Energy | Connect4Climate

The Sustainable Energy for All Forum 2018

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Leaders from government, business, civil society and international organizations will gather 2-3 May 2018 at the Convento do Beato in Lisbon, Portugal for the fourth Sustainable Energy for All Forum.

E-mobility and Santiago’s great race

Taking 67 long years to get to Chile is not much of a record for any race car. And yet that is exactly how long the people of the capital Santiago had to wait for single-seater racing to return to their hometown. But when it did finally come back, the cars involved proved very special indeed and very different from the ones that last raced there. We’re talking, of course, about the all-electric Formula E cars.

Now in its fourth season, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship is high on adrenaline but low on environmental impact. The Chilean capital was selected to host the fourth round of the current season on February 3 after two previous outings in Hong Kong and one in Marrakech. First across the line was Jean-Eric Vergne, who drives for the Chinese team, Techeetah.

The signature rocket-ship whine of the 20 single-seaters filled the air as they did battle for victory on a circuit of just under 2.5 kilometers that wound its way through the heart of the city. An asphalt ribbon with no less than 12 very tight curves running from Avenida Santa Maria along the Mapocho river, skirting the city’s wonderfully lush Parque Forestal, in the shadow of the city center skyscrapers with balconies packed with spectators. The grueling route was more or less identical to the one used for the Formula Libre event in 1950 which attracted an impressive showing of Formula 1 drivers. It was also Chile’s first and last motorsport grand prix until now, and was won by the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio in a Ferrari. He was followed over the line by another Argentinian, Froilán González, who was also in a Prancing Horse car. The average speed was not much faster than that of the electric single-seaters. The 1950 grand prix was an unforgettable spectacle the likes of which Chileans had never previously witnessed and would have to wait two generations to see again.

Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins / Connect4Climate

Chile at the leading edge in South America

That long wait may also have been one of the reasons why last October’s ceremony in the capital to officially announce Formula E’s imminent arrival in Chile took place in front of the Moneda presidential palace and was attended by outgoing president Michelle Bachelet. There was, however, another less romantic, more pragmatic reason, which Chile’s Minister for Energy Andrés Rebolledo summed up succinctly on the day: “Formula E isn’t just a fantastic event, it is also the most effective way of showcasing the advantages of electric cars to Chileans. By our estimation, if we manage to put the necessary regulatory, logistical and market conditions in place, 40% of vehicles in Chile could be electric by 2050.”

This undertaking is the first of its kind anywhere in South America and comes in the wake of similar commitments from France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway and India. In China, the government has introduced a new rule that all local car manufacturers – as well as foreign companies which import more than 30,000 vehicles a year – must develop at least one electric model by the end of 2019. This approach is going global too with a growing number of countries now determined to revolutionise their transport systems. To a certain extent, it also owes its rapid adoption to the Formula E Championship, which is as much an ambassador for new generation e-mobility (fast and powerful enough to be truly spectacular) as an extreme test bench for honing increasingly efficient technologies which can then make the transition to the broader market and cut e-car prices. One example in particular stands out: the power of the battery in the new single-seater unveiled last January has tripled in just three years and, from next season, will allow drivers to compete an entire race without having to switch cars at the halfway point, as is currently the case.

Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins / Connect4Climate

The Formula E test bench is extraordinarily useful for our Group in particular, which is why Enel is Official Power Partner to the Championship for the second year in a row. The partnership allows us to test out cutting-edge technologies in a competitive environment. They include micro networks managed and monitored by intelligent counters and dedicated software, photovoltaic panels coupled with a futuristic energy storage system, charging points for electric race support vehicles and generators powered by aquafuel. This completely renewable fuel reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 95%. All these technologies are crucial to Formula E meeting its sustainability goal of zero impact racing by the end of next season.

The launch of Enel X

On the same day in Santiago, we also hosted the Chilean launch of our new Enel X business line, a steadily growing range of digital products and customer services that includes leading-edge e-mobility solutions. The aim is to connect people, homes, companies and cities on a single integrated network. The launch was attended by the Minister for Energy, Andrés Rebolledo.

"There has been a radical change in our approach to energy over the last few years in this country. One big and very practical step forward is that now, when we talk about e-mobility, everyone knows what it is and the kind of improvements it can make to the environment and our quality of life," Andrés Rebolledo, the Chilean government’s Minister for Energy.

The Minister underscored the fact that February 3 will go down in the history of progress in Chile, but added that the country still has a lot of work to do: “You can’t create a revolution like this on your own. Our government needs help from businesses, from people who can provide the ideas and tools to translate them into reality. Through its commitment to Formula E and tech development, Enel really does represent a new frontier in the energy sector.”

Santiago E Prix Winner Jean-Éric Vergne celebrates his victory. Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins / Connect4Climate

This is an important acknowledgment for our Group as we have been operative in this South American country for many years through Enel Chile and its subsidiaries Enel Generación Chile and Enel Distribución Chile. Enel Green Power Chile also gives us a significant presence in the renewable energies market, with a total installed capacity of around 7.5 GW (4.8 GW renewable and 2.7 GW thermal), 1.9 million customers and over 2,200 employees. Chile is a strategic country for us: it’s where we have headquartered Enel Americas, our platform for investing in conventional generation and distribution in other South American nations (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru).

