• Energy Research
• 13. Climate action close
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• Ural Federal University close

Nowadays, most countries of the world are implementing the transition to the low-carbon economy which implies the need to carry out a full-scale eco-modernization of the energy sector. Green energy may be identified as one of the core concerns of energy sector modernization as it allows a considerable decrease in emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Therefore, nuclear and renewable energy may become key areas of global energy development in the near future, which is also in agreement with circular economy concepts. However, public opinion (and other controversial visions/aspects) is one of the barriers to their development. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between attitudes towards nuclear and renewable energy in two countries: a EU country (Italy) and a non-EU country (Russia), considering the level of their development. The authors conducted a survey among residents regarding their attitude towards nuclear and renewable energy, as well as their attitude to the present energy policy. The cluster analysis technique was used to analyze the results. The obtained results confirmed the dependence between the level of development of nuclear and renewable energy and the public attitude towards it. The national energy policy also might influence public opinion on the development of nuclear or renewable energy. The authors identified public attitude as one of the key factors in the development of energy and the achievement of environmental and social sustainability.

Over the last few decades, environmental deterioration has accelerated significantly. Environmental degradation has been a subject of research across the world because of its impact on billions of people. However, there has been no international agreement on lowering the utilization of energy and CO2 emissions (CO2), while demand for fossil fuels grows in emerging economies. On the other hand, the recent COP26 summit brought all parties together to accelerate action toward reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Although previous research shows that international trade promotes positive socioeconomic outcomes, other experts argue that it contributes to natural resource shortages and ecological deterioration. Thus, the current research considers the effect of international trade, renewable energy use and technological innovation on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2), coupled with the role of financial development and economic growth in the BRICS economies between 1990 and 2018. Moreover, this research utilizes the common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG), augmented mean group (AMG) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality methods to assess these interrelationships. The study findings reveal that renewable energy use, exports and technological innovation mitigate CCO2, whereas economic growth and imports trigger CCO2 in the BRICS economies. The panel causality outcomes also reveal that all the variables except financial development can predict CCO2 emissions. Based on the study findings, we recommend the adoption of policies, regulations and the development of legislative frameworks that promote technological innovation and the shift toward sustainable energy.

Predicting the variability of wind energy resources at different time scales is extremely important for effective energy management. The need to obtain the most accurate forecast of wind speed due to its high degree of volatility is particularly acute since this can significantly improve the planning of wind energy production, reduce costs and improve the use of resources. In this study, a method for predicting the speed of wind flow in an isolated power system of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), based on the use of a neural network with a learning process control algorithm, is proposed. Predicting is performed for four seasons of the year, based on hourly retrospective meteorological data of wind speed observations. The obtained wind speed average error forecasting ranged from 20–28% for a day ahead. The prediction results serve as a basis for optimizing the energy consumption of individual generating consumers to minimize their financial and technical costs. In addition, this study takes into account the possibility of exporting electricity to a neighboring country as an additional income line for the isolated GBAO power system during periods of excess energy from hydropower plants (March–September), which is a systematic vision of solving the problem of improving energy efficiency in the conditions of autonomous power supply.

In the present study, the current scenario through concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in India was presented. In this paper, a 100 MW parabolic trough collector () thermal power plant selected for the simulation by using System Advisory Model (). Six potential sites were selected for installing solar thermal power plants (STP) throughout India were identified . From the simulation thermal energy storage (TES) performed to obtain the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) was recorded for each potential site. From the results indicates that LCOE under the optimization conditions for thermal plants in were recorded for each site were Bhopal (16.62 ¢/kWh), Jhansi (16.97¢/kWh), Jalandhar (17.88 ¢/kWh), Srikakulam (16.65¢/kWh), West Medinapur (20.29 ¢/kWh), and Erode (15.95 ¢/kWh) respectively. Although the LCOE is lowest in Erode, because of better availability of including government lands, water facilities, transportation facility, transmission lines, and electrical grid stations Jalandhar makes more feasible site for setting PTC solar power plant. In addition, this paper also discussed major potential barriers, and government policies that are needed to develop the CSP technologies in India are presented.

This paper presents an analysis of the renewable energy-based plant operation using special systems designed for monitoring the plant operation parameters and for performing the atmospheric parameters control.

