Air quality and decarbonization

KIWER is a specialized adviser in the air quality and pollution management sector with extensive experience and expertise. By offering these services, we can help our clients understand, manage, and mitigate the impacts of air pollution on public health, the environment, and regulatory compliance.

Our specialisation covers:

Economic regulation

Carbon Pricing: Carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems, put a price on carbon emissions, providing an economic incentive for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. This encourages investment in cleaner technologies and incentivizes emission reductions.

Subsidies and Incentives: Governments can provide subsidies, grants, or tax incentives to promote the adoption of clean energy technologies, such as renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro) and energy-efficient technologies (energy-efficient appliances, electric vehicles). These financial incentives help make clean technologies more affordable and attractive to consumers and businesses.

Pollution Taxes and Levies: Taxes or levies can be imposed on pollutants emitted into the air, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). These taxes internalize the external costs of pollution, discouraging pollution-intensive activities and encouraging cleaner production processes.

Tradable Emission Permits: Tradable emission permit systems allocate a limited number of permits to polluters, allowing them to emit a certain amount of pollutants within a given period. Polluters can buy and sell permits in a market, creating a financial incentive to reduce emissions. This system promotes emission reductions in a cost-effective manner by allowing polluters to find the most efficient ways to comply with regulations.

Energy Efficiency Standards and Regulations: Governments can establish energy efficiency standards and regulations for vehicles, buildings, appliances, and industrial processes to reduce energy consumption and emissions. These standards set minimum performance requirements, encouraging the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices.

Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs): Feed-in tariffs guarantee a fixed price for electricity generated from renewable sources, providing a stable revenue stream for renewable energy producers and encouraging investment in renewable energy projects. Renewable energy credits create a market for renewable energy certificates, allowing renewable energy producers to sell credits to utilities to meet renewable energy targets.

Green Bonds and Financing Mechanisms: Green bonds are financial instruments used to raise capital for environmentally sustainable projects, including renewable energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives, and emissions reduction projects. These bonds attract investors interested in supporting environmentally responsible investments and provide funding for clean energy projects.

Environmental regulation

Emission Standards: Establishing and enforcing emission standards for various sources of pollution, including industrial facilities, power plants, vehicles, and other sources. Compliance monitoring involves regularly testing emissions to ensure they meet regulatory limits.

Air Quality Monitoring: Implementing air quality monitoring programs to assess ambient air quality and identify areas with high levels of pollution. Monitoring stations measure concentrations of pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.

Air Emission Inventories and Source Apportionment: Developing emission inventories to quantify emissions of pollutants from various sources, including industrial facilities, transportation, and stationary sources. Conducting source apportionment studies to identify the contributions of different sources to ambient air pollution.

Air Pollution Control Technologies and Solutions: Providing expertise on air pollution control technologies and best practices for reducing emissions from industrial processes, vehicles, and other sources. Conducting feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses of pollution control measures.

Air Quality Modeling and Impact Assessments: Utilizing air quality modeling tools to predict the dispersion and impact of pollutants in the atmosphere. Conducting air quality impact assessments for proposed developments, industrial projects, and regulatory compliance purposes.

Regulatory Reporting: Requiring regulated entities to report emissions data, compliance status, and other relevant information to regulatory authorities. This may include submitting periodic emissions reports, compliance certifications, and other documentation.

Permitting and Compliance Assurance: Issuing permits to facilities that meet regulatory requirements and conditions for operation. Regulatory agencies conduct inspections and audits to verify compliance with permit conditions and regulatory standards.

Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS): Installing CEMS at industrial facilities and power plants to continuously monitor emissions in real-time. CEMS measure pollutant concentrations and provide data for regulatory compliance and reporting.

Remote Sensing and Satellite Monitoring: Using remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery to monitor air pollution levels and detect sources of emissions, such as industrial facilities, transportation routes, and wildfires.

Enforcement Actions: Taking enforcement actions, such as fines, penalties, and legal actions, against entities that violate environmental regulations or fail to comply with emission standards. Enforcement actions deter non-compliance and encourage adherence to regulatory requirements.

Public Participation and Transparency: Engaging stakeholders, including the public, industry representatives, and environmental advocacy groups, in the regulatory process. Providing access to information, public hearings, and opportunities for input enhances transparency and accountability.

Technology Assessment and Best Practices: Evaluating emerging technologies and best practices for reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and promoting decarbonization. Providing guidance and support to regulated entities on adopting cleaner technologies and practices.

Compliance Assistance and Training: Offering technical assistance, training programs, and resources to help regulated entities understand and comply with environmental regulations. Building capacity and expertise within the regulated community supports effective compliance and pollution prevention efforts.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborating with government agencies, industry stakeholders, academia, and non-governmental organizations to develop and implement effective environmental regulations, monitoring programs, and pollution control strategies.

Project management

Air Quality Monitoring Systems: Designing, installing, and maintaining air quality monitoring networks to measure pollutants and assess ambient air quality levels. This includes deploying monitoring stations, sensor networks, and data management systems for real-time monitoring and analysis.

Emission Control Technologies: Providing expertise in the selection, design, and implementation of emission control technologies for industries, power plants, vehicles, and other sources of pollution. This may involve technologies such as scrubbers, catalytic converters, particulate filters, and low-emission combustion systems.

Renewable Energy Infrastructure: Developing renewable energy projects, such as wind farms, solar photovoltaic installations, hydropower plants, and biomass facilities, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions. This includes site assessment, feasibility studies, permitting, and project management.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Planning and deploying electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, including charging stations, networks, and support services, to support the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce emissions from transportation.

Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Conducting energy audits and implementing energy efficiency measures in buildings, industries, and transportation systems to reduce energy consumption and lower emissions. This includes retrofitting buildings, upgrading HVAC systems, and optimizing industrial processes.

Green Building Design: Designing and constructing green buildings and sustainable infrastructure to minimize energy use, improve indoor air quality, and reduce environmental impact. This may involve incorporating energy-efficient technologies, passive design strategies, and renewable energy systems.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Providing expertise in CCS technologies to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and power generation facilities. This includes site assessment, feasibility studies, and the design and operation of CCS infrastructure.

Transit-Oriented Development: Planning and designing urban development projects that promote sustainable transportation options, such as public transit, walking, and cycling, to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality. This includes mixed-use development, land use planning, and infrastructure investments.

Waste Management Infrastructure: Developing waste management facilities and systems, such as recycling centers, composting facilities, and landfill gas capture systems, to reduce methane emissions from landfills and promote waste diversion and recycling.

Smart City Solutions: Implementing smart city technologies and solutions, such as intelligent transportation systems, energy management systems, and IoT sensors, to optimize resource use, reduce emissions, and improve environmental quality.

Featured Projects

Support to waste management in Kosovo, with the Identification Number EuropeAid/133800/D/SER/XK – Task 3: Tender Documents for the Priority Projects to be financed by IPA

Kiwer was part of the team led by EPEM SA responsible for conducting the feasibility study, primary design, and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the following Solid Waste

Feasibility study, ESIA and main design for the Composting Plant in Gjilan

KIWER was tasked to carry out Feasibility study, ESIA and main design for Cthe Composting Plant in Gjilan which is listed as the priority project in the Integrated Waste Management

Support the Ministry of environment, spatial planning and infrastructure on revising the Kosovo integrated waste management strategy (2021-2030) and the Action plan (2021-2023)

KIWER was part of the team led by RWA tasked with the mid-term revision of the waste management strategy. Project Activities included: Development of recycling targets foreseen/integrated in the draft