Clean Energy Sources: Insights from Russia

Elizaveta Gavrikova,Irina Volkova,Daria Polosukhina,Ruslan Sharafutdinov,Yegor Burda,Marina Rubleva,Vladimir Gavrikov

doi:10.3390/resources8020084

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the assessment of the prospects of implementing clean energy sources in Russia, where the current energy policy goal is to increase the role of renewable and clean energy sources. The research is based on data from the Krasnoyarsk Region as one of the largest territories but also as a representative model of Russia. The aim of the study is to identify where and which renewable energy source (solar, wind, hydro and nuclear) has the highest potential. The novelty of our research lies in its holistic nature: authors consider both geographical and technical potential for renewable energy sources development as well as prospective demand for such resources, while previous research is mostly focused on specific aspects of renewable energy development. We also consider the level of air pollution as an important factor for the development of renewable energy sources. The results of the study show that there is a strong potential for clean energy sources in the Krasnoyarsk Region. The resulting matrix identifies the potential of energy sources across all the municipal entities and also indicates whether the source of energy is primary or supplemental and where several sources may be implemented in cooperation.

Highlights

Climate change, and the problem of CO2 emissions force government bodies to apply policies, aimed at diminishing the negative impact of the energy sector on the environment
While Krasnoyarsk Region seems to be a territory with a northern climate, the results revealed the actual potential of solar power in the region, which combined with other renewable sources of energy relevant to each municipal entity, outlines a solution for thinly populated, agricultural and remote areas
As for primary energy sources required for adequate industry development, there is a noticeable natural niche for hydro power in the region, especially in case if the withheld projects would be carried out

Summary

Introduction

The problem of CO2 emissions force government bodies to apply policies, aimed at diminishing the negative impact of the energy sector on the environment. This may be executed in two major forms: either through the overall decrease of demand (increasing energy efficiency), or through the shift towards more sustainable renewable energy sources (RES) [1]. The introduction of RES usually faces two major barriers: higher costs of energy compared to the conventional energy sources [7] and uncertainty of generation potential (as natural resources are stochastic in their nature) [8]. While the high costs of renewable energy are a technological issue that will be solved in the nearest future [9], assessment of their potential requires a more focused approach as it is highly dependent on specific conditions of a given region

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Conclusion