Development Of Renewable Energy Sources Research Articles

Renewable energy sources integrated load frequency control of power system: A review

Due to advancements in human society and lifestyle changes, the escalating demand for electric energy, along with the expansion of industrialization, highlights the growing importance of green energy such as renewable energy sources (RESs). Nevertheless, the combination of these sources introduces various operational and control challenges for existing power systems. A pivotal concern in power systems involves achieving the essential load frequency control (LFC) to mitigate the deviations in system frequency and unscheduled power exchanges among control areas. This paper conducts a thorough review of the progression of LFC research, spanning historical, present, and prospective power systems. The analysis encompasses considerations of traditional power system models, the integration of RESs into traditional models, associated constraints, deregulated LFC, the application of power electronics devices, energy storage implementations, and LFC strategies tailored for microgrids or multi-microgrids. This comprehensive literature review aims to bridge the research gap by addressing contemporary challenges, such as uncertainties in RES development, and provides insights into future directions for LFC of the power systems.

Renewable energy penetration in Nordic and Baltic countries of the EU

The low carbon transition of the energy sector towards a greater penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) is one of the most impressive examples of political and economic change in the European Union. For nearly two decades, the European Union was rightly considered to be a frontrunner in RES development and deployment around the world. This culminated in March 2007 when the 20-20-20-targets were agreed under the European Council Conclusions. They aimed at creating a carbon neutral society by 2050 and replacing fossil fuels with renewables. This target requires huge transformations of energy systems and transformative shifts in economics and society. Even as renewables can provide numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits, their fast penetration may cause various societal challenges and encounter many barriers. Therefore, this paper aims to analyse the achievements of select EU countries in renewable energy development. For this purpose, an indicators framework is applied to monitor the RES drivers and achievements, RES penetration, and attained benefits of low carbon transformations. The case study focuses on Nordic and Baltic countries that are EU member states.

Barriers to Renewable Energy Source (RES) Installations as Determinants of Energy Consumption in EU Countries

The article presents an analysis of the statistical relationship between the determinants of and barriers to the development of renewable energy sources (RESs) in the macroeconomic system and the development of renewable energy source consumption in individual European Union countries. The article considers four key categories of RES development barriers in the European Union: political, administrative, grid infrastructural, and socioeconomic. The work is based on publicly available historical data from European Union reports, Eurostat, and the Eclareon RES Policy Monitoring Database. The empirical analysis includes all 27 countries belonging to the European Union. The research aimed to determine the impact of all four types of factors, including socioeconomic, on the development of RESs in European Union countries. The analysis uncovered that describing the European Union as a consistent region regarding the speed of renewable energy advancement and the obstacles to such progress is not accurate. Notably, a significant link exists between a strong degree of societal development and the integration of renewable energy sources. In less prosperous EU nations, economic growth plays a pivotal role in renewable energy development. Barriers of an administrative nature exert a notable influence on renewable energy development, especially in less affluent EU countries, while grid-related obstacles are prevalent in Southern–Central Europe. In nations where the proportion of renewable energy sources in electricity consumption is substantial, an excess of capacity in the renewable energy market significantly affects its growth.

Energy transition in Africa: The role of human capital, financial development, economic development, and carbon emissions

The current energy structure of most economies must be upgraded to a renewable energy source (RES) to help mitigate ecological dilapidation and achieve sustainable development goals. The transition to RES has recently received attention from energy experts, international bodies and environmental scientists. However, there is contrasting evidence on what factors affect the evolution and deployment of RES, especially from the perspective of emerging African economies. Hence, the current analysis sought to explore the influence of economic development (ECD), carbon emission (CEM), human capital (HUC), financial development (FID), and the country’s risk factors, such as political risk (POR) and institutional quality (INQ) on the development of RES. The research employed a panel dataset from 1990 to 2020 and used the newest estimation approach of Cross-Sectional Augmented autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) to establish the long-run connection among the variables. The study confirmed the prevalence of the “energy-led ECD hypothesis”. In addition, the empirical findings indicated that RES deployment could be facilitated through ECD, CEM, FID and HUC. Moreover, the country’s risk factors, which include POR and INQ, had an inverse connection with the deployment of RES. Lastly, there is a unidirectional causality between CEM, FID, HUC, INQ and RES, while a directional causality exists between ECD, POR and RES. The paper highlights a variety of policy angles to help with the expansion of RES in emerging regions.

