Russian Energy Sector Research Articles

Project activities as a tool for structural modernization and technological sovereignty of the Russian energy sector. Part 2

Subject. The article addresses the compliance with the principles of strategic planning at the federal level. Objectives. The study aims to assess the quality of project activities in the energy sector in the light of new economic sanctions. Methods. The study rests on the comparative and logical analysis. Results. The paper established that the documents forming the basis of strategic planning system are not able to act as an effective tool for structural modernization and technological sovereignty of the fuel and energy complex of Russia. Conclusions. Each document discussed in the article must be fully consistent with the key principles of strategic planning.

Основные проблемы и перспективы реализации российских арктических СПГ-проектов в новых геополитических условиях

The European energy market is currently facing a paradox. On the one hand, European Union countries are actively pursuing sanctions aimed at limiting the development of the Russian energy sector. On the other hand, they are seeking to compensate for the sharp decline in pipeline gas supplies—particularly after the explosions damaging the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines—by increasing their imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), including Russian-produced LNG. Meanwhile, Russian companies, notably Novatek and Gazprom, supported by the government, are striving to advance new LNG projects. Among these, the Arctic LNG 2 and Murmansk LNG projects are regarded as highly promising for successful implementation. This study identifies the leading LNG importers by the end of 2023, which include countries in the Asia-Pacific region—such as China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Thailand—along with EU countries like France and Spain. Key LNG exporters by the end of 2023 include the United States, Qatar, Australia, and Russia. The purpose of this study is to analyze the state of the global LNG market under the new geopolitical conditions and to explore the challenges and prospects for the implementation of Russian Arctic LNG projects. The study’s scientific contribution lies in assessing the potential for new domestic LNG projects and identifying the needs of energy companies for gas tankers. The next phase of the research will involve evaluating the prospects for the sale of LNG from Russia, the United States, and Qatar to Asia-Pacific and European Union markets.

Investigation of Combine Cycle Power Plants with Low-Grade Heat Utilization Working Methane-Hydrogen Mixtures

The Russian energy sector remains heavily reliant on thermal power plants, with gas generation accounting for approximately 66% of the installed capacity. However, the industry faces challenges such as depletion of reserves, rising prices for hydrocarbons, and increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This study focuses on developing new scientific and technical solutions to increase the efficiency and environmental safety of combined cycle power units. The research involves structural and parametric optimization of trinary cycle power plants operating on a methane-hydrogen mixture, as well as the development and optimization of turbine and heat exchange equipment for low-temperature power plants. The results show that the transition to trinary CCGT (Combine Cycle Gas Turbine) units with deep utilization and the use of hydrogen fuel can significantly reduce specific CO2 emissions and increase energy efficiency up to 0.21% with also increases in capacity of turbine of approximately 17 MW. The aim of this research is to calculate the efficiency, cost effectiveness and environmental-friendly solution for power generation using mixture of hydrogen- methane as fuel in combine cycle power plant that includes ORC. Additionally, the efficiency of the organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) benefits from the increased moisture, with capacity improvements of 1-2 MW observed when the hydrogen proportion rises from 25% to 50%. Moreover, the potential for zero emissions, coupled with significant increases in power output and efficiency, underscores hydrogen's role as a pivotal component in the future of energy production.

Project activities as a tool for structural modernization and technological sovereignty of the Russian energy sector. Part 1

Subject. The article addresses the compliance with the principles of strategic planning at the federal level. Objectives. The study aims to assess the quality of project activities in the energy sector in the light of new economic sanctions. Methods. The study rests on the comparative and logical analysis. Results. The paper established that the documents forming the basis of strategic planning system are not able to act as an effective tool for structural modernization and technological sovereignty of the fuel and energy complex of Russia. Conclusions. Each document discussed in the article must be fully consistent with the key principles of strategic planning.

