• Energy Research
• 2021-2025close
• 13. Climate action close
• 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.

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.

The article provides a comparative analysis of the development of thermal power engineering. In terms of their level, thermal power plants are morally and physically obsolete. Such low efficiency thermal power industry is the result of a complex of negative factors: the old age of the existing plants, the low quality of the produced steam, low-quality coal, production discipline in operation and maintenance, as well as the refusal to introduce new technologies. The efficiency of converting primary fuel and energy resources into electricity at thermal power plants was 33%, while the EU average is 39% (only other hard coals are taken into account). В статье анализируются изменения в мировом энергетическом секторе в плоть до 2026 года. Планируется революционный путь изменения структуры производства электроэнергии. Однако ЕС-2035 не делит свои объемы по исходным топливно-энергетическим ресурсам и возобновляемым источникам энергии. Вышеизложенное ставит под сомнение возможность балансировки спроса и предложения в будущем. Бурное развитие негарантированной возобновляемой генерации электроэнергии (солнечной и ветровой), зависящей от погодных условий, не поддерживается маневровыми мощностями тепловой энергии, в том числе с использованием биомассы. Экономика и предпринимательство, Выпуск 3 (152) 2023, Pages 663-666

Reconnaissant les conséquences dévastatrices de la détérioration de l'environnement, les membres méditerranéens se sont engagés à adopter les plans d'action du traité de 2015 de l'Accord de Paris sur le climat (COP21) alors que les émissions de dioxyde de carbone (CO2) augmentent dans la région méditerranéenne, ce qui semble être un grave défi pour l'environnement mondial. À cette fin, notre étude a examiné l'impact des investissements directs étrangers (IDE) sur la dégradation de l'environnement des membres méditerranéens pour la période allant de 1995 à 2016. Cependant, des variables telles que le développement financier, la croissance économique, les énergies renouvelables et les combustibles fossiles ont été examinées plus en détail par la méthodologie de retard réparti auto-régressif groupé par panneaux transversaux, le groupe à moyenne augmentée (AMG) et le test de causalité par panneaux Dumitrescu et Hurlin ont été utilisés pour l'analyse de causalité. Les résultats de la co-intégration de Westerlund (2007) montrent une relation d'équilibre à long terme entre les variables mises en évidence. Le résultat empirique a révélé une relation négative entre les IDE et l'hypothèse Hallo du polluant indicateur de CO2 (PHH). De plus, le revenu et son carré montrent une courbe en forme de U inversé indiquant l'hypothèse de la courbe de Kuznets environnementale (EKC). Tant le développement financier que les énergies renouvelables ont indiqué une association négative avec les émissions de CO2, tandis que les combustibles fossiles avaient une relation positive avec les émissions. Cependant, il y avait une causalité de rétroaction entre le revenu et les émissions de carbone ainsi que le développement financier et les émissions de carbone. En outre, nous observons que les IDE et les émissions de carbone, les énergies renouvelables et les émissions de carbone, ainsi que les émissions de combustibles fossiles et de carbone ont une relation de causalité unidirectionnelle. Dans l'ensemble, l'étude suggère certaines prescriptions politiques, notamment la mise en œuvre d'initiatives de conservation et la mise en place d'une réglementation et de stratégies en matière d'énergie propre pour le bloc étudié. Reconociendo las devastadoras consecuencias del deterioro ambiental, los miembros mediterráneos se comprometen a adoptar los planes de acción del tratado de 2015 del Acuerdo Climático de París (COP21), ya que las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2) están aumentando en la región mediterránea, lo que parece ser un grave desafío para el medio ambiente de nuestro mundo. Con este fin, nuestro estudio examinó el impacto de la Inversión Extranjera Directa (IED) en la degradación ambiental de los miembros mediterráneos durante el período comprendido entre 1995 y 2016. Sin embargo, variables como el desarrollo financiero, el crecimiento económico, las energías renovables y los combustibles fósiles se examinaron más a fondo mediante la metodología de retardo distribuido autorregresivo agrupado de panel transversal de uso, el Grupo de media aumentada (AMG) y la prueba de causalidad de panel de Dumitrescu y Hurlin para el análisis de causalidad. Los resultados de la cointegración de Westerlund (2007) muestran una relación de equilibrio a