Russian Electric Power Industry Research Articles

Improvement of the System of Statistical Indicators of the State and Development of the Fuel and Energy Complex of the Russian Federation

The article proposes an improved system of statistical indicators for assessing the state and development of the fuel and energy complex of Russia, which defines a methodological approach to identifying factors and trends in its development. The introduction highlights the relevance of modernization of information and methodological support for reaching decisions on new tasks, including those related to the digitalization of the economy and implementation of the national projects’ portfolio. The body of the article critically examines the current configuration of official and departmental statistical information, based on which the authors selected 85 key indicators reflecting the state and development level of the fuel and energy complex of Russia. All of them can be delineated by sectors and analysis tasks. This evaluation system includes 7 blocks: general block characterizing the role of the fuel and energy complex in the economic system; key industry performance indicators; indicators of the production structure by industry; technological indicators of industries; prices for fuel and energy resources; production costs by industry; distribution indicators of fuel and energy resources. The paper analyses development trends in the fuel and energy sectors for 2008-2018. In particular, the authors’ research showed that modern oil production is characterized by a change in the territorial structure, as well as the reinstatement of the role of vertically integrated companies in the development of oil production. The article presents findings on the technological upgrading of Russian oil refining. However, the authors’ research proved that oil refining depth has ceased to be a reliable indicator of the level of technological equipment and modernization level of oil refineries. With regard to the development of the gas industry, there has been a steady increase in gas production, which is supported by maintaining a steady increase in demand for Russian gas in the domestic and foreign markets. The all-time high domestic consumer demand for gas fuel, associated with the Russian Regions Gasification Program implemented by the Ministry of Energy of Russia, was recorded. At the same time, the authors identified the main risk factors in the development of the industry related to Gazprom (a backbone of the energy sector) activities. The persistent positive growth dynamics in commodity production of associated petroleum gas was established. It was also noted that the highest percentage of its beneficial use is characteristic of operators of production sharing agreements. As for the results of the analysis of the coal industry, a matter of interest is the growth of domestic prices for coal products and related derivative trends. Particular attention is paid to the development of the possibilities of using over-the-counter coal price indicators. Replacement of coal with natural gas at a thermal power station in most regions of the country is of interest within the identified development trends of the electric power industry in Russia, which is explained by the environmental friendliness of electricity generation.

Using contactless methods of diagnostics of high electric fields

In the electric power industry of Russia and abroad, special attention is paid to the problem of an increase in the number of accidents caused by damage to high-voltage insulators in high-voltage equipment. An analysis of emergencies at substations and open switchgears [1- 2, 4] was carried out, which showed that in most cases the causes of damage to high-voltage insulators are natural aging in an applied electric field, overvoltage, and the presence of initial defects in the manufacture of high-voltage insulators. Based on this fact, we developed various methods of non-contact diagnostics of high-voltage insulators in order to identify defects at an early stage of their development. Particular attention was paid to the method of partial discharges because the characteristics of partial discharges provide information on the parameters of defects. The article describes a set of non-contact methods for remote diagnostics of high-voltage insulators; a two-channel method for remote diagnostics of the operating state of high-voltage insulators, based on the registration of partial discharges by electromagnetic and acoustic sensors; a device that allows visual inspection and the search for faulty high-voltage equipment; remote non-contact method for recording electric fields of high tension of industrial frequency, as well as their spatial orientation based on the electro-optical effect. We developed a mock-up of a portable diagnostic device for implementing research methods for high-voltage dielectric elements to diagnose their technical condition using the described complex of non-contact methods. The measuring device as part of a portable diagnostic device consists of a set of sensors for collecting diagnostic information detected by electromagnetic, acoustic and electro-optical sensors and a voltage phase signal applied to the studied highvoltage insulator. The simultaneous use of several sensors at once made it possible to increase the accuracy of localization of partial discharges in high-voltage insulators. Visualization of diagnostic results is possible at the control room in the form of amplitude-phase, frequencyphase and amplitude-frequency diagrams of the distribution of characteristics of partial discharges and on a portable device in the form of radiation intensity from the selected sensor. A portable diagnostic device made it possible in laboratory conditions to study electrophysical processes in various dielectric materials and products under the influence of strong alternating electric fields. A study was made of the features of defects on the rod and the terminal-terminal contact, a diagram of the electrophysical processes accompanying the emission of partial discharges was constructed, and the causes of their occurrence were established.