The Development of Renewable Energy Sources in the European Union in the Light of the European Green Deal

Climate and energy policies are the key areas of the European Union’s development aspirations in the international arena. The European Green Deal sets ambitious new goals in this respect, emphasizing clean energy. The development of the energy sector, relying chiefly on renewable sources, is one of the conditions for the EU to transition to energies that do not produce waste that pollutes or is otherwise harmful to the Earth and human health. This paper assesses the development of renewable sources of energy in the EU and identifies challenges to the realization of the EU’s energy priorities. An analysis of renewable sources of energy in the EU in 2012 and 2020 is the prime method. The generation of primary energy from renewable sources, the share of energy from renewable sources in the final energy consumption, the structure of energy generation from renewable sources, and the share of energy from renewable sources in the energy used by the transport sector are discussed. Secondary data are employed, made available by Eurostat and Statistics Poland. To reach the objective of the study, Z. Hellwig’s taxonomic method is applied to assess the development of renewable energy sources (RES). Cluster analysis (Ward’s agglomerative clustering method) is additionally used for separation of objects and member states that are similar with regard to the phenomenon reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the challenges that societies and economies face in view of the assumptions of the EU’s new Green Deal, which envisages a balancing of CO2 emissions and absorption. This analysis discovers varied progress on the development of RES in the member states, posing a threat to the European community’s aspirations.

Worldwide development of renewable energy in the context of Russia’s geo-economic interests

Aim. The presented study aims to assess the impact of the worldwide development of renewable energy on Russia’s geo-economic interests and to formulate proposals for reducing the negative aspects of such influence.Tasks. The authors examine materials related to the topic of the study; analyze trends in the development of renewable energy sources (RES) worldwide; identify threats to hydrocarbon exports from Russia associated with the development of RES; show Russia’s export potential in the hydrogen market; assess threats associated with plans for the production of hydrogen based on RES in the long term in countries that are major potential importers of hydrogen from Russia; formulate proposals for reducing the negative impact of possible threats.Methods. The research methodology includes the method of analyzing the primary data of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on the level and pace of development of renewable energy in countries serving as major importers of energy commodities from Russia; data from the RENEWABLES 2021 (REN 21) report of the global renewable energy community, which unites the representatives of science, government, and industry; information posted on the official websites of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, the largest Russian mineral companies, and information contained in the works of Russian and foreign authors.Results. With existing technologies, renewable energy sources do not pose a significant threat to the exports of hydrocarbons from Russia for the next 5–10 years. This is due to the insignificant share of renewable energy in energy production and consumption, volatility of energy production depending on weather conditions, excess of investment in traditional energy compared to investment in renewable energy, and long-term contracts for the supply of fossil resources to China.Conclusion. During the active introduction of hydrogen energy (presumably until 2030), the demand for hydrocarbon fuel will persist if there is a tendency for its decrease In the long term, the development of renewable energy will inevitably lead to the replacement of Russian hydrogen imports with green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources in importing countries. In this case, the global demand for hydrogen exports will inevitably fall, as will the demand for CO2 capture and storage services; the global price of hydrogen will decrease. During this period, it is advisable to specialize in the export of technologies, including in the field of hydrogen energy.

CURRENT PROBLEMS OF PROVIDING FREQUENCY AND POWER REGULATION RESOURCES TO IPS OF UKRAINE

The main requirements for the volume of ancillary services in the IPS of Ukraine are considered. In particular, the requirements for the frequency maintenance reserve and frequency recovery reserves. The influence of renewable energy sources (RES) on the balance of production and consumption of electricity is shown. The place of hydroelectric power plants in the modern conditions of functioning of the IPS of Ukraine and the structure of the ancillary services market is considered. It is shown that in fact, according to the existing structure of production facilities in the IPS of Ukraine, only HPP and HPSP units are able to balance the fast-changing load schedule of renewable energy sources due to their high maneuverability. Features of operation of HPP units in normal and emergency modes are given. Prospects for the development of ancillary services in the IPS of Ukraine are identified. The need to update the regulatory framework was noted according to the results of the analysis of the peculiarities of the functioning of the IPS of Ukraine,. It is noted that it is necessary to clarify the Transmission System Code in terms of updating the requirements for the minimum required reserves for frequency control in the IPS of Ukraine given the growing share of unregulated RES in the structure of production capacity. Some measures are proposed to increase the level of operational security of regimes in the conditions of further development of RES and plans for synchronization of UES of Ukraine with ENTSO-E energy systems.