The green transition and development problems of fuel and energy sector in Russia

The green transition and development problems of fuel and energy sector in Russia

Carbon regulation scenarios for Russian energy sector

Carbon regulation scenarios for Russian energy sector

ENERGY SECURITY OF RUSSIA IN CONDITIONS TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE WORLD ORDER: CHALLENGES, THREATS, OPPORTUNITIES

The purpose of the article is to reveal the content of the problems of energy security in Russia in the context of the transformation of the world order. Research tasks: to characterize the trends in the transformation of the world order in modern conditions; analyze the challenges and threats to Russia’s energy security, as well as the possibilities of ensuring it in the context of the transformation of the world order. The methodological basis of research is an integrated approach that synthesizes the achievements of political science, the theory of international relations, geopolitics, geoeconomics, globalism, synergetics. Research results: the main areas of ensuring Russia’s energy security related to countering Western sanctions pressure by reorienting exports to the Asia-Pacific countries, building new financial and logistics mechanisms, flexible tax policies, and import substitution were identified. There is emphasized the need to form a new model of the Russian energy sector with diversified external sales markets and energy supply routes.

The technological transformation of the Russian energy sector forced by carbon regulation

RELEVANCE of the study lies in the assessment of the impact that various carbon regulation instruments stimulating the achievement of national climate goals have on the development scale of different electricity and heat production technologies in Russia.THE PURPOSE. To consider the change in the optimal technological structure of the electric power industry and district heating in Russia by 2050 assuming the introduction of various carbon regulation instruments in 2030.METHODS. We used the developed at ERI RAS system technological model EPOS for the optimization of the energy technology structure in the Russian energy sector according to the criterion of the minimum total discounted costs for energy supply to the economy until 2050.RESULTS. The article provides an analysis of the scale of changes in installed capacity and electricity production of various types of power plants in the UES of Russia, as well as changes in heat production of different heat supply sources by 2050 for 16 carbon regulation options and business-as-usual scenario. Also it describes the optimal technological structure in the electric power industry and district heating under the conditions of certain administrative, fiscal and economic instruments of climate policy. Carbon regulation options based on the corresponding increases in the installed capacity of power plants in the UES of Russia by 2050 are compared.CONCLUSION. Decarbonization of the electric power industry in Russia will mainly occur by expansion of nuclear energy, heat production – by deployment of electric boilers, taking into account current forecasts of scientific and technological progress. At the same time, for carbon regulation options leading to a greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 30% relative to 2019 level, nuclear power plants could become the new dominant technology in the structure of electricity production instead of gas thermal power plants. The total increase in installed capacity of power plants in the UES of Russia by 2050 may differ by almost seven times for various carbon regulation options. Among the climate policy options considered, emission quotation and carbon taxes have the strongest impact on the technological structure of the electric power industry and district heating in Russia.

Results of experimental development of a laboratory water distillation installation based on a heat pump and a photovoltaic panel

Modern technologies and the continuous rise in water consumption require efficient and environmentally friendly methods of its extraction. According to the energy development strategy of the Russian Federation until 2035, the use of alternative energy sources in industry is a priority task for production. The use of renewable resources to produce distilled water for the needs of enterprises is becoming increasingly important. The innovative technology of a laboratory installation, combining water distillation using a heat pump and a photovoltaic panel, allows not only to obtain purified water, but also to heat the coolant before chemical purification. To create a laboratory stand, it is necessary to study the operating principles of the installation, divide the device into units: the main stand and the vacuum distiller, then model a three-dimensional image of each part of the complex in the SolidWorks software package. Based on the obtained models, a functional diagram of the complex is developed to obtain a coolant of the given parameters, and an algorithm is compiled for predicting the temperature of the heated water in the heat pump. The obtained installation test results are processed, and compared with theoretical data from tables of refrigerant properties, and a conclusion is drawn. The technology for producing purified water is aimed at replacing imported technologies and using renewable energy sources. The development of technologies for producing clean water is a priority for the development of the Russian energy sector. The results obtained indicate the potential of the laboratory installation for use in various areas where a reliable and environmentally friendly supply of distilled water is required, for example, in coastal areas for industrial facilities or agricultural enterprises.

