Energy efficiency

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published the Energy Efficiency 2018 report, in which experts named the energy efficiency “the cornerstone” of a reliable and environmental sustainable global power system.  Conclusions of international analysts may become the guideline to follow for many countries, Russia being one of them, focused at economical growth, representatives of public environmental organizations believe.

Any resident of Russia can now become a producer of renewable energy. The Governmental Commission for legislative drafting activities approved the bill on micro generation.  

Russia’s positions in the international rating of energy efficiency of the major world states composed by the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy (АСЕЕЕ) dropped down. At that, both experts and public environmental activists are sure that energy efficiency might become the core element of modernization and decarbonization of the country’s economy.

“Outcomes of the two decades of reforms in the Russian power sector disappointed those who stand for liberalization and decarbonization,” authors of the Report published by the Oxford Energy Institute wrote.

The President of Russia signed a law that abolishes mandatory energy audits, but at the same time obliges organizations to reduce the use of energy resources. In the opinion of the environmental community, reserves for the improvement of energy efficiency of buildings and organizations’ energy efficient management are enormous and have not been realized yet.

The RF Government has adopted a Complex Plan for the enhancement of energy efficiency of the national economy. A whole list of events focused on the reduction of energy intensity of the gross domestic product until 2030 for “no less than 1.5%” annually, and also on provision of the decrease of technological backwardness of the Russian Federation from the leading countries” has been developed. How realistic is that sort of reboot? 

Up to the present time, decisions on whom to and how preferences for energy saving would be extended was decided at the federal level. Since the beginning of this year, control on the tax privileges for energy efficient objects is delegated to the regions. What should we expect from this sort of changes?  

“Prices of renewable energy are sliding down so fast that in a few years it will be more cost-efficient than produced of any of traditional fossil fuels,” experts of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) came to this conclusion in their Report on Renewable Power Generation Costs, presented at the 8^th Assembly of the organization.

Promotion of the energy efficient style of life became one of the criteria for assessment of regional authorities. The Ministry of Energy published the second rating of the energy efficiency of the Russian regions. As the data show, the level of budget financing is not always the governing factor for implementation of the energy efficiency programs.