Events/Comments

The beginning of the Silk Road Forum in Beijing on May 14 was marked by the EU's demands for openness and social and environmental responsibility of Chinese projects in Eurasian countries. Meanwhile, before the Silk Road Forum, residents of the Kabansky district of Buryatia thanked the Eximbank and Department of the People's Republic of China for compliance with the recommendations of the World Heritage Convention, after China froze the financing of the Egiin hydroelectric power station in the catchment area of the Lake Baikal.

Russia can quadruple its quota in renewable energy sources in it power balance by 2030.  The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) had presented a special report on the “RESs Road Map 2030. Prospects for the Development of Renewable Energy for RF.” Even the ambitious plans we can hear today can provide for a lot less than Russia needs and than it corresponds to its RESs resources, representatives of public environmental organizations believe.

Russian scholars have developed a climate model which allows to identify the most vulnerable to climate change territories. Support of scholarly researches and programs for adaptation of Russian regions should be the priority of state support, representatives of public environmental organizations believe.

Representatives of the Russian energy business argue against reduction of state support to renewable energy sources.  Representatives of the Enel energy company established in the result of reforming RAO UES of Russia sent a letter to Vice Prime Minister Arkadiy Dvorkovich concerning the negative impact on the economy of the resolution on reduction of the RESs-generated power takeoff.

Technological changes in the sphere of power consumption and production can “release” from USD 900 billion to USD 1.6 trillion for the global economy by 2035. McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) has published a new report on how technologies change the world.

Abandoning coal is turning into one of the most talked about topics in the global climate community. Former apologists of the coal energy get onto the low-carbon path.  What complaints ecologists have against the fossil fuel and why do they call for the life without coal?

Owners of small renewable energy units (RESs) will be allowed not only to tap into power lines but also to surrender a part of their own produced energy. Deputy RF Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich commissioned field-specific departments to develop a plan for the enhancement of micro generation capacities.

Discussion about the prospects of renewable energy sources was one of the brightest at the Gaidar Forum.  The Rosnano Head named RESs among the three major trends which should transform the Russian economy.