Метод выбора оптимальных мест строительства электростанций на основе возобновляемых источников энергии в Республике Союз Мьянма

Energy is the main and most universal indicator of the entire human and nature activity. Energy is an important contribution to the economic, social and industrial development processes. Given that fossil energy resources are depleting day by day, the problem of using renewable energy sources (RES) is becoming increasingly more urgent. The use of fossil fuels causes pollution of the environment, which increases from year to year. Therefore, the concept of using renewable energy sources is based on the principles of sustainability, renewability and carbon neutrality. However, the presence or absence of a primary energy resource is not the only condition for efficient use of renewable energy sources. The feasibility of using RES depends to a significant extent on natural conditions, such as seismicity, infrastructural facilities (the availability of power lines, roads, local materials for construction, etc.), political stability (the absence of military conflicts in the RES development zones), and a number of other factors that limit the possibility of efficiently using the available gross energy potential of these sources. In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is extremely important to assess the feasibility of constructing RES-based power plants in different regions of the Earth and to clarify various aspects connected with determining the technical potential of RES. The article addresses the above-mentioned problem, and shows how to select the optimal places for construction of RES-based power plants using the method of an analytical hierarchical process with approbating it on the example of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Methods and models of estimating energy transition on the example of Zhytomyr united territorial community

The paper presents results of scenario modelling and assessment of energy transition to 2050 in the Zhytomyr territorial community (TC), which provides for a switching from fossil carbon based energy resources in the current TC energy system functioning to 100% use of renewable energy sources (RES) which meets all energy demands and supports the Sustainable Development of TC in accordance with the relevant UN goals. For this purpose, the optimizational economic and mathematical TIMES-Zhytomyr model (no analogues in Ukraine), based on the TIMES-Ukraine model, was developed. It includes 647 energy technologies that are currently available or may be presented in the coming years in Ukrainian market. For the development of the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, a low-available local energy statistics was processed. As a result, the first energy balance by the form of the International Energy Agency for the large Ukrainian city and the basic energy-technological system of Zhytomyr TC were developed. Using the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, based on foreign and Ukrainian experience, for the first time, four scenarios of Zhytomyr TC energy system development were designed and modelled, covering all economic sectors and household sector (population). The first one is the Baseline scenario, which displays the possible dynamics of the energy system development without a purposeful energy efficiency policy, the development of RES, etc. Three other scenarios are aimed at studying TC’s transition capabilities by 2050 to 100% renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies use. The results of modelling confirmed that the available renewable energy resource and technological potential allows Zhytomyr TC to perform the energy transition to 2050 in an economically feasible and socially acceptable way, significantly reducing energy and carbon intensity of the local economy, substantially eliminating GHG emissions, increasing the welfare of citizens and creating at least 10 thousand new workplaces. It will also significantly contribute to Zhytomyr TC to reach at least 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The research results presented, due to a significant novelty and large-scale relevance of the task, are essential in both the theoretical and practical significance. They can be used by scientists for their research and by authorities and experts for development of local, regional or national level strategies, plans or programs of economic, energy, transport, climate and ecology scope. It can also be considered as one of the first steps in preparation of a comprehensive strategy for the Zhytomyr TC development to achieve climate neutrality in accordance with the current objectives of the European Union.

The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Coronavirus Pandemic on Ecological Security and the Development of International Environmental Policy

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the global economy. In 2020, due to the pandemic, many countries experienced an economic recession, an increase in unemployment, a decline in the economic activity of numerous companies and enterprises, and, consequently, an economic crisis. Due to the decline in economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 a decrease in the level of environmental pollution took place. However, this decline was short-term and relatively small. Therefore, the pandemic did not slow the process of global warming. Scientific research dedicated to climate change shows that the global warming process has commenced a strong upward trend. In order to slow down the ever faster global warming process, it is necessary to reduce all or most of greenhouse gas emissions in the shortest time possible, including through the development of renewable energy sources. The global socio-economic crisis caused by the development of the COVID-19 pandemic should significantly change the pro-ecological awareness of people and the need to implement sustainable development in economic processes and everyday functioning of people. In the first half of November 2021, the UN Climate Summit COP26 Climate Conference was held in Glasgow, Scotland. To save the climate and biosphere of planet Earth, it is crucial what we will do in the decade of the 20s of the current twenty-first century. These issues were raised during the debates and discussions held during the abovementioned UN Climate Summit COP26. However, the declarations made by individual countries of the world regarding the calendar of achieving zero emissions indicate that the subject is not treated very seriously by governments in many countries. It is necessary to increase international cooperation in the implementation of global pro-environmental policy.

