Assessment of the potential and prospects for the use of renewable energy sources in order to diversify electricity supply

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to assess the potential and prospects of using renewable energy sources in order to diversify electricity supply. The object of the study is the natural and economic conditions that determine the feasibility of using renewable energy sources in order to diversify electricity supply. The basis of the study was the data of domestic and foreign scientists in the field of assessing the possibilities of using renewable energy sources. The region of activity of the guaranteeing supplier JSC AtomEnergoSbyt is represented by the Kursk, Smolensk, Tver and Murmansk regions. An assessment of the installed electric power generation capacities made it possible to determine that in the Kursk and Smolensk regions generation with the use of atomic energy predominates. In the Tver region, the largest share of installed capacities is accounted for by nuclear generation, however, thermal generation has a significant share. The installed capacities of the Murmansk region demonstrate significant differentiation. There is generation in the region using atomic, hydrocarbon and renewable energy sources. The region is the only one among the considered regions that uses renewable energy sources. More than half of the generation of electricity in the Murmansk region occurs using renewable energy sources. An assessment of the potential of renewable energy sources in the region of activity of the guaranteeing supplier showed that in the Kursk, Smolensk and Tver regions it is inexpedient to place generation facilities using solar, wind, geothermal and small river energy. In the Murmansk region, on the contrary, there is sufficient potential to accommodate wind and small hydropower plants. An assessment of the bioenergy potential of the livestock industry showed that it is advisable to develop biogas energy in the Kursk, Smolensk and Tver regions, which, on the one hand, will allow the disposal of livestock waste, and, on the other hand, provide small towns with electricity and heat.