Carbon neutrality refers to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be done by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon sequestration by carbon sinks or through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the “post-carbon economy“).

Sustainable energy is the state of energy resources and their consumption, which ensures that current energy needs are met without compromising the energy needs of future generations. Sustainable energy doesn’t harm the environment (or at most, there is a minimal risk), increase climate change or cost a heavy price.

Examples of sustainable energy sources include wind, solar and water (hydropower). All of which can be considered inexhaustible and widely available to almost everyone. Geothermal energy can also be included as a sustainable alternative energy source, as it creates usable energy from the planet’s internal energy sources.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, coal products, natural gas, derived gas, crude oil, petroleum products and non-renewable wastes. These fuels originate from plants and animals that existed in the geological past (for example, millions of years ago). Fossil fuels can be also made by industrial processes from other fossil fuels (for example in the oil refinery, crude oil is transformed into motor gasoline).

For decades fossil fuels satisfy most of the human energy requirements. Fossil fuels are carbon-based and their combustion results in the release of carbon into the Earth’s atmosphere. It is estimated that roughly 80% of all manmade CO₂ and greenhouse gas emissions originate from fossil fuels combustion.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a colourless, odourless and non-poisonous gas formed by combustion of carbon and in the respiration of living organisms and is considered a greenhouse gas. Emissions means the release of greenhouse gases and/or their precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of time. Carbon dioxide emissions or CO₂ emissions are emissions stemming from the burning of fossil fuels and the manufacture of cement; they include carbon dioxide produced during consumption of solid, liquid, and gas fuels as well as gas flaring.

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) oversees the implementation of all project activities and approves the overall direction of the project.

Role and main functions:

• monitor and evaluate the progress of the project;
• give instructions and, if necessary, recommend further clarifications of the scope of work of the project;
• provide recommendations to the Client on the approval of work plans and results obtained within the framework of the project;
• consider any critical points or constraints in the implementation of the project and propose any necessary corrective actions to smoothly overcome any problems or difficulties encountered; and
• ensure close collaboration and coordination between national and regional stakeholders.

Net-billing is a market-based compensation mechanism, by which the consumer receives one-for-one monetary credits for every kWh of exported to the grid. Every kWh is valorized either at a single price or at a price which corresponds to the time of production. Credits are awarded over a determined time-frame, typically one year. It is equivalent to a net-metering scheme, but with monetary compensation instead of energy compensation.

Energy modelling is a necessary method to obtain various data and analysis of energy demand and supply. Energy systems models allow to understand the complex energy sector and create the conditions for its possible future development. At the same time, models allow not only creating scenarios, but also formalizing disparate knowledge about complex interactions in the current energy state and structuring ideas about the impact of changes in the systems. Most importantly, modelling helps and allows policy makers to clearly express their opinion on the direction in which the energy sector should develop in order to achieve its goals.

Read more: https://secca.eu/knowledge-hub/modelling/

Energy efficiency (EE) simply means using less energy to perform the same task – that is, eliminating energy waste. EE brings a variety of benefits: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing demand for energy imports, and lowering our costs on a household and economy-wide level.

EE covers wide-ranging topics related to energy savings, energy consumption, energy sufficiency, and energy transition in all sectors. Coverage includes energy efficiency policies at all levels of governance enabling social, organisational, and economic factors of sufficient and efficient behaviour and decisions; analysis and modelling of energy efficiency performance, measures, policies, outcomes, and impacts; energy management systems and energy services; the role of energy efficiency and demand-side management in energy planning, energy markets and risk assessment; local sustainable energy planning; energy behaviour; acceptability of policy, technology, and new energy systems; and emerging technologies and approaches to improve energy efficiency

Energy efficiency benefits: 

•  COST SAVINGS
  At home, you can save money on energy bills by making energy-efficient and weatherization upgrades—such as adding insulation, using LED lighting, and installing a heat pump—that reduce your energy use and can improve comfort.
• COMMUNITY BENEFITS
  Energy-efficiency programs improve community resilience and address energy equity by bringing efficient, cost-effective technologies and infrastructure to underserved communities.
• ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
  Reducing energy use is essential in the fight against climate change, because traditional power plants burn fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases and contribute to air pollution.
• RESILIENCE AND RELIABILITY
  Energy-efficiency improvements reduce the amount of electricity on the grid at one time, minimizing congestion and stress on the electric grid. Less load prevents power disruptions.
• HEALTH BENEFITS
  Reducing fossil fuel use results in cleaner air, water, and land, all of which directly affect human health—especially those in marginalised communities and people with conditions that are exacerbated by pollution.

The Energy Community is an international organization dealing with energy policy. The organization was established by an international treaty in 2006. The parties to the Energy Community Treaty are the European Union and 9 contracting parties from South East Europe and the Black Sea region.

Read more: https://www.energy-community.org