju zaista u klasu obnovljivih izvora energije, i koji zaista doprinose smanjenju emisije gasova staklene bašte. Posebno se naglašava značaj da se prostornim planovina svih nivoa definišu i obezbede od devastacije i zauzeća prostori koji su neophodni za realizaciju hidroenergestkih sistema.

Previous energy strategies for Serbia had various goals in terms of renewable energy sources with the quantification of type of power plants by type, but the national energy planning did not go to the level of determining specific locations for power plants, namely photovoltaic. This caused difficulties for the responsible ministry and public companies to decide which power plants will be connected and which not. Additionally, due to a drop in investment costs, connection requests dramatically increased. In the beginning of 2023 applications for the construction of power plants totaling 14 GW in capacity were under review at public transmission company which further caused delays and stagnation in the construction of these power plants. At the same time, electricity prices for households and industries had increased by 18 and 27% respectively. During the year 2022, only 6 MW of new power plants were realized even with granting the monthly net-metering to the industry and households, which is far below the possible and realistic dynamic of Serbia's energy transition implementation. It was announced in early 2023, with the changes in legislative towards implementing the auctions principles, that the first permits will be issued for the construction of large photovoltaic power plants on land to progress towards meeting an overall capacity goal of 2-3 GW. To guide in selecting sites that will help meet this goal, we mapped 100 suitable photovoltaic power plant locations prioritized not only by energy yield, but also to prevent possible conflicts with other activities (i.e., agriculture, protected areas and cultural heritage). The mapping was carried out using available energy yield data, and geographically specific data of importance for the construction of larger photovoltaic power plants up to 10 MW in size. The 100 locations were selected as best among a much larger number of possible ones. These 100 sites occupy less than 25 km2 of land and would be enough to cover about 5% of household consumption in Serbia. Dosadašnje energetske strategije Srbije su imale različite ciljeve u pogledu obnovljivih izvora energije sa kvantifikacijom pojedinih tipova elektrana, ali nacionalno energetsko planiranje nije išlo do nivoa određivanja konkretnih lokacija, posebno za fotonaponske elektrane. Ovo je izazvalo poteškoće nadležnom ministarstvu i javnim preduzećima jer je pad investicionih troškova ohrabrio veliki broj aplikanata za dozvole za izgradnju elektrana na pogodnim lokacijama od ukupno 14 GW, što je dodatno izazvalo zastoje i stagnaciju u izgradnji ovih elektroenergetskih objekata na zemlji. U isto vreme došlo je do poskupljenja troškova snabdevanja električnom energijom za domaćinstva 18% i 27% za privredu tokom 2022. a iste godine kroz mehanizam neto-merenja realizovano je samo oko 6 MW novih elektrana što je kao rezultat daleko ispod mogućeg, realnog nivoa i neophodne brzine sprovođenja energetske tranzicije Srbije. Početkom 2023. godine, uz izmene zakona u pravcu sprovođenja aukcija, najavljeno je da će biti izdate prve dozvole za izgradnju velikih fotonaponskih elektrana na zemljištu i ulaganja u projekte veličine nekoliko (2-3) GW. Stoga je potrebno izvršiti mapiranje i odabiranje 100 lokacija fotonaponskih elektrana kako bi se bolje razumele pogodne lokacije ne samo sa stanovišta prinosa energije, već i kako bi se predupredili eventualni konflikti sa drugim aktivnostima (poljoprivreda, zaštićena područja, kulturno nasleđe). Mapiranje je sprovedeno korišćenjem raspoloživih podataka o energetskim prinosu, kao i geografski specifičnih podataka od značaja za izgradnju većih fotonaponskih elektrana do 10 MW. Odabrano je 100 najboljih lokacija među mnogo većim brojem mogućih. Količina proizvedene energije na površini koja zauzima manje od 25 km2 bila bi dovoljna da pokrije oko 5% potrošnje domaćinstava u Srbiji.