The problem of the municipal solid waste (MSW) formation and recycling has been very important for many decades in the Russian Federation. The sustainable development of the Russian Federation subjects and municipalities, their evolution to the status of “smart cities” is not possible without solving this problem. The current situation in the area of SHW treatment leads to the dangerous environmental pollution, improper use of the natural resources, and the significant economic damage and poses a threat to the health of the present and future generations of the country. The authors examine the issues of implementation of the changes in the field of municipal solid waste management legislation. The problems of the comprehensive waste management are also discussed on the example of the Sverdlovsk region (Sverdlovskaya Oblast).

Our paper focuses on assessing the role of state funding in supporting wind energy projects with a focus on economic efficiency and risk assessment. In particular, we analyze the new program aimed at supporting Russian renewable energy (RE) projects envisaged for the period from 2024–2035 that involves a reduction in investments in such projects and the introduction of large fines for non-compliance with regulatory requirements for localization and export. These strict rules imposed by the regulatory authorities, as well as the withdrawal by foreign manufacturers of equipment for renewable energy from the domestic energy market, put into doubt the economic feasibility of the participation of sector players in state-supported programs. Our paper assesses the economic justification for the practicality of the Russian energy market to implement renewable energy projects under the influence of negative environmental factors and the reduction of state support programs. We employ a case study of wind energy projects carried out in 2018–2020 as a part of the first sector support program. Our methodology is based on the calculations of the classical indicators of economic efficiency of projects (NPV, IRR, and DPP). Our own approach reveals that these indicators are supplemented by taking into account the cost of specific political, environmental, and economic risks of wind energy projects. Our results reveal that, at the moment, Russian wind energy projects in various scenarios retain a sufficient margin of financial strength and are able to withstand a reduction in the amount of financial support from the state. Our findings allow the formulation of some practical recommendations for reducing the share of governmental support for wind energy projects on the local energy market as a measure of cutting costs and increasing overall economic efficiency.

Today, the world is confronted with the issue of environmental pollution as a result of our dependence on fossil fuels for our energy needs. Developed and developing countries are therefore adopting different strategies to curb environmental problems. This work is thus designed to probe the effect of renewable energy (RE), information and communication technologies (ICT), government stability, and GDP on ecological footprints (EF) in G11 nations. We utilized the annual data from 1990–2020 and applied robust methodologies to present the findings. The CS-ARDL method shows that renewable energy, ICT, and government stability are essential factors in lowering environmental pollution in G11 countries. Therefore, in light of the findings, this work suggests an increase in the use of RE sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower in the total energy mix of the various countries. RE usage improves air quality and saves the natural environment from further destruction. The countries also need to enhance their communication technologies in the economic sector. Moreover, policymakers must also introduce the required policies that would promote the use of RE in various countries. This will make people adopt clean energy sources at the domestic and commercial levels.

Abstract Ghana has been facing cyclical erratic power supply in recent years due to increasing population, urbanization and industrialization. The country’s electricity generation is hugely dependent on fossil fuels which makes the cost of electricity generation susceptible to cost of fuel on the international market and other economic factors such as exchange rate, despite the country’s huge renewable energy potentials. This research used the SWOT analytical approach to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the country’s renewable energy sector. Results from the analysis shows that, geographical location, political stability and availability of Renewable Energy Act (Act 832) are the main strengths. However, issues such as complex and bureaucratic procedures in securing licenses and the high initial cost of renewable energy projects are some of the key weaknesses in the sector. The study also identified the existence of a regional integration network in the sub-region and increasing electricity demand as the major opportunities. Insufficient research and development were identified as the greatest threat to the sustainable development of the sector followed by unequal playing field and changing climatic conditions. The research therefore proposed some recommendations to the government to help in the development of the country’s renewable energy sector.

The paper suggests a methodological approach for assessing the sustainability of the urban transport system. Parameters were selected for assessing the sustainability of the transport system and significant factors affecting sustainability were determined. Parameters of the sustainability of the system when changes in the weather and road conditions affect vehicle operation were estimated on the basis of the simulation modeling. An integral indicator of sustainability was introduced to evaluate the sustainability of the transport flow management subsystem and the methodological approach to its calculation was substantiated. The results from changing the parameters of the traffic flow were demonstrated in the case of a significant amount of precipitation and the constraints put on the movement of vehicles on the road infrastructure unit due to snow-removal operations and road traffic accidents. Also, the parameters of road traffic under the reconstruction of the main street of regulated traffic into a street of uninterrupted traffic were presented.