Методи та моделі оцінки енергетичного переходу на прикладі Житомирської об’єднаної територіальної громади

The paper presents results of scenario modelling and assessment of energy transition to 2050 in the Zhytomyr territorial community (TC), which provides for a switching from fossil carbon based energy resources in the current TC energy system functioning to 100% use of renewable energy sources (RES) which meets all energy demands and supports the Sustainable Development of TC in accordance with the relevant UN goals. For this purpose, the optimizational economic and mathematical TIMES-Zhytomyr model (no analogues in Ukraine), based on the TIMES-Ukraine model, was developed. It includes 647 energy technologies that are currently available or may be presented in the coming years in Ukrainian market. For the development of the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, a low-available local energy statistics was processed. As a result, the first energy balance by the form of the International Energy Agency for the large Ukrainian city and the basic energy-technological system of Zhytomyr TC were developed. Using the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, based on foreign and Ukrainian experience, for the first time, four scenarios of Zhytomyr TC energy system development were designed and modelled, covering all economic sectors and household sector (population). The first one is the Baseline scenario, which displays the possible dynamics of the energy system development without a purposeful energy efficiency policy, the development of RES, etc. Three other scenarios are aimed at studying TC’s transition capabilities by 2050 to 100% renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies use. The results of modelling confirmed that the available renewable energy resource and technological potential allows Zhytomyr TC to perform the energy transition to 2050 in an economically feasible and socially acceptable way, significantly reducing energy and carbon intensity of the local economy, substantially eliminating GHG emissions, increasing the welfare of citizens and creating at least 10 thousand new workplaces. It will also significantly contribute to Zhytomyr TC to reach at least 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The research results presented, due to a significant novelty and large-scale relevance of the task, are essential in both the theoretical and practical significance. They can be used by scientists for their research and by authorities and experts for development of local, regional or national level strategies, plans or programs of economic, energy, transport, climate and ecology scope. It can also be considered as one of the first steps in preparation of a comprehensive strategy for the Zhytomyr TC development to achieve climate neutrality in accordance with the current objectives of the European Union.

Local Renewable Energy Development: School Teachers’ Perceptions, Attitudes and Teaching Intentions

This study investigated factors that might influence teachers’ intention to choose Renewable Energy Sources as an optional module. The research involved 454 Greek teachers working in the archipelagos of the southern Aegean region in Greece, an area with significant potential for the development of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). This potential however remains largely unexploited partly due to local community reluctance towards RES development in the area. Although renewable energy education is considered to be necessary for further RES development, RES are not among teachers’ first choice as an environmental module. We found that, despite teachers demonstrating highly positive attitudes towards RES, they consider local communities to be rather non-supportive of local RES development. A relationship between teachers’ moderate intention to teach RES and teachers’ perceptions of locals as non-supportive towards RES was found. We also found that local teachers feel more competent to teach about RES than non-local teachers. The latter are more motivated to comply with social pressure than locals. These findings emphasize the need for renewable energy education policy makers to take into account local communities’ role in influencing the teaching of RES and to provide teachers with the appropriate skills in order to competently handle potential oppositions.

The Concept of Multiple Impacts of Renewable Energy Sources: A Critical Review

Reaching climate neutrality by 2050 is one of the main long-term objectives of the European Union climate and energy policy, and renewable energy sources (RES) are integral parts of this transition. RES development results in many effects, direct and indirect, linked to each other, societal, local and individual, i.e., “multiple impacts of RES” (MI RES). These effects need to be carefully assessed and evaluated to obtain the full picture of energy field transformation and its context, and enable further development of RES. Nevertheless, the MI RES concept is often presented misleadingly and its scope varies throughout the literature. This paper provides a literature overview of the methodologies of this concept and presents a new concept of MI RES, respecting the difference between effects resulting from the implementation of RES and ultimate multiple impacts. We have summarized the effects into four groups: economic, social, environmental, and technical, which all lead to group of ultimate multiple impacts. Finally, we provide the complex overview of all MI RES and present the framework, which is used to analyze the multiple impacts and effects of RES and to show how the RES development leads and contributes to these impacts and effects. The concept is recommended to be considered in designing a robust energy policy by decision-makers.

