Prospects for the Wind Energy Use for Power and Heat Supply to Decentralized Consumers in the Western Sector of the Russian Arctic

Abstract

An issue of the possible involvement of wind turbines in the power and heat supply of remote dispersed consumers in the Arctic (meteorological stations, lighthouses, border outposts, army and navy facilities, hunting seats, fishermen and geophysical explorers’ bases, etc.) is considered. The need for the functioning of the consumers remains in the long term. The study of the wind energy potential in the western sector of the Russian Arctic showed emerging prerequisites to be favourable for the efficient use of this renewable energy source in the coastal areas of the Barents and White Seas. Average annual wind speed at a height of 10 m in the areas mentioned are 6-8 m/s. There is a pronounced seasonal wind intensity maximum, which coincides with the seasonal maximum of the consumer’s demand for power and heat. Exemplified by facilities located in the coastal Kola Peninsula, it is shown that it is possible to save a significant amount of expensive imported fuel combusted at diesel power plants and boiler rooms, and thereby to reduce the generated electricity and heat costs by 25-40%, when implementing wind turbines.