Russia solar power backup systems

Is solar energy on the verge of a major expansion in Russia?

Vadim Braidov / TASS Solar energy in Russia might be on the verge of a major expansion, thanks to a government support program for renewable energy sources, industry experts told The Moscow Times. Russia, the world’s fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has historically relied on its vast oil and gas reserves to bolster its economy.

Does Russia have enough solar energy?

There is no sun there!’ Well, our data tells us differently.” Moscow-based renewables company Unigreen Energy, which has received a government guarantee that it will be paid extra for the power it adds to local grids, said Russia has more than enough insolation — solar radiation hitting an object — to produce solar energy.

Is Russia moving from fossil fuels to renewables?

As the third-largest carbon emitter in human history, Russia faces an uphill battle in its attempts to move from fossil fuels to renewable and other sources of clean energy. The global economy gets roughly 10% of its power from wind and solar sources, while in Russia, solar’s share is just 0.2%.

Could a hybrid solar-diesel power station help Russia's Arctic settlements?

“Most Russian regions have high insolation — above 1,000 — the level required to generate energy,” the company said in a statement. Both Unigreen and HEVEL experts said Russia’s many Arctic settlements could benefit from hybrid solar-diesel power stations that would cut costs and solve supply chain and shortage problems.

Why do Russia's fossil fuel companies pay trillions of rubles a year?

The government gives fossil fuel companies trillions of rubles in tax incentives each year, even though they already turn the same amount in profits, according to Greenpeace Russia. Russia is also one of the world’s biggest exporters of natural gas, coal and oil.