EXPERIENCE OF FORMING OF ENERGY AUTONOMY IN RURAL AREAS: ASSESSING THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVES

Abstract

The publication addresses climate change issues caused by fossil fuel emissions. It is established that the rate of increase of the air temperature in Ukraine is ahead of the world tendencies, as a result of which in Ukraine the widespread of droughts, an increase in land areas prone to desertification is probable. The effect of increasing the share of alternative fuels in total energy production on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the world has been investigated. The volume of electricity consumption by household and non-household consumers and the price increase for them are analyzed; population of Ukraine and employment status of rural population. It is proposed to solve the problems of reducing the burden of payment for energy resources and creating new jobs in rural areas through the creation of energy cooperatives. The concept of "energy cooperative" is defined and economic models of energy cooperatives that can be applied by Ukrainian territorial communities and economic structures to ensure energy autonomy are proposed. The article analyzes the experience of setting up and operating energy cooperatives in the EU Member States, the USA and other countries of the world on the following grounds: field of activity; the form of ownership; sources of financing; social effect and others. Examples of successful operation and emergence of energy cooperatives in Ukrainian communities are provided, which provide energy autonomy for individual agricultural enterprises and community residents through the production of fuel from agricultural and forestry waste; launching a solar or wind power plant that sells electricity to the grid at a “green” rate; biogas production from biomass; production and use of solar water heaters and the like. The author's vision of the main directions of development of economic decarbonisation is formulated.