EXTERNAL FACTORS OF RUSSIAN ENERGY SECTOR DEVELOPMENT: OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS IN THE NEW GEO-ECONOMIC REALITY

The paper analyzes the main stages of the Russian energy sector development in the context of the influence of external factors. The author considers the role of the new export pipelines construction in strengthening the country’s position in global energy markets. The article provides an assessment of the dependence of Russian energy sector on foreign capital and technology. The author provides some practical recommendations for the development of the Russian energy sector in the context of Western sanctions and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Российско-китайское сотрудничество в области торговли энергоресурсами в условиях действия западных санкций

Since 2014, Russian energy companies have faced challenges due to sanctions imposed by Western coun-tries. However, after the outbreak of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in 2022, sanctions took on an avalanche-like nature, posing a serious threat to the development of the Russian energy sector. This forced Russia to reorient its export flows of hydrocarbons, especially natural gas. Sanctions in the energy sector had a significant impact not only on Russia’s energy industry but also on the global market for energy resources. They led to a reconsideration of the trading strategy for energy resources between Russia and China. This article highlights and characterizes the challenges posed by anti-Russian sanctions to the cooperation between Rus-sia and China in the supply of Russian gas after the start of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in Feb-ruary 2022.

Toolkit for assessing the digital development potential of the energy sector of the economy

Digitalization of the energy sector is important for improving the reliability and safety, productivity, efficiency and sustainability of energy systems. However, the scale and speed of digital transformation are determined not only by the energy companies’ resource capabilities, but as well by the characteristics of the external environment that provide the conditions for digital development. This article is aimed at forming a toolkit for measuring the digital development potential of the energy sector of the economy. The key factors of digital development of the energy sector were identified as a result of bibliometric analysis of publications by means of VOSviewer toolkit. Content analysis and descriptive analysis were also used in the study. Official statistics data characterizing the development of the energy sector in Russia served as the information sources. The developed toolkit made enabled to assess the potential for digital development of the energy sector in terms of the following components characterizing the internal and external environment of the energy sector: energy sector digital maturity, energy sector resource readiness, digital maturity of supply chain participants, and digital development level of the region's / country's economy. The results of approbation revealed the possibilities of using the proposed toolkit to measure the potential for energy sector digital development. The results of the study proved that the prospects for digital transformation in the industry are determined not only by its digital maturity, but also by factors and conditions of the external environment.

Public-private Partnership in the Utility and Energy Sector: Achieved Results, Problems and Challenges

The inefficiency of the functioning of the utility and energy sector of Russia, accompanied by limited funds of the state (municipal) budget, actualizes the issues of the use of public-private partnership (hereinafter - PPP) in this area. The purpose of the article is to study the Russian practice of using PPP in the utility and energy sector in the context of evaluating the results achieved, identifying current problems and challenges. The methodological basis of the study was the basic provisions of the dialectical method of cognition. The author defines and systematizes the achieved results of the use of PPP in the utility and energy sector of Russia, starting in 2016 and up to the present. This made it possible to identify problems and challenges related to this process of a legal, organizational, economic, financial, industrial and informational nature. The materials of the conducted research can be used in the development and decision-making to ensure the effective development of the utility and energy sector on the basis of PPP.

Approaches to the Forecast Formation of the Development of the Russian Energy Sector as a Component Part of Scenarios for Decarbonization of the Country’s Economy

Approaches to the Forecast Formation of the Development of the Russian Energy Sector as a Component Part of Scenarios for Decarbonization of the Country’s Economy

Разработка предложений по реконструкции блочных комплектных распределительных устройств

One of the priority tasks in the modern realities of the Russian energy sector is to increase the economic efficiency of energy facilities and the energy system as a whole. In this regard, the progressive electric power industry should be based on a modern technical base, which, in turn, requires timely organization and management of the process of production and transmission of electricity. In addition, it is necessary to optimize the use of existing equipment and, if possible, increase the economic efficiency of the industry by upgrading outdated equipment. It is very important to gradually turn off outdated old equipment and replace it with modern, improved equipment. Special attention should also be paid to issues related to the quality of electricity and the reliability of its delivery to consumers. Keywords: DEVELOPMENT, PROPOSALS, RECONSTRUCTION, SWITCHGEAR, RELIABILITY, OPERATION, OPERATION

Development of renewable energy and hydrogen energy in the Russian economy: problems and prospects

The presented publication reveals the issues of the development of the Russian energy sector. In the course of the study, the problems of greening and the use of ESG factors, the development of renewable energy and hydrogen energy in the country were analyzed.The authors consider the advantages and disadvantages of various types of hydrogen, its use in industries, identify the prospects for the development of hydrogen energy in the Russian Federation and countries of the world, provide calculations on the cost of hydrogen production in Russia and abroad, show calculations of the export price for hydrogen produced by nuclear power plants, in order to identify the most effective options for its use, and the efficiency of use tidal, wind and solar power plants, which is relevant in the period of structural and technological restructuring of the economy.

