Turkey’s Association of Electricity Distribution System Operators (ELDER) holds 3rd Occupational Health and Safety in Electricity Distribution Sector Conference to discuss the best implementations and road map for a better understanding of the issue.
The conference gathering over 300 participants from public and private sector was held in Antalya, a Mediterranean province of Turkey, in January 28-29.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the program, Haci Ali Ulutas, Deputy Head of Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA), said that all workers in electricity distribution sector work unselfishly.
He stated that occupational health and safety will continue to be a parameter of quality for electricity distribution companies.
“Occupational health and safety is a culture and there should be awareness in the sector. We will also continue to be supporter of R&D projects of the distribution companies,” Ulutas noted.
“Focus on Vision Zero Concept”
General Manager of Turkey’s Electricity Distribution Company (TEDAS) underlined the importance of reducing occupational accidents.
“We will focus on Vision Zero concept in a bid to develop our implementations and way of work. We have to advance hindrance activities with a proactive approach,” Leventoglu said.
“Occupational Health and Safey Culture Should Spread”
Working in electricity distribution sector is regarded a dangerous job, head of Turkey’s Union for Energy, Water and Gas Workers, Ersin Akma said.
He shared the number of International Labor Organization showing the death of 3 million workers because of occupational accidents and illnesses.
“It is not possible to accept these figures and continue. The high numbers show that we are not fulfilling our responsibilities to the fullest. They also show that occupational health and safety culture should be more common and we need to create awareness for it,” Akma said.
Public-Private Cooperation in Occupational Health and Safety
ELDER Chairman Serhat Cecen said that Turkey’s electricity distribution sector provides 45 million consumers with uninterrupted electricity supply.
He reminded that the sector companies invested 40 billion Turkish lira during 2014-2019 after the privatization of the companies completed.
Cecen said that 100,000 employees are working direct and indirectly in the electricity distribution sector.
“Human is both the target and also has the determining role in preventing the occupational accidents. Thus, we attach great importance to occupational health and safety culture. Our prior aim is to spread a proactive and attendant culture,” he noted.
During the 2-day conference having a focus on Vision Zero theme.
At the first day of the conference, occupational health and safety culture and behavioral change issues were discussed.
At the last session of the first day, “Root Cause Analysis and Accident Causation Within the Electricity Distribution Sector in Turkey” study prepared in cooperation with ELDER and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was presented to the participants.
During the second day of the meeting, local grounding and occupational health and safety requirements were discussed.
R&D Priorities in EU and Other Countries
ELDER Coordinator Istemi Mavi, in his presentation focusing on “R&D Priorities in EU and Other Countries”, explained implementations in other countries.
In the final declaration of the conference, shared by ELDER Occupational Health and Safety Working Group Head, Savas Seloglu, the focus was on the Vision Zero theme.
According to the declaration;
Vision Zero means for companies that each company should put realistic targets to reduce the occupational accidents. The companies need to develop their targets step by step.
In terms of the Vision Zero, it is significant for companies to vow for best implementations with concrete plans.
In the study prepared in cooperation between ELDER and EBRD, the parties analyzed the reasons of the occupational accidents in the sectors by taking accident data from 21 distribution companies in Turkey.
According to the report, falling from height, motor vehicle accidents, electric shock and struck by/against material are among the direct causes of occupational accidents.
Electric shock is the number one reason for occupational accidents and fatalities.
The report also underlined the importance of preventing measures and determining the root causes of the accidents.
According the report, working without de-energizing the utilities from the correct point, not controlling the energy before start and not applying the reliable working steps are improper behaviours as direct causes of occupational accidents and deaths.
In line with the study, the parties also determined a road map for developing occupational health and safety implementations.
The UK Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce (EVET) has released the results of a series of studies being conducted to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) without putting pressure on the country’s grid network.
According to EVET, between £2.7 billion ($3.4 billion) and £6.5 billion ($8.3 billion) is required in infrastructure spending to manage EV integration without affecting grid efficiency and resilience.