The importance of school buildings is considerable due to their function, character, purpose, and architectural design, and their refurbishment could lead to significantly better building energy performance. The current research was carried out on select school buildings and is based on a parametric study of the application of energy refurbishment of the thermal envelope (ERTE) and of select passive design systems (PD). The research analyzes the relevant parameters of planning and designing a Trombe wall system (TW), double skin facades (DSF), a green roof (GR), and shading – blinds (BL). In order to determine any possible benefits for increased energy-efficient heating and cooling, models of school buildings were designed using the EnergyPlus software. Climate data which represent a typical meteorological year for the city of Niš were used in the simulation. During modeling, the architectural features of the building were adhered to, as was the layout, the purpose, and the means of using the indoor space. The simulation results indicate that the individual application of the TW, DSF, and GR on the school building models leads to increased energy-efficient heating with decreased energy-efficient cooling. In contrast, the application of BL, independently or in combination with other PD systems, results in the significant increase in energy-efficient cooling. Adequate application of ERTE in combination with TW, DSF, and GR leads to increased energy-efficient heating, while application of ERTE in combination with BL and PD systems leads to the significant increase in energy-efficient cooling. Measures for increased energy-efficient heating and cooling include applying the TW+GR or the DSF+GR system, combined with BL, which confirms that combining numerous PD systems can contribute to significant energy efficiency improvements for the school building models. The application of proper thermal mass and glazing systems significantly increases energy - efficient heating. The application of a TW system, whose thermal mass is either a masonry wall or a 0,25m thick concrete wall, as well as the use of single glazing instead of triple glazing significantly increases energy-efficient heating. The application of a DSF system with an intermediate cavity 0,3 m wide and triple glazing leads to significantly increased energy-efficient heating, compared to applying a DSF system with an intermediate cavity 0.4 m or 0,5 m wide and single glazing. The results confirm that the application of a shading system significantly contributes to increased energy-efficient cooling for the building models. Application of a ventilated TW compared to a non-ventilated one, as well as of a ventilated DSF compared to a non-ventilated one, leads to a significant increase in energy-efficient cooling for the building models. The simulation results offer insight into which parameters provide significant energy efficiency for heating and cooling buildings and confirm the benefits of applying ERTE measures and select PD systems. The applied methodology could be modified, improved, and used in regions with similar climatic characteristics, which would provide a new approach to a decision-making process curbed by limited resources.

Klimatske promene utiču negativno na proizvodnju suncokreta. Jedna od mera ublažavanja uticaja ekstremnih klimatskih pojava je oplemenjivanje na poboljšanu adaptabilnost suncokreta na različite uslove gajenja. Cilj rada bio je da se ispita uticaj različitih godina i lokaliteta na prinos ulja kod 12 standardnih, uljanih hibrida suncokreta. Eksperimentalni ogledi su postavljeni tokom četiri vegetacione sezone (2018, 2019, 2020 i 2021) u 52 klimatske sredine (u dve godine na 15 lokaliteta, jednom na 14 i jednom na 8). Hibrid NS Ronin (G7) se izdvojio sa najvećom stabilnošću praćenom visokim prinosom ulja i smatra se adaptabilnim na razlike u uslovima sredine. Stabilni hibridi, sa visokim prinosom ulja bili su i hibridi NS Kiril (G9), NS Providens (G11) i NS Zmaj (G12). Ostvareni rezultati prinosa ulja pomenutih hibrida i njihova adaptabilnost u različinim sredinama opravdavaju poverenje koje su im ukazali proizvođači suncokreta i u Srbiji i u inostranstvu. Climate change negatively affects sunflower production. One of the measures to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events is breeding to improve the adaptability of sunflower to different growing conditions. This study aimed to examine the influence of different years and locations on oil yield in 12 standard, oil sunflower hybrids. Experimental trials were set up during four vegetation seasons (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021) in 52 environments (in two years at 15 locations, once at 14 and once at 8). Sunflower hybrid NS Ronin (G7) was distinct as the most stable, followed by high oil yield and considered adaptable to environmental conditions differences. Stable hybrids with high oil yield were also hybrids NS Kiril (G9), NS Providence (G11) and NS Zmaj (G12). The achieved results of oil yield of the mentioned hybrids and their adaptability in different environments justify the trust placed in them by sunflower producers in Serbia and abroad.

Green energy has become an essential piece of any sustainable development analysis. Furthermore, renewable energy must be recognized as an area with the greatest potential for reducing the overall pollution in the Republic of Serbia. The goal of this paper is to show the benefits of the investment in solar energy use and to determine the economic justification of the photovoltaic system implementation on the roof of houses in the AP of Vojvodina.

Within this paper, a multi-criteria decision-making model for evaluating the energy efficiency of building construction measures for new or existing buildings will be presented. The proposed model observes the optimization process simultaneously through the four most important aspects of energy efficiency: economic aspect, energy consumption, environmental impact and indoor comfort, taking into account factors that may occur in the building environment during its operation, such as inflation and currency depreciation/appreciation. The model introduces dynamic thermal parameters of the wall that reflect a thermal accumulation of the building envelope and its ability to provide thermal comfort in time-varying atmospheric conditions in the building environment.