Management and development of digital technologies in the electric power industry of Russia

The article is devoted to the development of digital technologies in the electric power industry of Russia. It is proved in the work that in recent years the issues of the industry’s transition to a qualitatively new development path, which, according to the authors of the study, should be based on the introduction of digital technologies and smart grids in the electric power industry, have become relevant. The study presented the main advantages of the Smart Grid system, which are self-regulation of the electric power industry and maintaining stability and reliability in the long term. At the same time, it was revealed that the transition to digital technologies requires the industry to form a new asset and production unit management system related both to the superstructure and the creation of new energy complex management elements. At the same time, it is expected that the introduction of Smart Grid will increase the economic, environmental, social and technological effect both for the industry and for the national economy as a whole. At the end of the study, conclusions are drawn from the results of the work done.

Renewable and small energy development management

The article is devoted to the issues of transition of the Russian electric power industry to renewable energy sources. The analysis carried out in the work showed that in the electric power industry there has been a tendency to intensify activities to switch to innovative and renewable technologies in the production of electric energy. The main goal of the transition is to reduce the use of depleted natural resources and reduce the environmental burden. A similar trend is associated with the need to increase the competitiveness of the Russian electric power industry, since in some countries of the world up to 25% of electric energy is generated from renewable energy sources. In addition, in recent years, state programs have been adopted in which by 2024 it is planned to increase installed capacity based on renewable sources to 11 GW. At the end of the work, a structural-logical scheme was proposed that allows for the transition from traditional energy to renewable energy sources. In conclusion, the study presents the main findings and results of the work.

INNOVATIONS IN THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY: TYPES, CLASSIFICATION AND EFFECTS OF IMPLEMENTATION

In the global energy system, the fight against climate change, meeting the growing demand for electricity, using the opportunities gained through the fourth industrial revolution and affecting all sectors of the economy and the related qualitative changes in the characteristics of electricity demand become extremely urgent. In recent years, the general pace of innovation has been growing, while introducing innovation in the energy sector has become a complex long-term challenge. Digitalization of the electric power industry in Russia is one of the key objectives of the industry development. The purpose of this study is to consider the existing classification of innovations from the standpoint of the electric power industry and to determine what qualitative and quantitative effects the introduction of innovations in the Russian electric power industry gives. To calculate the effects, we used data from Federal State Statistics Service and the Russian Energy Agency, as well as annual public reports of the System Operator and data provided by NP «Market Council». An assessment is made based on optimistic and pessimistic scenarios. As the first, the highest values were taken, as the second – the lowest values according to experts' forecasts. First proposed classification of types of innovations in the electric power industry related to changes in technology and changes in the market. The effects of each type of innovation are also calculated. The paper concludes that the effects of innovations due to changes in technology are more influential than innovations due to changes in the market.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY COMPANIES IN THE ARCTIC REGION

The energy complex is an important part for the development of the economy of any country. At the same time, the Russian electricity sector is one of the most problematic. Therefore, the work considers the socio-economic aspects of the development of energy companies in the Arctic zone. To achieve this goal, the authors used systemic, structural, analytical, comparative methods. It has been established that the current technical and economic condition of the Russian electric power industry should be improved in order to develop ways to overcome it from the crisis. The paper analyzes normative acts that provide solutions to the energy problems of Russia in general and the Arctic in particular. It was determined that in the Arctic region, the priority in the construction of energy facilities based on renewable energy sources is the development of power plant construction projects using innovative technical solutions that provide minimal environmental risks and reliable operation in various climatic conditions.Keywords: energy saving potential, public sector, power plants, modernization.JEL Classifications: A14, H10, Q40DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.7151

Comprehensive Assessment of Russia’s Electric Power Industry’s Technological Transformation

