WWEA and FES Russian Federation, in collaboration with Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Russian Association for the Wind Industry RAWI, have conducted the study, Perspectives of the Wind Energy Market in Russia, on the status of the wind energy market in Russia. Recently, Russia has started to re-vive its wind power sector and the first projects of 700MW have been announced to be constructed over the next three years.
However, the research shows that there are numerous barriers in the wind energy market which remain to be addressed. Based on the opinions of key stakeholders of the Russian wind power sector, the main barriers for the Russian wind power industry of today are:
- a general lack of investments and investors which is primarily related to an insufficient and intransparent remuneration scheme and the small market volume but also to the macroeconomic situation in the country.
- a significant number of weaknesses in the regulatory framework, including land use issues, standards etc.
- challenges with grid connection
The study concludes with recommendations on how the identified barriers can be addressed. The main task will be to create an attractive environment for investors by introducing a remuneration system allowing to invest and by defining a market size volume. Creating a sizable market also includes the task of improving the existing standards, introducing a state territory planning program for wind energy projects and starting state participation in pilot projects in remote and isolated regions on a massive scale. To create more transparency for potential market participants would also be an important and general task. It is proposed that the Government of Russia, in consultation with the main stakeholders, develops a “Wind Roadmap for Russia” which may include a strategy for grid connected wind farms as well as the off-grid sector. The report can be downloaded in English and Russian language from the WWEA website.