Renewable Energy Trends within the Concept of Low-Carbon Development
В. В. Елистратов
Abstract
Abstract Many countries have a policy of making commitments to low-carbon development and adopting National Contribution Levels (NLCs) for greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with the Paris Agreement. The main development direction of the world energetics in the 21st century is to reach the 4th energy transition, associated with the gradual displacement of fossil fuels under the influence of climate change and the broader and widespread use of renewable energy sources. Analysis of energy development showed that in 2022 the installed capacity of power plants in the world amounted to 7655 GW, including: the capacity of fossil fuel (oil and gas) power plants amounted to about 55%—4213 GW; nuclear power plant—415 GW (5.4%); large hydroelectric power plants—1332 GW (17.4%); wind power plants—840 GW (11%); solar power plants—715 GW (9.3%); biofuel power plants—126.6 GW (1.7%); geothermal power plants—14.1 GW (0.2%). In general, low-carbon technologies (nuclear, hydro and renewable energy) provide over 36% of total energy production. Russian renewable energy development program provides for the commissioning of 5.8 GW of renewable energy capacities by 2024, including: WPPs—3.4 GW, SPVPPs—2.2 GW and small HPPs—0.2 GW. As of the end of 2020, more than 1500 MW were commissioned at the SPVPPs, about 1025 MW at the WPPs. Taken together, low-carbon energy production technologies in Russia provide about 37% of total electricity production.