Formula E might well open up a new frontier. But this time, it won’t take two generations to get there...and beyond!

Story first published here

The role of clean mobility for a strong economy discussed at FIA Smart Cities Forum

Jean Todt, FIA President, Claudio Orrego, Governor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Juan Espadas Cejas, Mayor of Seville, Alejandro Quintana Hurtado, President of Automóvil Club de Chile and Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings, opened the FIA Smart Cities Forum in Santiago de Chile, on February 2.

Recap Formula E in Santiago de Chile

[video:https://vimeo.com/254375961]

Jean Todt inaugurated the first FIA Smart Cities Event of Formula E season 4 in Santiago de Chile. He reminded the audience of the goal of this initiative bringing together the FIA’s two pillars: Sport and Mobility. “Smart Cities offers a platform for an inclusive and open discussion about all types of mobility issues between experts from different sectors and various backgrounds: from multilateral organizations to city leaders and young entrepreneurs.”

The Governor of Santiago, the Mayor of Seville, the President of the Automóvil Club de Chile as well the CEO of Formula E Holdings joined Jean Todt to discuss how cities have tackled the problems of air pollution and climate change by enhancing their transport systems.

Climate negotiations and the global development agenda generated a great momentum for a transition to clean mobility, specifically in urban areas. However, transportation still accounts for a quarter of all energy-generated greenhouse emissions resulting in significant impacts on public health and economy. The theme of this Smart Cities Forum’s edition was, therefore, fixed on the topic of Clean Mobility and how it can contribute to a strong economy.

Alejandro Agag talked to Connect4Climate about Formula E race in Santiago

Governor Orrego informed Forum participants of key changes occurred in the transportation system in Chile in the past years. Technologies and innovations have seen a broader and more effective application in transport policy-making. The newly released e-mobility strategy demonstrates this transition, focusing on the integration of electric power in public transportation, activating multimodal transport hubs and connecting users to transit databases through various innovative apps. “Santiago has made a real shift towards more sustainable urban development. A better choice of transport modes and mobility services is at the disposal of all citizens. Our goal is to make mobility systems cleaner, more innovative and more inclusive”, underlined Governor Orrego.

Inspiring keynote presentations shed further light on the tools and mechanisms for making urban transportation more resilient and sustainable.

Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, Formula E. Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins / Connect4Climate

International Transport Forum Secretary-General, Dr. Young Tae Kim, underlined the power of public-private collaboration, saying that “Both the private and the public sectors need to lead the transition. The private sector is advancing the use of technological innovation, such as the performance of batteries for electric mobility which will become important in the long term. At the same time, the government is in a good position to nurture the market with electrification of its own vehicle fleets”.

Max T. Edkins, Acting Manager of the Connect4Climate Program, reiterated Dr. Kim’s idea: "Building safe low-carbon and resilient cities is a key component of addressing our climate challenge, and FIA Smart Cities is at the heart of this discussion. Innovations are a vehicle to promote the Sustainability Revolution, and a means to advance climate-smart technologies, including electric mobility and low-carbon infrastructure. This is clearly demonstrated by the success of the FIA Formula E Championship. Climate Action is our generation's opportunity to build a better future."

More mobility experts continued the debate about clean mobility in cities over a panel discussion. Speakers from ENEL, the City of Mexico, New Cities Foundation, Mario Molina Research Centre and UNEP reflected on how smarter and cleaner mobility contributes to the economic growth and urban development.

John Rossant, CEO & Founder of New Cities Foundation, emphasized the role of holistic vision in transport policy-making: “Technology is a mean and not an end. What we should really be working towards is the wellbeing of citizens which can be achieved by creating lively and vibrant urban environment”.

Formula E Santiago Chile. Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins / Connect4Climate

The Dragon racing team. Photo Credit: Max Thabiso Edkins / Connect4Climate

Gustavo Manez, Climate Change Coordinator at UNEP, presented strategies that help strengthen mobility systems along the axes of safety and sustainability. “We are facing the momentum where a lot of tangible opportunities to enhance mobility system are open to public authorities, industry players and international organizations.”

The dimension of technological know-how was further featured at the FIA Smart Cities Global Startup Contest where a selection of visionary entrepreneurs presented their innovative ideas to make cities cleaner and smarter. Selected by a jury of international experts, the winner of the Santiago contest was KAPPO Bike, a platform that helps cities increase the urban bicycle usage worldwide through gamification and safety navigation for citizens. KAPPO Bike also provides governments with cyclist insight and predictive analytics, enabling better planning and higher return on urban infrastructure investments.

Formula E racer Lucas di Grassi talks climate change

Professional driver Lucas Di Grassi also represented the voice of the FIA Formula E Championship. The winner of Formula E Season 3 talked about how the series of electric racing is changing the perception of e-mobility around the world. As technologies become more advanced, e-mobility also gets more accessible and user-friendly. Piloting innovations in motorsport help transiting efficient solutions to user mobility.

The Forum concluded with a visit to the Formula E track and garages where participants could see the “innovation in motion” and enjoy the experience of electric racing.