largo plazo entre las variables resaltadas. El resultado empírico reveló una relación negativa entre la IED y el CO2, lo que indica la hipótesis del hallo contaminante (PHH). Además, el ingreso y su cuadrado muestran una curva en forma de U invertida que indica la hipótesis de la curva de Kuznets ambiental (EKC). Tanto el desarrollo financiero como las energías renovables indicaron una asociación adversa con las emisiones de CO2, mientras que los combustibles fósiles tuvieron una relación positiva con las emisiones. Sin embargo, hubo una causalidad de retroalimentación entre los ingresos y las emisiones de carbono, así como el desarrollo financiero y las emisiones de carbono. Además, observamos que la IED y las emisiones de carbono, las energías renovables y las emisiones de carbono, así como los combustibles fósiles y las emisiones de carbono, tenían una relación causal unidireccional. En general, el estudio sugiere algunas prescripciones de políticas, incluida la implementación de iniciativas de conservación y el establecimiento de regulaciones y estrategias de energía limpia para el bloque investigado. In acknowledgment of the devastating consequences of environmental deterioration, the Mediterranean members are committed to adopt the 2015 treaty action plans of the Paris Climate Agreement (COP21) as carbon dioxide emission (CO2) are on the rise in the Mediterranean region, which seems to be a serious challenge to our world's environment. To this end, our study examined the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on environmental degradation for the Mediterranean members for the period between 1995 to 2016. However, variables such as, financial development, economic growth, renewable energy and fossil fuel were further examined by the use cross-sectional-Panel pooled Auto Regressive Distributed Lag methodology, Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test was used for causality analysis. The co-integration results from Westerlund (2007) shows a long-run equilibrium relationship between highlighted variables. The empirical result revealed a negative relation between FDI and CO2 indicating pollutant Hallo Hypothesis (PHH). Moreover, income and its square show an inverted U-Shaped curve indicating environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Both financial development and renewable energy indicated an adverse association with CO2 emission whereas fossil fuel had a positive relationship with emissions. However, there was a feedback causality among income and carbon emission as well as financial development and carbon emission. Furthermore, we observe that FDI and carbon emission, renewable energy and carbon emission, as well as fossil fuel and carbon emission were found to have one-way causal relationship. Overall, the study suggests some policy prescriptions including the implementation of conservation initiatives and the establishment of clean energy regulation and strategies for the investigated bloc. اعترافاً بالعواقب المدمرة للتدهور البيئي، يلتزم أعضاء البحر الأبيض المتوسط باعتماد خطط عمل اتفاقية باريس للمناخ لعام 2015 (COP21) مع ارتفاع انبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون (CO2) في منطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط، والتي يبدو أنها تشكل تحدياً خطيراً لبيئة عالمنا. ولتحقيق هذه الغاية، درست دراستنا تأثير الاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر على التدهور البيئي لأعضاء منطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط للفترة من 1995 إلى 2016. ومع ذلك، تم فحص متغيرات مثل التنمية المالية والنمو الاقتصادي والطاقة المتجددة والوقود الأحفوري بشكل أكبر من خلال استخدام منهجية التأخر الموزع الانحداري التلقائي المجمعة باللوحة المقطعية، وتم استخدام مجموعة المتوسط المعزز (AMG) واختبار سببية لوحة دوميتريسكو وهيرلين لتحليل السببية. تُظهر نتائج التكامل المشترك من ويسترلوند (2007) علاقة توازن طويلة المدى بين المتغيرات البارزة. كشفت النتيجة التجريبية عن وجود علاقة سلبية بين الاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر وثاني أكسيد الكربون مما يشير إلى فرضية هالو الملوثة (PHH). علاوة على ذلك، يُظهر الدخل ومربعه منحنى مقلوب على شكل حرف U يشير إلى فرضية منحنى كوزنتس البيئي (EKC). وأشار كل من التطور المالي والطاقة المتجددة إلى وجود ارتباط سلبي بانبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون في حين أن الوقود الأحفوري له علاقة إيجابية بالانبعاثات. ومع ذلك، كانت هناك علاقة ارتجاعية بين الدخل وانبعاثات الكربون وكذلك التنمية المالية وانبعاثات الكربون. علاوة على ذلك، نلاحظ أن الاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر وانبعاثات الكربون والطاقة المتجددة وانبعاثات الكربون، وكذلك الوقود الأحفوري وانبعاثات الكربون، لها علاقة سببية أحادية الاتجاه. بشكل عام، تقترح الدراسة بعض الوصفات السياسية بما في ذلك تنفيذ مبادرات الحفظ ووضع لوائح واستراتيجيات للطاقة النظيفة للكتلة التي تم التحقيق فيها.

