Month: January 2018

International Court of Arbitration delivers in favor of Albania in 137m euro trial with Beghetti’s Hydro S.R.L. Albania has won a confrontation in the arbitration court with the company Hydro S.R.L., which required a 137m-euro compensation for the breaking of the construction concession of the Kalivac hydropower plant. The company, owned by Italian businessman Francesco Beghetti, filed in October 2014 at the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce a case against the Ministry of Transport and Economy, seeking the resolution of the concession agreement concluded between the litigating parties for the construction of the hydro power plant on Vjosa River. The Albanian government filed a counterclaim in this process, claiming that the plaintiff had been in breach of the concession agreement, causing a damage of 158m…

Solar advice: Hold the importer liable! 1/23/18 Occasionally, solar panels or batteries are imported from Asia to be sold to European customers. It is important for the customer to know that the importer is automatically included in the product liability of the Asian supplier, even if they made no alterations to the products. HS Asian or American companies ship their products to Europe in order to sell it by certified importers. So take a very close look at how solid the importer is. To them should apply the same kind of requirements as to the company installing the system in your house. Never sign a contract in a foreign language. The importer has to be a company which has a good reputation in your country. Otherwise the liaison would be…

It’s elementary, LEDS-EEP, January 19, 2018 Hydrogen can — and should — play a key role in transitioning to low-carbon energy technologies. According to the Hydrogen Council, the chemical element could account for up to 20% of planned cuts in carbon emissions by 2050. Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that leaves a small carbon footprint. It can, for example, enable renewable energy systems, while also assisting in decarbonizing other sectors, such as transportation or heat and power. Among its key potential roles, the decarbonization of transportation is the most prominent. The Hydrogen Council claims that one-third third of the growth in global hydrogen demand could come from the transport sector, and that by 2050 hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles could constitute up to 20% of the total vehicle fleet. Furthermore, hydrogen…

European countries exploring energy futures with RES growth in mind Though Norway has just announced plans to further develop its infrastructure for exploration and exploitation of new natural gas and oil deposits in the Arctic Ocean’s Barents Sea, in an effort to compete with Russsia, neighboring countries in Europe’s north are shaping their future energy plans with a focus on renewable energy. The Norwegian plan, just announced by the country’s energy minister Terje Soeviknes, is planned to begin with hydrocarbon exploration in the northern part of the Barents Sea, believed to be holding huge unexploited deposits. This plan is expected to be submitted to Norway’s parliament for ratification in 2020. Enormous natural gas amounts are being extracted in this sea area, shared by Russia and Norway since 2010, especially Russia’s…

Solar advice: Run through what can go wrong! 1/24/18 Warranties are there to encourage sales, not to protect the customers. At least one might be lead to suspect that if one reads the small print of many manufacturers’ warranty conditions. Consumers’ offices have already issued cease-and-desist statements in some cases! Siemens Check the possibilities carefully! That is why it is important to run through any scenarios of what would happen in case of any claims. Assuming a solar panel’s output decreases or the battery runs out of steam: What use is it to anyone if the solar panels have to be sent back to the manufacturer to be tested and – maybe – repaired? Who pays for unmount the modules? Who pays for taking the panels off the roof, for…

SCAN’s Tirana Economic Forum gathers political, economic figures of the Western Balkans Tirana Economic Forum, a regional forum, has opened its first edition in Tirana today. FUTURE BALKANS: TOWARDS A GLOBAL INCLUSION is the topic of this edition. The purpose of this conference is to provide a platform for discussion of concrete proposals for the involvement of the six Western Balkan countries in the global development agenda. The forum is an initiative of the SCAN Media Group, which, together with the partners, organized this event that can be considered the largest of its kind organized by an Albanian media. This event sees the participation of the President of the Republic of Albania Ilir Meta, Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko, Head of Financial Supervisory Authority Ervin Koçi, Deputy…

Mrs. Sonila QATO – Minister of State for Entrepreneurship “We want to strengthen the role of the ombudsman for all entrepreneurs operating in our country”. FIAA:  What are your objectives and priorities as Minister of Entrepreneurship, a newly created Institution in Albania? Mrs. Qato:  The mission of the Minister of State for the Protection of Entrepreneurship consists in the reduction of the existing gap between entrepreneurship and the public administration, by influencing in the creation of an adequate environment so that enterprises can work at their best capacities and increase their profit. My role as a government ombudsman will result in the direct solution of the addressed complaints by various entrepreneurs. However, above all, my office will work for the removal of those administrative and corruptive barriers for which the…

SMA founds subsidiary for digital energy solutions, 1/20/18 SMA has founded a new subsidiary for digital energy solutions: Coneva GmbH, which is headquartered in Munich. The company offers companies such as public utilities, housing associations and telecommunication companies White Label solutions for energy management and the integration of end customers into the energy market. SMA SMA has founded a new subsidiary for digital energy solutions: Coneva GmbH, which is headquartered in Munich. Another business field includes a range of energy monitoring, control and management solutions for commercial enterprises and public institutions, helping them considerably save on energy costs. The energy supply industry is undergoing a fundamental change and becoming increasingly decentralized and digital. More and more companies and end users are leveraging the cost advantages of renewable energies and producing their own…