Formula E Drives Electric Mobility Innovation

[video:https://vimeo.com/254375961]

Santiago E Prix Winner Jean-Éric Vergne has a message for electric mobility

[video:https://vimeo.com/254139997]

Formula E racer Lucas di Grassi talks climate change

[video:https://vimeo.com/254139028]

Alejandro Agag talks about Formula E race in Santiago

[video:https://vimeo.com/254125726]

FIA Smart Cities Initiative: Clean Mobility for Strong Economy

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Connect4Climate will participate in FIA Smart Cities to deliver a keynote presentation on Connecting for Climate Action across Smart Cities on Friday, February 2nd, performed by Max Edkins, Acting Manager, Connect4Climate.

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2017 Was Among Top Three Hottest Years On Record

In a clear sign of continuing long-term climate change caused by increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, 2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three warmest years on record. 2016 still holds the global record, whilst 2017 was the warmest year without an El Niño, which can boost global annual temperatures.

A consolidated analysis by the World Meteorological Organization of five leading international datasets showed that the global average surface temperature in 2017 was approximately 1.1° Celsius above the pre-industrial era.

The year 2016 remains the warmest year on record (1.2°C above pre-industrial era). Global average temperatures in 2017 and 2015 were both 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. The two years are virtually indistinguishable because the difference is less than one hundredth of a degree, which is less than the statistical margin of error.

2017 Was Among Top Three Hottest Years On Record

"The long-term temperature trend is far more important than the ranking of individual years, and that trend is an upward one," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. “Seventeen of the 18 warmest years on record have all been during this century, and the degree of warming during the past three years has been exceptional. Arctic warmth has been especially pronounced and this will have profound and long-lasting repercussions on sea levels, and on weather patterns in other parts of the world.”

The globally averaged temperature in 2017 was about 0.46°C above the 1981-2010 long-term average (14.3°C). This 30-year baseline is used by national meteorological and hydrological services to assess the averages and variability of key climate parameters, such as temperature, precipitation and wind, which are important for climate sensitive sectors such as water management, energy, agriculture and health.

In addition to the global warming due to rising greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, the climate also has a naturally occurring variability due to phenomena such as El Niño, which has a warming influence, and La Niña, which has a cooling influence. The strong 2015/2016 El Niño contributed to the record temperature in 2016. By contrast, 2017 started with a very weak La Niña and also finished with a weak La Niña.

“Temperatures tell only a small part of the story. The warmth in 2017 was accompanied by extreme weather in many countries around the world. The United States of America had its most expensive year ever in terms of weather and climate disasters, whilst other countries saw their development slowed or reversed by tropical cyclones, floods and drought,” said Mr Taalas.

WMO will issue its full Statement on the State of the Climate in 2017 in March. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of temperature variability and trends, high-impact events, and long-term indicators of climate change such as increasing carbon dioxide concentrations, Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, sea level rise and ocean acidification. The final statement will include information submitted by a wide range of United Nations agencies on human, socio-economic and environmental impacts as part of a drive to provide a more comprehensive, United Nations-wide policy brief for decision makers on the interplay between weather, climate and water and the United Nations global development goals.

WMO uses datasets (based on monthly climatological data from observing sites) from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and the United Kingdom’s Met Office Hadley Centre and the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit in the United Kingdom.

It also uses reanalysis datasets from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts and its Copernicus Climate Change Service, and the Japan Meteorological Agency. This method combines millions of meteorological and marine observations, including from satellites, with models to produce a complete reanalysis of the atmosphere. The combination of observations with models makes it possible to estimate temperatures at any time and in any place across the globe, even in data-sparse areas such as the polar regions.

Additional Information

The three conventional surface temperature data sets are NOAA’s NOAAGlobalTemp data set, Met Office Hadley Centre and Climatic Research Unit HadCRUT.4.6.0.0 data set and NASA GISS’s GISTEMP data set. They use measurements of air temperature over land and sea-water temperature measurements over oceans to estimate temperature anomalies around the globe. The reanalyses are the ERA-Interim of the European Centre for Medium Weather Forecasts and the JRA-55 of the Japan Meteorological Agency. Despite the very different approach, the estimates of global average temperatures produced by these reanalyses are in good agreement with the conventional surface temperature datasets

WMO now uses 1981-2010 as a baseline for computing Temperature variations at monthly, seasonal and annual time-scales. This replaces the 1961-1990 baseline used previously. The 1981-2010 period is also recommended by WMO to compute the climatological standard normal for operational climate monitoring as it is more representative of current climatic conditions. It allows a consistent reporting of information from satellite and reanalysis systems, some of which do not extend back to 1960, alongside with traditional data sets based on surface-based-observations managed by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of the 191 WMO Member States and territories. For global average temperatures, the 1981-2010 period is approximately 0.31±0.02°C warmer than that of 1961-1990. The change in the baselines has no influence on trend analysis.

WMO uses the period 1880-1900 as a reference period for pre-industrial conditions allowing early instrumental observations to be used for estimating pre-industrial temperature conditions.

Read the relevant WMO press release here.

Source: UNFCCC