Energy storage for grid-scale applications: Technology review and economic feasibility analysis

Non-dispatchable Renewable Energy Sources (RES) changed energy production from being centralised and fully dispatchable, to be more decentralised and less predictable. Despite the substantial growth, RES must be increased to fulfil the power production decarbonization targets set by several countries. In several countries, Italy included, RES development must be based on solar PV. Thus, relevant energy quantities will be shifted from day hours to night hours. Such “Load Shifting” is done with energy storage technologies. A few technologies suited for this task are already available, whereas several others have been proposed, but not tested in the practice. In this paper, such storage technologies are reviewed focusing on the performance and costs. Based on the review, current and future storage economic outlooks are assessed by focusing on the Italian scenario. In the paper, the storage operation is optimized at the hourly level to calculate the maximum achievable annual revenue. The optimisation is performed with a linear programming (LP) approach. Since none of the reviewed storage is economically feasible, the energy price modification required to achieve feasibility are estimated. Based on such results, the distance between the current situation and the one favourable to storage is assessed. In this way, the future outlook of each storage technology is discussed.

The World Market of Electricity from Renewable Sources: Development Trends and their Manifestation in the Russian Economy

The presented study analyzes world trends in the global renewable energy market in the context of complex impact on the Russian economy and examines peculiarities in the development of the domestic market of renewable energy sources (RES) in Russia. Aim. The study aims to explore the peculiarities of renewable energy development in Russia in the context of global trends. Tasks. The authors identify trends in the development of the global renewable energy market, analyze the impact of the global RES market on the Russian economy, and examine peculiarities in the development of the domestic RES market in Russia. Methods. This study analyzes the works of Russian and foreigns authors on renewable energy, statistical data of New Energy Outlook 2019 and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and analytical insights of the head of RUSNANO A. Chubais, who is also the Chairman of the Russia Renewable Energy Development Association. Results. The global trend of RES development is steady, which will inevitably cause a decline in revenues from hydrocarbon exports from Russia in the medium term. In Russia, there are fundamental preconditions that make hydrocarbon energy efficient in the longer term than in Europe. This makes trying to catch up with other countries impractical, given that Russia has a natural advantage. The electricity industry is inertial and therefore should be created by the time parity is achieved, otherwise the economy will overpay for electricity that could be cheaper. Technological advancement in the global RES market establishes a base of scientific and technological developments in this field, which can be used in the Russian market, or upgraded to be used more efficiently in the domestic market, or exported. Hevel Group is an example of a company that has successfully implemented this strategy. Further development of RES in the world creates global demand for high-tech products in the field of renewable energy, which gives Russia an opportunity to switch from commodities exports to high-tech exports. Thus, industrial development in the RES sector would make a significant contribution to GDP by manufacturing high-tech products, leading to the creation of a cluster that would combine science and education and facilitating the development of related industries and implementation of projects that were previously considered impossible or inefficient. Conclusions. Global development of renewable electricity not only poses medium-term threats to the Russian economy, such as declining revenues from hydrocarbon exports, but also raises the possibility of economic reorientation towards high-tech exports. Development of RES in the domestic market is advisable to ensure the creation of the necessary base in Russia by the time grid parity is achieved.

Methodological Approach for Defining Frequency Related Grid Requirements in Low-Carbon Power Systems

Chilean National Research and Development Agency (ANID) ANID/FONDECYT/11160228 ANID/FONDECYT/1201676 ANID/FONDAP/15110019