Abstract: The electric bus (E-bus) is a vehicle concept that is increasingly being implemented in the public transport system and it represents a major alternative to conventionally powered buses. Energy performance of the E-buses was researched through consumption and recuperation (recovery) of electric energy in real working conditions and the influence of various factors (load, traffic conditions, operation of heating and air conditioning systems, driving style, etc.) on the values of consumed electricity of the Ebuses on urban public transport lines in Belgrade. The lowest electricity consumption of the E-bus is during the spring-autumn period of operation, when the vehicle air conditioning or heating system is not used, while the outdoor temperatures range between 17 and 18 , with low to medium passenger occupancy, and traffic conditions with no disturbances on the route. Based on the obtained research results, the energy efficiency of the E-bus is 3.54 times higher than the diesel-powered, and 4.94 times higher than the Compressed Natural Gas-powered bus (CNG-powered bus) in the conditions of work on the line EKO 1 in Belgrade, during the spring-autumn period. The environmental performance of E-buses was researched through the effects of reducing the emission of harmful exhaust gases caused by eliminating from the use of diesel-powered or CNG-powered buses and introducing E-buses. Observed locally, the Ebus has zero pollution emission. Within the ecological suitability of the use of E-buses, the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) that occurs indirectly during electricity production was researched and a comparison was made with the emissions of CO2 caused by the combustion of diesel-fuel and CNG in buses with conventional propulsion. The results of the research on the EKO 1 line proved that electric buses, observed on an annual basis, have 12.1% lower CO2 emission, compared to buses that use diesel fuel, and 16.4% lower CO2 emission, compared to buses that use CNG. The research of characteristics of the emitted noise generated by the E-bus at the test site was also carried out, and a comparison with the diesel-powered and CNG-powered bus in identical measurement conditions. It was proven that an electric bus has between 7.1% and 10.9% lower noise emitting levels compared to a diesel-powered bus and between 2.1% and 8.6 lower noise emitting levels compared to a CNG-powered bus. The economic aspects of putting E-buses into use have been addressed through a cost analysis, and a case study comparing the total lifetime costs with diesel and CNG buses. A simulation model of Ebus operating on a selected line of urban public transport was made. The mean values of obtained results regarding the E-bus electricity consumption of the statistical sets of simulated results, in comparison with the statistical sets of empirical results, have percentage deviations below 5%. Rezime: Autobus na električni pogon (E-bus) je koncept vozila koji se sve više primenjuje u sistemu transporta putnika i predstavlja glavnu alternativu autobusima sa konvencionalnim pogonom. Energetske performanse E-busa istraživane su kroz potrošnju i rekuperaciju (regeneraciju) električne energije u realnim uslovima rada i analiziran je uticaj faktora (opterećenje, saobraćajni uslovi, rad sistema za grejanje i hlađenje, stil vožnje, itd) na vrednosti potrošene električne energije E-busa na linijama javnog gradskog transporta u Beogradu. Najmanja potrošnja električne energije E-busa je tokom prolećno-jesenjeg perioda rada, kada se ne koristi sistem za hlađenje ili grejanje vozila, pri spoljnim temperaturama između 17 i 18 sa malom i srednjom popunjenošću vozila putnicima u uslovima saobraćaja bez poremećaja na trasi. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata istraživanja energetska efikasnost E-busa je veća 3,54 puta u odnosu na autobus sa pogonom na dizel gorivo i 4,94 puta u odnosu na autobus koji za pogon koristi komprimovani prirodni gas (KPG) u uslovima rada na liniji EKO 1 u Beogradu tokom prolećno-jesenjeg perioda rada. Ekološke performanse E-busa istraživane su kroz efekte smanjenja emisije štetnih izduvnih gasova koji nastaju povlačenjem iz upotrebe autobusa sa pogonom na dizel gorivo ili pogonom na KPG i uvođenjem E-busa umesto njih. Posmatrano na lokalnom nivou E-bus ima nultu emisiju zagađenja. U okviru ekoloških podobnosti upotrebe E-busa istraživana je emisija ugljen-dioksida (CO2) koja nastaje indirektno prilikom proizvodnje električne energije i vršeno je poređenje sa emisijama CO2 koje nastaju sagorevanjem dizel goriva i KPG kod autobusa sa konvencionalnim pogonom. Rezultati istraživanja na liniji EKO 1 dokazali su da autobusi na električni pogon posmatrano na godišnjem nivou imaju za 12,1% manju emisiju CO2 u odnosu na autobuse koji koriste dizel gorivo i za 16,4% manju emisiju CO2 u odnosu na autobuse koji koriste KPG. Istraživane su i karakteristike emitovane buke koja nastaje od Ebusa na poligonu i vršeno je poređenje sa autobusom sa pogonom na dizel gorivo i KPG u identičnim uslovima merenja. Dokazano je da autobus na električni pogon ima između 7,1% i 10,9% manji nivo emitovane buke u poređenju sa autobusom na dizel gorivo i između 2,1% i 8,6% manji nivo emitovane buke u poređenju sa autobusom na KPG. Ekonomski aspekti uvođenja E-busa obrađeni su u analizi troškova i studiji slučaja poređenja ukupnih troškova u životnom veku sa autobusima sa pogonom na dizel gorivo i KPG. Napravljen je simulacioni model rada E-busa na izabranoj liniji javnog gradskog transporta. Dobijeni rezultati srednjih vrednosti potrošnje električne energije E-busa statističkih skupova simuliranih rezultata u poređenju sa statističkim skupovima empirijskih rezultata imaju procentualna odstupanja ispod 5%.