The article discusses the possibilities for and results of structural changes in the electric power industry of Russia, which performs the integrating function for the country’s fuel and energy complex during its transformation in the context of various scenarios supposed for the world’s technological transition to the use of noncarbon energy in the period up to 2040. The optimal lines of technological progress and its acceleration rates in the industry, which ensure full replacement of the existing capacities of gas- and then also coal-fired power plants by new types of equipment, as well as noticeable increase in the share of noncarbon (nuclear and renewable) sources, are investigated. The effect that the choice of a more energy-efficient and diversified structure of generating capacities has on the consumption of energy resources and also on the direct and indirect effects for the national economy of Russia is estimated. For estimating the consequences from structural transformation of the electric power industry, the integral energy and economic characteristics of the conservative and innovative scenarios of its development are calculated. Based on these characteristics, a system of indicators for comprehensively estimating the industry’s development scenarios is proposed that reflect the extent of its technological renovation, energy efficiency, energy balance diversification, price load, and budgetary effectiveness. The results of applying the proposed system of indicators confirmed the advantages of the electric power industry’s innovative-development scenario. The following two strategic objectives can simultaneously be solved within the framework of this scenario in the period up to 2040. First, it will be possible to overcome the long-lasting technological backwardness of the domestic thermal power industry and reach the level of best technologies in gas- and coal-fired power generation. Second, it will be possible to ensure a very rapid growth in the scales of using noncarbon technologies (nuclear and renewable energy), thus setting up a background for achieving a situation in which they would account for up to half the electricity production by the mid 21st century. It is shown that the acceleration of technological progress in the electric power industry will compensate one-third of the losses in Russia’s economy due to decreased export of fuel when a shift is made around the world to noncarbon energy.

Problems of Assessing Relative Profitability of Modern Russian Electric Power Industry

The contraction in investment activity and capital reversals from the electric power industry to other energy sectors in Russia poses a potential threat to the country’s energy supply. Identifying the causes of low investment attractiveness of the electric power industry in order to justify directions of regulatory impacts relates to a comparative assessment of the industry profitability. It gives greater urgency to the development of the relevant methodological guidelines.The paper presents the study of the two mutually reinforcing methods for measuring the profitability of the Russian energy industries and comparative analysis of electric power industry and industries related to the extraction and processing of oil and gas using data from Rosstat. The authors identified the strengths and weaknesses of the two methods used. In particular, it is shown that the method for calculating macroeconomic profitability thought versatile and straightforward is sensitive to changes in the initial data generation technique and its quality. Whereas, the application of the second method based on the aggregation of data on prices and structure of intermediate consumption of enterprises is limited to industries not participating in export-import operations.Through the practical application of the abovementioned methods, the author did not find any gaps in profitability between the power industry and other energy sectors. Hence, the relatively low investment attractiveness of the power industry is mainly due to structural causes (for example, pricing; low market efficiency). Economic and statistical analysis of the current situation allows, in the authors’ opinion, to make target government actions. Moreover, adequate management is a precondition for further improvements to the methodology of profitability analysis of energy sectors, primarily, advancement towards disaggregation of the considered indicators and data availability.

Legal Providing of Application of Energy Effective Lightning Technology and Intellectual Networks in the Conditions of Digital Economy

The article substantiates the expediency of improving the legal support for the introduction and use of energy-efficient lighting equipment, as well as smart networks (Smart Grid), taking into account the ongoing digitalization of the Russian economy and electric power industry. The goal of scientific research is formulated, which is to develop practical recommendations on optimization of the public relations legal regulation in the digital power engineering sector. The research methodology is represented by the interaction of the legal and sociological aspects of the scientific methods system. The current regulatory and legal basis for the transformation of digital electricity relations has been determined. The need to modernize the system of the new technologies introduction legal regulation for generation, storage, transmission of energy, intelligent networks, including a riskbased management model, is established. A set of standardsetting measures was proposed to transform the legal regulation of public relations in the field of energyefficient lighting equipment with the aim of creating and effectively operating a single digital environment, both at the Federal and regional levels. A priority is set for the development of “smart” power grids and highly efficient power equipment in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation through a set of legal, economic (financial), edu cational measures.

