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The paper contributes to the literature by developing a linear programming (LP) model for optimization of the development of the regional energy system according to environmental and economic criteria by involving various types of renewable energy sources in the energy balance. The environmental criteria are taken into account throughout the entire life cycle of each energy product. Validation of the model was carried out on the example of a large southern region of Russia - Krasnodar Territory. This region was chosen for testing for several reasons: firstly, the region has significant potential for the development of various types of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind energy, hydro- and geothermal energy, rich biological resources, as well as a large number of bio-waste that can be considered as resources for bioenergy. Secondly, the Krasnodar Territory is currently one of the most densely populated and dynamically developing regions of Russia, experiencing a serious energy shortage and problems with air quality in large cities. The solution of the LP problem shows that when optimizing the development of the regional energy system of the Krasnodar Territory in terms of economic parameters, it is advisable to include bio-waste and municipal solid waste as priority energy sources. Solar power generation is involved in development on a leftover basis in order to make up the difference between the already used renewable energy sources and the required heat and electricity demand. When optimizing the energy balance according to environmental criteria, the involvement of biogas in the energy balance becomes impractical, therefore, after the complete use of the potential for processing solid waste and wind energy, the gap between the used potential of renewable energy sources and the required volume of generation can be replenished through the development of photovoltaics. Keywords: regional energy system, energy balance, environmental footprint, product life cycle analysis, linear programming, simplex method, shadow pricesJEL Classifications: O44, Q01DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.11377

The Krasnodar Territory is considered one of most attractive regions in Russia in terms of its climatic characteristics for the development of renewable energy sources. According to the current plans of Russian Ministry of Energy, the cumulative capacity of wind generating facilities in the Krasnodar Territory will reach 405 MW by 2022. It is well known form the literature, the average installed capacity utilization factor of wind turbines currently is about 30%. Comparatively low installed capacity utilization factor of wind parks significantly increases their payback period, thereby reducing commercial attractiveness. However, from an environmental point of view, low installed capacity utilization factor of wind plant can also be a problem: this means that most of the energy and materials spent on the manufacturing of an energy object do not produce a useful output, in other words, wasted. Therefore, a promising way to increase the installed capacity utilization factor of wind and solar plants is the use of energy storage systems. But the production and disposal of chemical energy storage systems is also associated with significant negative environmental effects, therefore, in the case of their large-scale application it is necessary to correctly assess the environmental consequences of this method of increasing the installed capacity utilization factor of wind plants. In this study we evaluate on the basis of the LCA methodology two possible alternatives: (i) the use of wind parks without energy storage systems, and (ii) the production of energy storage systems necessary for the accumulation of electricity produced by wind parks in the Krasnodar Territory, which cannot be supplied to the power system and, hence, is thrown away.Keywords: wind energy, LCA, regional energy system, energy storage, strategic planningJEL Classifications: O33, Q42, Q47, Q48DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.8791

In this article we examine the risks of reducing the consumption of natural gas in the countries that are the largest exporters of Russian natural gas (Germany, Italy, Turkey, China) caused by the development of renewable energy. The forecast of natural gas consumption is built up to 2030 by extrapolating the trend of time series, while selecting the type of trend takes into account the S-shaped development of new energy technologies. Two scenarios are considered: the first involves the development of the electric power industry in the way of “business as usual”, while the second takes into account the development of intelligent grids and the Internet of energy (IoE). The results show that the intensive development of renewable energy in combination with the digitalization of electric grids can create the most significant risks for the development of gas energy in Germany and Turkey. In Germany, these risks are determined to a greater extent by the desire of the authorities to maintain the achieved level of energy security, which will inevitably fall with a decrease in coal generation and an increase in the share of gas. In Turkey, these risks are determined by the purely technical and technological development of the country, its dynamics and nature.Keywords: renewable energy, natural gas exports, risk analysis, forecastJEL Classifications: O33, Q42, Q47, Q48DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.8627