Corporate carbon management system

The basis of the company’s decarbonization is the effective management of greenhouse gas emissions. The article visualizes in graphic material the forecast values of the mass of greenhouse gas emissions in the fuel and energy sector of Russia until 2030 and determines the trends in their changes. Based on the results of the analysis, it was revealed that in order to achieve a low-carbon development path, it is necessary to introduce additional measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of the scientific research is to develop a corporate carbon management system, which can become a guideline for the development of corporate systems by Russian oil and gas companies. A reliable system for recording and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions serves as the basis for obtaining up-to-date, complete and reliable data. At the same time, for the quality control of the decarbonization process, a scheme of interaction within the company should be clearly built. The development and implementation of a carbon management system will allow the company to systematically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which will create conditions for the transformation of climate risks associated with government regulation into the category of opportunities such as entering carbon markets, attracting investors, etc. The authors note that in most large Russian companies have already developed and introduced carbon management systems into production. After analyzing the current greenhouse gas accounting system of JSC “Zarubezhneft’’, the authors propose to create a carbon management system taking into account the specifics of the company, which consists in organizing activities on the territory of different countries (Cuba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Russia). It is proposed to adapt the methodological approaches for calculating greenhouse gas emissions to the requirements of the legislation in force in the territory where the production facilities of the JSC “Zarubezhneft’’ are located, and also to apply national coefficients in the calculation to ensure more accurate emission estimates. The result of the study is the development of the concept of the carbon management system of JSC “Zarubezhneft’’.

Study of causes and possible solutions to the problem of specialist shortage in the Russian energy industry with the involvement of HR-branding

This paper aims to identify the problems that mediate the shortage of specialists in the energy sector in Russia. The article analyzes the situation related to the insufficient popularity of engineering education among applicants, which leads to the risk of under-enrollment of students by universities within the budget enrollment control figures, which mediates difficulties in providing the quantitative parameter of the required specialists. Reduction of points for admission to technical profiles by universities leads to the attraction of applicants who do not demonstrate a conscious choice of future profession and, with a high probability, may refuse to work in their specialty, which is demonstrated by the presence in the energy sector of only 23% of specialists under 35 years of age, which is below the national average. As a result of the study it was determined that in the course of joint efforts of the state, universities and energy companies themselves to attract young people to engineering profession and work in the energy sector, the most active role should belong to employers. In this regard, the authors consider the expediency of using HR-branding in the format of expanding the target audience of potential employees of energy companies with the inclusion of preschoolers, schoolchildren and students to whom material and moral value proposition is made. Expanding the audience of the HR-brand of the company to preschoolers, schoolchildren and students, applying real moral and material motivators for them will contribute to the growth of popularity of this area of training and conscious choice of profession, which, in the long term, will solve the issue of the shortage of qualified personnel in the energy sector of Russia.

ENERGY MARKETS IN THE ERA OF GLOBAL INSTABILITY

The article identifies new trends and challenges in the development of the world economy and energy in an era of global instability, including the economic problems of the United States of America, the trend towards dedollarization of the global economy and the transition to alternative payment systems, the deindustrialization of Europe, role of the Government in economy, risks undermining the long-term stability of oil supplies due to underinvestment and limited opportunities to increase new production capacities. The issues of the development of «green» energy are analyzed, while it is shown that hat reducing the causes of global warming solely to CO2 emissions resulting from human activities is not sufficiently substantiated. The possibilities and problems of the fuel and energy sector of Russia in the era of the transformation of the world energy markets and restructuring of Russian’s economy are revealed.

Роль энергетического сектора в обеспечении экономической безопасности Российской Федерации

The article presents the results of a study conducted by its authors. The purpose of the study was to identify and assess the degree of influence of the state of the Russian energy sector on the level of economic security of the country. The analysis of the features and current state of the Russian energy sector, including the country’s position in the world energy markets, is carried out. The main energy factors that pose both internal and external threats to Russia’s national economic security have been identified. Measures are proposed to improve Russia’s domestic and foreign energy policy.