Currently, there is a growing number of studies related to assessing the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy projects around the world. This topic is also very relevant for the Russian energy market that is otherwise dominated by oil and gas. The Russian Ministry of Energy forecasts that local power plants running on the renewable energy sources (RES) may not become economically efficient until 2025 or later. However, a research question arises: Is it possible to effectively implement RES projects in Russia without any state support? In order to answer this question, the authors need to assess the economic feasibility of seven scenarios for the construction of a solar power plant in the Orenburg region of Russia. The methodological basis of this work is the widely used in the energy sector classic method of investment analysis based on the calculation of discounted indicators: net present value (NPV), payback period (DPP) and internal rate of return (IRR) of the project. All our calculations are based on industry-specific initial capital investment estimates, energy storage equipment costs, and related annual operating costs. This led to the development of the scenarios on the basis of an analysis of the features of electricity and capacity generation in the Orenburg region, the existing options for joining the trading system of the energy market, energy storage applications, as well as the availability of the Russian government support and funding for the solar energy projects. Our results demonstrate that the economic feasibility of the development of renewable energy in Russia can become a reality. Out of the seven scenarios, three yielded the positive economic outcome (among them there were the two project scenarios without government support). These two projects featured the sale of electricity in retail markets and the installation of an additional energy storage system, despite an almost twofold increase in capital investments. The projects in question achieved the best economic results according to the three calculated criteria. In particular, the scenario that provided for the work on the retail market directly to the energy consumer receives an NPV of more than 1.5 times higher than other projects, an IRR of 10% and pays off at least 3 years faster. Achieving a positive economic result in the wholesale market was possible only in case of state support for the project. In addition, this scenario of the project numerically reached almost identical indicators, as in the case of selling energy on the retail market in the region where the power facility operates: NPV is almost 127 million rubles, IRR is within 13.9%, and DPP is 15 years. Other scenarios that do not provide for the use of energy storage systems or do not have state support for working in the wholesale market are not self-sustaining even during the 25-year life of energy equipment. These results might have practical significance and will be used in developing an approach to creating a profile of regions in terms of the advancements of renewable energy, as well as in developing strategies for the incentives of this sector in Russia.

Despite the drive for increased environmental protection and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), coal, oil, and natural gas use continues to dominate Japan’s energy mix. In light of this issue, this research assessed the position of natural gas, oil, and coal energy use in Japan’s environmental mitigation efforts from the perspective of sustainable development with respect to economic growth between 1965 and 2019. In this regard, the study employs Bayer and Hanck cointegration, fully modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS), and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) to investigate these interconnections. The empirical findings from this study revealed that the utilization of natural gas, oil, and coal energy reduces the sustainability of the environment with oil consumption having the most significant impact. Furthermore, the study validates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in Japan. The outcomes of the Gradual shift causality showed that CO2 emissions can predict economic growth, while oil, coal, and energy consumption can predict CO2 emissions in Japan. Given Japan’s ongoing energy crisis, this innovative analysis provides valuable policy insights to stakeholders and authorities in the nation’s energy sector.