EXPORT POTENTIAL EVALUATION OF THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Introduction. The article is devoted to the export potential analysis of the electric power industry in the Russian Federation during the convergence period of the electric power complex into the Common Electricity Market of the Eurasian Economic Union.Materials and methods. The authors review the main indicators of the electricity sectors of the Eurasian Economic Union State Members. As a result of the analysis, it is revealed that the Russian electric power industry is the most large-scale and diversified industry in comparison with other Union state members. It is substantiated that the electric power complex of the Russian Federation could be fully provided with Russian fuel and energy resources, which give additional stability and competitiveness. Results. The evaluation of the electric power industry export potential of the Russian Federation couldn’t be made without determining the electric energy competitiveness, in which, according to the authors, it is advisable to include indicators of specific reference fuel consumption, loss in grids and cost of electric energy, both on the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union State Members and in the overseas market. As a result of the competitiveness analysis, it was revealed that Russian electrical energy may have certain competitive advantages in the common market and in foreign electricity markets.Discussion and conclusions. The main conclusions about the research results are made by the authors.

CHP Plants in Russia: the Necessity for Technological Renovation

The role of combined heat and power (CHP) plants in the electric power industry of Russia is shown. The operational efficiency analysis of public service CHP plants and the fuel, power, and age structure of the existing CHP plants are carried out. Their main problems, such as underuse of generating equipment, excessive production in the condensing mode, high degree of equipment wear, and technological heterogeneity, are identified. The necessity of technological renovation of the CHP plants is shown. The energy efficiency of the combined production of electric and thermal energy by the existing CHP plants is compared to modern technologies for their separate gas and coal production. It is shown that the thermal capacity of the CHP plants in Russia exceeds the required capacity by almost two times. Estimates of the CHP plant thermal capacity necessary to cover the current heat loads are obtained for Russian regions. Main directions of the CHP plants' renewal based on the use of competitive domestic equipment and operation according to the heat load schedule are determined. Systemic impacts achieved by technological renewal are determined for gas-fired CHP plants with allowance for the climatic and load features of the Russian regions. It is shown that the technological renewal of gas-fired CHP plants will allow saving up to 16% of today’s fuel consumption, reducing the total CHP thermal capacity by 47.5% with the same volume and heat supply mode. The operation of a CHP plant according to the heat load schedule leads to a reduction in the electric capacity of the CHP plant by 20% with an increase in electricity generation by 11%. As a result, the consumption of the installed electric and thermal capacity of the CHP plant increases dramatically as does the fuel efficiency and the annual loading balance of external gas-fired condensing power plants. The needs for GTPs and CCGTs required for the technological renovation of the CHP plants is assessed. The necessity for developing competitive domestic medium and high power GTPs is considered.

Russian electric power industry reform: 10 years later

The article presents the main results of the reform of the Russian electric power industry — the reorganization of RAO UES of Russia. Over the past 10 years since the reform, it has become clear that its main goals have been achieved. The monopoly branch, controlled by the state, has turned into a market one based on competition and private property. The necessary structural changes were made in the industry; a system of markets was created; large-scale investments were launched. All this led to a sharp increase in capacity inputs in Russia’s electric power industry. As a result of the reform, the price of electricity for the population, taking into account the PPP, that is, the real standard of living in Russia, and for the majority of industrial consumers is lower than in the leading foreign countries. It has become possible to improve the reliability of the power system and preserve its technological integrity. Proposals for further improvement of the Russian electric power industry are formulated.

The cross subsidization in the electric power industry. What is the limit of growth?

One of the key pressing challenge the Russian electric power industry faces today in its development and performance is the problem of the cross subsidization between consumer groups. The volume of the cross subsidization in Russia has increased 4 times for 15 years. The conditionally acceptable level of the cross subsidization is estimated based on the additional tariff burden on industrial consumers associated with the implementation of the cross subsidization mechanism. In order to reduce the cross subsidization, it is recommended to increase electricity tariffs for the house-holders by 6% annually. At the transition stage to the target model should be based on the marginal tariff burden on industrial consumers; retail electricity prices for similar consumers in Europe can serve as a “standard” for such a limit (a possible increase in electricity tariffs for industrial consumers on average in Russia is 1.4 times the level of 2016). Options for reducing the cross subsidization and recommendations on how to determine the appropriate volumes are proposed, that is important in the current conditions of the absence of a single adopted methodology for assessing both the value of cross-subsidization and economically justified tariffs.The mechanism of the cross subsidization in the target model of electric energy pricing should be completely excluded, for which the indicator “growth of regulated (final) tariffs for the population” should be included in the forecast of social and economic development of Russia (return to the existing practice until 2017), providing for faster growth rates compared to other consumers.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY AFTER THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION OF 1917: ORIGINS, PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS

