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This paper seeks to assess the achievement of specific targets set in the SDDUE with reference to energy and environmental issues, mainly PC1-Climate change and clean energy of SDDUE. After recalling and commenting - in the first part - the concrete targets of EM within SDDUE, compared with the SE2020, in the second part of the paper we present the work methodology and results. The last part of the paper contains findings of the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is the comprehensive paradigm on the basis of which it is possible to assess the perspectives of future evolution of all anthropogenic activities, including energy system exploitation and relations with the environment. This paper discusses some conceptual aspects concerning the many components that must be taken into account in order to address sustainability issues properly. These components belong to different fields of knowledge and application, ranging from technical and economic issues to a wider set of entries including production organization and quality, risk management, ecology, social, equity and diversity issues. Energy efficiency and climate change concepts are recalled to provide indications on the current status and envisioned perspectives in the corresponding areas. The discussion is then widened to address the critical points emerging in the definition of sustainability indicators. Specific references are made to recent scientific papers and regulatory documents of the European Union and various international organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper promotes bioliquids from indigenous oil-rich plants as renewable energy sources. In the first part the paper analyzes the national and European perspectives to develop renewable energy sources according to the National Strategy for 2016 -2030 with the prospect of 2050, as per European directives. The second part presents the point of view of the Directive 2009/28/EC on bioliquids and the possibility to use bioliquids from oil-rich plants for energy generation in order to reduce pollutant emissions. The third part of this paper presents the results of laboratory analyses concerning the energy characteristics of bioliquids from indigenous oil-rich plants. The conclusions of part four point out that bioliquids from oil-rich plants have the potential to be a solution for EU's renewable energy and the climate change objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macedonia has perfect geographical and climate conditions for solar energy application. But, despite these, the use of this energy source is at minimal level. The reasons for this situation are multiple and have political, economical, educational background; the level of public awareness has its role, too. Solar thermal systems are mainly used for sanitary warm water preparation, but also there are rare examples for space and swimming pools heating. So far, the generation of power from solar energy is limited to photovoltaic plants with capacities up to 1 MW. This paper gives general overview of the current state of the solar energy application in Macedonia, the perceived obstacles / barriers and the necessary conditions to be provided to achieve wider penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European greenhouse horticulture represents one of the most intensive energy sector in agriculture and strongly contributes to increase the energy and environmental vulnerability within regions having a large greenhouse farming systems. Specifically, the European greenhouse farming sector is facing a trend that responds to the changing consumer's demands in a society that, globally, is increasingly affluent but more aware about some negative consequences, such as high energy-demand processes, and CO2 emissions. About 200,000 hectares of greenhouses in Spain, Italy, The Netherlands and Greece is the estimated covered surface, with not less than 3.4 MTOE of energy consumption and 9.2 MtCO2eq, and an yearly economy value of 7 billions of Euros. The installed energy power load of greenhouses in Europe depends on local climate conditions, and varies from 50-150 W/m2 (Southern regions of Europe) to 200-280 W/m2 (Northern and Central regions), while complete conditioning could even reach an energy load of 400 W/m2 (heating, lighting, cooling). Nowadays, the proportion of renewable use in the total energy consumption of greenhouse farming in Europe is very low, and there are no clear priorities set in this area, yet. Comprehensive and complete studies that evaluate the opportunities of renewable options in greenhouse sector are still not completeted. This, strongly hinders the process of setting concrete goals and legislative targets to support a wider introduction of sustainable energy technology, and appropriate legislation in greenhouse regions of Europe. This paper deals with the proposal of supporting the organization of a sustainable greenhouse agriculture, based on renewable energy sources, i.e. geothermal energy at low temperature, photovoltaic solar energy and solid biomass, in tune with the specific local assets, the local geo-climatic conditions and the protection of landscapes rather than with a careless perspective for local environment and potential societal costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is a pre-requisite for the civilization. However, usage of energy is not free of toll. Rising temperature by 0.44°C during the last thirty years and 13% rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration surely indicating us to make a quick transition from this harmful usage of energy to a safer one. If global warming, melting of polar ice, rise in sea level and consequent flooding of coastal areas continues like present manner, then millions of lives would be in danger and hundreds of thousands would be turned into climate refugee. It is not impossible to secure human race from danger in the long run. However, it involves with long-term planning, innovative idea generation and common people awareness. In this paper authors discussed about the pattern of problem aroused from conventional energy usage, the future threat from this and its ultimate solution. We present three possible scenarios of using different sources to meet energy requirements with respective credibility and possible impacts in order to find out the best-fitted solution for future energy security and ensure sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]