Ветроэнергетика: история, состояние, перспективы

Many countries around the world began to actively develop renewable energy after the energy crisis of the mid 1970s, when commercial technologies for its use emerged, and nowadays, progress in this field develops much more rapidly than it was expected a decade ago. Modern technologies of using renewable energy sources (RES) are attractive owing to their advantages: they are widely available and inexhaustible; they feature smaller pollution of the environment; their use helps save traditional nonrenewable fossil energy resources; they involve the use of modern high technologies; in addition, they help create new skilled jobs. Russia, despite its large reserves of oil, gas, and coal, is also interested in using RES as an important means of diversifying the country's fuel and energy balance, energy saving, and improving energy security and efficiency with centralized and decentralized supply of power to all regions of the country. This is especially important for regions that face big problems with ensuring reliable and high-quality supply of power. One of the most important areas of renewable energy is wind energy; according to different estimates, it can provide up to 50% or more of the future energy consumption. An attempt is made to estimate the history, state, and prospects for development of the world and domestic wind power industry. The development stages and the role of domestic and industry science, and also the possibilities of the domestic production facilities and ways of improving it are shown. In the course of restructuring and reorganizing the domestic economy, research and development structures, the domestic industry constructing power machinery and equipment, radio electronics, instrument making, and other industries that form the basis for RES and, in particular, wind power, were destroyed to a significant extent. The potential of wind energy, as well as that of other RES that are "not traditional" for the Russian energy sector, has not been fully employed as yet, although in principle, they can solve many energy problems. This is also due to the fact that the current price level in the wholesale electricity market is lower than the net cost of electricity generated by means of RES. This is especially important in solving matters concerned with arrangement of decentralized power supply in Russia, with its vast territory, poorly developed infrastructure, and the world's harshest climate, in which, according to various estimates, from 50 to 70% of the territory is not covered by reliable guaranteed power supply. The problems of successful and efficient development of RES, including wind energy, should become the most important issues already in the near future, and it should be noted that positive steps in this direction have been taken in recent years. At the same time, it should be understood that RES are not an alternative to the "traditional large-scale" power industry, but rather complement it, occupying its own very specific niche.

Determinants of Growth of Selected Renewable Energy Types within the Context of Sustainable Development

The aim of this article is to identify the determinants affecting the growth of renewable energy source utilisation in rural areas in the context of sustainable development. The research covered the economic circumstances and changes in law relating to the RES (renewable energy sources) Act of 2018, which resulted from EU’s energy policy ensuring favourable conditions for RES development and financial support for RE producers. Four sources of renewable energy relevant to rural farm and non-farm households are the focus of this article: wood biomass, biogas, biodiesel and solar energy. The discussion illustrates the role of rural households in the supply and use of RE consistent with the principle of sustainable development, describes rural residents’ favourable attitudes towards financing RE projects from public funds, and the potential for creating local jobs in the RE sector, among others.

Social acceptance of small-scale renewable energy in Lower Silesia in Poland

There have been a large number of studies focusing on reducing the environmental impacts associated with the energy sector. Renewable energy sources (RES), such as solar energy, have been utilized in order to mitigate these environmental impacts. Here we try to answer the question as to why the development of RES among households in Poland is so weak. The survey was conducted in November and December 2015 within a project funded by the National Centre of Science. The main aim of the paper is to identify the factors that influence a household’s willingness to install a renewable energy sources, in particular those factors related to level of education level and profession,. An additional aim of the paper is to make a typology of respondents – energy consumers, according to their relation to RES, on the basis of this and previous research. We propose a measure that divides the respondents into different groups according to their level of willingness to adopt RES. The results show that the greatest social acceptance of RES installation appears among: males, people in the age range of 30-49, people with secondary technical education, people living in detached houses, the owners of private companies and farmers. In addition, the results show that economic factors are the most influential in motivating households to install RES, since the respondents indicated the main benefits to be potential savings and potential profits. This study provides useful guidelines for policy makers to further promote the utilization of renewable energy sources among households.

Electric utility on the basis of renewable energy sources at realisation of “Smart city” concept

Realisation of “Smart city” concept is connected with introduction of activities as to increase in energy efficiency and resource saving in the area of electric utility industry, including for the account of applying renewable energy sources (RES). Introduction of concept elements is economically justified not only in big megapolises, but in minor residential areas, as well. Notwithstanding the growth in power production with the employment of sun and wind technologies, the share of RES-based power generating plants in Russia, remains inconsiderable and amounts to approximately 0.1% of the total registered output of country’s power sources. Development of this perspective sphere is mainly carried out in those Russian regions where diesel fuel is used at very high potential capacities of the sun and wind power. Projects as to RES development in Russia are economically substantiated for isolated power-engineering systems, their introduction allows to cut consumption rate of expensive diesel fuel which is environmentally unfriendly. The estimates as referred herein, evidence a necessity to substitute elements of power-generating equipment of diesel-powered plants with solar-power farms. Development of renewable energy-generating industry in the country must be facilitated, by accelerated introduction of this resource in the regions with autonomous power-supply, where RES provides a fairly good economic effect.