Potential Impact of Renewable Energy on the Sustainable Development of Russian Arctic Territories

Accessibility, affordability, and efficiency of clean energy: a review and research agenda

Clean, affordable, and efficient energy sources are inevitable for a sustainable world. Energy crisis, especially the poor access and affordability, demand-supply mismatches, energy inequality, and high dependence on non-renewable energy sources, are the challenges before the attainment of clean energy goals for sustainable development. The 5-year review from the adoption of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by using bibliometric and thematic analysis was conducted in this review. This review is a synthesis of 175 scientific papers on SDG 7. Policy reforms and better funding; technology innovation and inclusion; and economic growth, rapid promotion of renewable, and alternative fuels are the recommendations for the achievement of the energy goals. Future research on energy-related goals should focus on energy justice, policy reforms, energy poverty, poor affordability, off-grid transmissions, renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, reforms in the energy supply chain, and international cooperation for better implementation of projects and for attracting foreign capital and private funds. This paper invites the attention of practitioners, academicians, funding agencies, and international agencies to collaborate in the initiatives for a clean, green, and energized world.

Hardware and Software Implementation for Solar Hot Water System in Northern Regions of Russia

Acceleration of energy transition will become the crucial social, political and technical challenge of the 21st century and will be largely associated with the growing use of renewable energy sources, including solar power. This study provides some experimental results of using solar hot water systems (HWS) embedded in apartment buildings located in the energy-efficient district called Zhatay in Yakutsk city, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The low annual solar fraction of HWS was found for 2019. It is equal to 0.2869 and caused by thermal energy loss from the hydraulic circuit during the nighttime. The study suggests increasing solar fraction in HWS and implementing a software and hardware system. The experimental evaluation of these studies was performed by testing a solar water heating pilot plant in Kaftanchikovo village in Tomsk Region (Western Siberia). As a result of HWS testing, it was found that the annual solar fraction can be significantly increased by preventing the heating agent from night freezing in hydraulic circuits of tube collectors, even when the outdoor temperature is below its freezing point.

Strategic Sustainability of Offshore Arctic Oil and Gas Projects: Definition, Principles, and Conceptual Framework

Exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Arctic offshore is one of Russia’s key priorities in such areas as science, economy, and technology. Global trends, harsh climate conditions, fragile ecosystems, conditions of the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, price volatility, and the growing importance of the environmental factor require that the process of developing the Arctic’s hydrocarbon resources should become strategically sustainable. The paper provides a deep literature review on sustainability issues, sustainable development, strategic sustainability, and project efficiency in the Arctic offshore oil and gas sector. The paper analyzes the trends and conditions that substantiate the need to transform the traditional sustainability concept to meet new challenges and comply with new policies. Based on the analysis, the authors propose a definition of and a conceptual framework for strategic sustainability of oil and gas offshore projects in the Arctic.