Purpose of the study . During the period of the fall of technical and technological stability of the Russian electric power industry, the issues related to the study of the historical experience of the origin, construction and development of such large industrial complexes are actualized. The present study aims to analyze the history of the development of the Russian electric power industry after the October Revolution of 1917, to reveal the influence of the revolution on the electric power industry, to investigate the postwar period of the formation of the Unified Energy System and to assess the current state of the electric power industry in the absence of large-scale projects and programs for updating and modernizing production facilities, propose mechanisms to improve technical and technological stability of electricity of the Russian Federation. Materials and methods . In 1920, after the October Revolution of 1917, the first plan related to the development of economic activities of the national economy was adopted, which was called the State Plan for the Electrification of Russia. This document contained the main mechanisms and requirements for the formation and establishment of a new branch for the economy. Based on the use of data from the Government of the Russian Federation, Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, Joint-stock company “United Energy System of Russia”, as well as electric power companies, the post-revolutionary period of the electric power industry development, the current state and the existing potential of the Russian electric power industry are analyzed. Using the economic-statistical, comparative and logical methods, the main results of the study were presented. Results. Analyzed indices of the electric power industry in the period 1920–1935 indicate a breakthrough in the development of the Russian energy sector, this period was marked by the implementation of the plans ahead of schedule. In the post-war period, from 1950–1985, there was an increase in the construction of production capacities, The development of the electric power industry after the October Revolution of 1917: origins, prospects and problems at the same time, both heat and hydro and nuclear power plants were built, thereby increasing the installed capacity by more than 10 times in thirty years. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there has been a halt in the pace of development of the Russian electric power industry, and now the deprecation of the fixed assets increase, the degradation of energy equipment, the aging of power generation technologies, the fall in investment attractiveness and the efficiency of management of generating capacities, which can lead to mass failure equipment and emergency consequences. The conclusion . Based on the results of the study, we have the following conclusions in the need to search for new mechanisms to improve the sustainability of the electricity industry in the absence of financial resources. In the author's opinion, it is advisable to implement them on three interrelated mechanisms: revising production capacities, eliminating potentially worn-out fixed assets; the formation of common programs for the development of the electric power industry within the framework of the General Electricity Market of the Eurasian Economic Union; the construction of power plants in the border areas, due to which several national states will provide electric power.

On an Effective Ratio of Conventional to Renewable Energy Sources in the Russian Electric-Power Industry

The problem of determining the effective ratio of conventional and renewable energy sources is considered, as well as the problem of predictive assessment of development trends in the Russian electricpower industry. A conceptual model of the use of renewable and conventional energy sources developed on the basis of the Lotka–Volterra differential equations is proposed to check the benchmarks. Coefficients of the differential equations system are identified on the basis of official statistical reports. The correctness of benchmarks for the share of electricity produced on the basis of renewable energy sources is estimated. Recommendations are given for increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the structure of the Russian energy sector.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ КОНКУРЕНЦИИ НА РОЗНИЧНОМ РЫНКЕ ЭЛЕКТРИЧЕСКОЙ ЭНЕРГИИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The challenge of the development of the retail electricity markets competition in order to improve the efficiency of electric power industry in Russia has considered. The modern Russian retail electricity markets model does not provide the adequate level of competition in retail energy sales sector has revealed. This article studies specific features of the Russian retail electricity markets organization. The level of competition in retail energy sales sector and the competition impact to the retail electricity prices have estimated. The competition prohibiting factors for retail electricity markets have suggested.