21 key proposals issued to government and industry include:
- Ensure strong coordination between government, key energy infrastructure and transport industry stakeholders to ensure that EV drivers, electricity consumers and the energy system benefit from the integration of EVs and the energy system
- Provide financial incentives to EV drivers to ensure that the potential energy storage capacity of millions of EV vehicles is used to reduce peak demand
- Prioritise greater standardisation across the charging network to ensure it works resiliently, efficiently and securely with the electricity system
- Establish an independent body to promote the benefits of smart charging through a major publicity campaign, to ensure EV drivers are confident and well informed
- Extend the principle of ‘open data’ in the energy system to include EV charge points and EVs, to allow more effective smart charging of EVs.
Minister for the Future of Transport George Freeman said: “We are 100% committed to decarbonising the UK’s road network. Our £1.5bn ($1.9 billion) Road to Zero strategy is supporting a thriving electric vehicle market; last year in the UK a battery electric vehicle was sold every 15 minutes.
“Government commissioned the Taskforce to advise how we can best work with industry to make sure the energy system is ready for the transition to electric vehicles. This report provides important evidence to shape the next stage of our Road to Zero roadmap.”
Fintan Slye, director of National Grid ESO said: “With an estimated 35 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2050 or sooner, we have a fantastic opportunity for the transport and electricity sectors to work together to deliver a low carbon transition that benefits all electricity consumers.”
EVET is made up of 350 organisations. The UK has a target to phase out conventionally powered vehicles by 2040. National Grid ESO predicts that by 2030 the UK will have 11.9 million EVs on the road.
Source: Smart Energy International
The European Commission on Wednesday adopted proposals for Europe's first ever climate law. The draft regulation commits all 27 EU member states to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
The law is a key component of the European Green Deal a plan to overhaul the bloc's economy and still requires approval from the European Parliament.
- A mechanism to regularly raise the EU's emissions reduction target over the next three decades.
- Legally-binding target to become climate neutral by 2050.
- Options for a new 2030 target of 50% to 55% emission reductions compared with 1990 levels.
Climate activists have condemned the lack of a concrete plan to increase the emissions reduction target by 2030. The Commission only said it would review the EU's target of a 40% reduction "by September."
Environmental group Greenpeace said this means governments in Europe would find it "extremely difficult to agree a new target before the UN climate conference in November."
Source: DW
The Dutch Government has announced it will double the amount of money available under its renewable energy subsidy programme to €4 billion (£3.4bn) in 2020, in a bid to meet its obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by the end of 2020.
The government previously planned to offer a total of €2 billion (£1.7bn) in clean energy subsidies.
Eric Wiebes, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy said: “The extra money is intended to help the country meet its promise to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
“There are a large number of projects that can offer a cost-effective contribution.”
Separately, the government introduced a new €4,000 (£3,450) grant for buyers of new electric cars. The Netherlands generated 18% more electricity from renewable resources last year than in 2018, with solar power in particular showing strong growth, according to preliminary figures from Dutch national statistics office CBS.
Source: Energy Live News
GE is taking steps the mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on the international supply chain for its renewable energy arm.
The company said in its 2020 outlook that it is closely monitoring the outbreak and expects the virus to have a negative impact across all its businesses of between $200m and $300m on operating profit in the first quarter.
It is too early to assess the overall impact for the year of the coronavirus, GE said.
Renewables will see low single digit revenue growth and an improved, but still negative, profit margin. In 2019 GE Renewable Energy made a loss of $666m.
The coronavirus has had some impact on the renewables supply chain in China, the company said.
Source: renews
Root Cause Analysis and Accident Causation Within the Electricity Distribution Sector in Turkey
In an effort to improve the quality of the energy network while protecting the health and safety of workers and communities, practices of the companies in the sector, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has collaborated with The Association of Electricity Distribution System Operators of Turkey (ELDER) to conduct a Root Cause Analysis and Accident Causation within the Electricity Distribution Sector project in Turkey.
Please click here to read the full report.
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