Tariffs for renewable heat support in Slovenia

Background EU has set high binding goals for the use of renewable energy. Looking at the last years' development it seems that renewable heating does not follow the dynamics of the so-called green electricity production. Tariffs or bonus model, deriving from so far the most successful model of the feed-in tariffs applied in renewable electricity sector, could improve the situation. The first such scheme was introduced in the UK, coming into force in June 2011. I wanted to check if this could be the right way to enhance the renewable heating in public buildings in Slovenia. Results For this purpose an overview of the current renewable heat supporting mechanisms and experienced gathered so far is made and comparison of the bonus with other models is shown. To check the idea in practice a simulation is made using the real case examples of two public buildings in Slovenia. Results from the literature and case studies were mainly positive and confirmed the initial idea. Hence a basic design of the scheme was made and further development proposed. Furthermore, estimation on the needed funds for a ten years renewable heating retrofitting programme for public buildings was derived and compared with the actual subsidy spending and the costs planned according to the national REAP. Conclusions The results showed good perspectives for the proposed model. However, further options like different scale (households, district heating) and technologies (solar and geothermal, heat pumps) options should be analysed. A much more comprehensive analysis of the suitable height of the tariffs is needed for well designed scheme.10

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) represents a concern in both human and veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate potential LA-MRSA transmission between animals and humans in rural settings. To this aim, a study was designed to include 14 farms in Slovenia, which were selected on the basis of a farmer (initial patient) with confirmed LA-MRSA infection and regular animal contacts. On all farms, the initial patients, their household members, animals and barn environment were analysed for the presence of LA-MRSA. In addition, the epidemiologically linked hospital-related LA-MRSA isolates were included to investigate possible nosocomial transmissions. On five farms, LA-MRSA was discovered both in animals and in humans. In total, 49 LA-MRSA isolates of different origins underwent whole-genome sequencing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and spa typing. All 49 isolates belonged to the sequence type 398 (ST398), spa types t011 and t034, and harboured staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec Vc. High levels of concordance between resistance phenotypes and genotypes were observed. No transmission pairs between animals and initial patients were discovered. However, several isolates originating from farm animals and other household members formed clusters with pairwise distances of ≤14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), indicating recent transmission events. In addition, three closely related isolates (0 SNP) form hospitalized patients were observed, indicating a possible nosocomial transmission. Two hospital-related isolates harboured the immune evasion cluster genes, which are associated with adaptation to the human hosthowever, these two isolates differed in >30 SNPs from the remaining isolates. Characteristics of LA-MRSA from Slovenia reflect those observed previously in other European studies. Immune evasion cluster-positive LA-MRSA ST398 suggests its re-adaptation to the human host and calls for a closer monitoring of such emerging LA-MRSA lineages, in addition to monitoring and preventing the introduction of LA-MRSA from farms to hospitals where transmission is highly plausible

Biogas Training and Mobilization Campaigns in Eastern Europe

In order to support the biogas market in Southern and Eastern Europe the BiG>East project “Promoting Biogas in Eastern Europe – Mobilization of Decision Makers and Training for Farmers” was supported by the European Commission under the Intelligent Energy for Europe Programme. The general objective of BiG>East was to promote the production and use of biogas as a secure and sustainable energy source in six target countries of Eastern and Southern Europe: Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Romania, Slovenia, and Greece (BiG>East target countries). The BiG>East project aimed to build capacities and transfer knowledge from project partners of Western Europe with extensive, long-term expertise to farmers, biogas plant operators, and decision makers in Southern and Eastern Europe. This was achieved by the organisation of 13 mobilisation campaigns for decision makers, 19 training courses for farmers and several study tours. Show cases were elaborated to support the mobilisation campaigns, and training material (biogas handbooks) was prepared for the training courses. The present paper shows the experiences and lessons learnt during the implementation of the 30 month BiG>East project