Corporate Governance in Russian electric power industry in terms of consumer requirements to its funding sources

The paper highlights a strong interest of energy consumers in attracting investment in the development of Russian power generation companies. The importance of corporate governance for enhancing the investment attractiveness of these companies is emphasized. An in-depth evaluation of their current corporate practices was carried out within the framework of the existing ownership structure. The study identified the indicators of corporate governance quality for the benefit of modern investors that are the least observed by the overwhelming majority of power companies. The indicators were obtained on the basis of whether or not the companies satisfy the criteria of the new Russian Corporate Governance Code, and the criteria of the methodologies of Standard & Poor’s, Spencer Stuart and Transparency International. The study shows a slight increase in the transparency of the companies in the post-reform period and compares it with the information disclosure by the major corporations of Great Britain, the USA and Europe. The study shows high correlation of the approach and composition of the identified indicators of the corporate governance quality for Russian power generation companies with the 2017 Russian Corporate Governance Index. This Index is based on the international Good Governance Index methodology adapted to the Russian conditions.

The digital transformation of the Russian electric power industry

This chronicle is devoted to the problems of improvement of state policy and corporate governance in the Russian Federation under conditions of transition to the digital economy business model. The main goal is to analyze new challenges and understand the need to change the energy paradigm applying a system analytical approach to study the level of digitalization. New challenges related to the advancement of digital technologies in the context of global trends of economic and social developme...

Strategic prospects of the electric power industry of Russia

The prospects for the development of the electric power industry of Russia adopted at a regular stage of working out the Energy Strategy and the General Plan of Distribution of the Electric Power Facilities are discussed. The monitoring of the progress in the implementation of the Energy Strategies for the periods until 2020 and 2030 adopted in 2003 and 2009 has, in general, validated the correctness of the estimated volumes of the energy resource production under overestimation of the expected domestic demand owing to an excessively optimistic forecast of the real development of the economy. The priority lines of the national energy policy in electric power and allied industries proposed in the Energy Strategy for the period until 2035 are considered. The tools for implementation of most of the proposals and the effectiveness of their implementation have yet to be defined more concretely. The development of the energy sector and the electric power industry under the conservative and optimistic scenarios of the development of the country’s economy has been predicted using the SCANER modeling and information system, viz., the dynamics of the domestic consumption, export, and production of the primary energy and the electric power has been determined and the commissioning and structure of the required generating capacities and the consumption of the basic types of the energy resources by the electric power industry and the centralized heat supply systems has been optimized. Changes in the economic efficiency of the nuclear and thermal power plants under the expected improvements on their cost and performance characteristics and an increase in the domestic fuel prices are presented. The competitiveness of the wind and solar power production under Russian conditions has been evaluated considering the necessity of reservation and partial duplication of their capacities when operated in the power supply systems. When optimizing the electric power industry as a subsystem of the country’s energy sector, the required amounts of capital investments in the industry have been assessed. Based on the obtained data and the predicted prices of fuel in the main pricing zones of Russia, the ranges of changes in the prices of the electric power in agreement with the macroeconomic restrictions on their dynamics have been calculated.

Application of hybrid real‐time power system simulator for research and setting a momentary and sustained fast turbine valving control

The stability of electric power system (EPS) insures energy security of consumers. Therefore, saving the stability of EPS is the main task for professionals around the world. For its solution, a variety of activities is used. This publication deals with the description of the authors' experience for solving the task in the Tyumen power system. The hybrid real-time power system simulator (HRTSim) developed in Tomsk Polytechnic University was used as a platform for research carrying out. The study presents the research result fragments of the momentary and sustained fast turbine valving control (FTVC) which is one of the most effective ways of an automatic emergency control of power units in the thermal power station. Using the simulator HRTSim, one of the greatest challenges of electric power industry in Russia has been solved, i.e. FTVC adequate setting of the power units in the thermal power station Surgut GRES-2 in the Tyumen power system. An FTVC operation largely determines the reliability and stability of the EPS. Therefore, an incorrect setting may result in substantial disturbance or disruption of the stability that already occurred in the past. The adequacy of turbine and FTVC simulations is verified by comparing it with the real data.