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16.06.2025
Technologies for affordable and sustainable energy
Preamble:
Head of direction Public Joint Stock Company «T Plus» Investments in technologies: Technologies for affordable and sustainable energy In the modern world, energy is one of the key foundations of economic development and social wellbeing. However, access to sustainable and afford able energy remains a major challenge for countries of the Global South and East. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), approximately 760 million people still have no access to electricity, and more than 2.6 billion use traditional types of biomass for cooking, which negatively affects their health and the environment.
Energy technologies can become the solution to these problems, as they not only ensure access to energy, but also create preconditions for sustainable development. Under conditions of the global energy transition caused by cli mate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, countries of the Global South and East are facing a dual challenge: to ensure energy security and simultaneously switch to low carbon energy sources. Russia being one of the major players on the global energy market can play an important role in this process. Having significant resources and technological expertise Russia is able to offer solutions that will help countries of the Global South and East to overcome energy poverty and achieve goals of sustainable development.
The essence of the hypothesis:
Hypothesis of this essay is that development of technologies for affordable and sustainable energy can become a driver of global growth, especially for countries of the Global South and East. This requires concentration on several key aspects:
1. Renewable energy sources (RES). Solar and wind energy becomes more accessible. According to report by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), over the past decade, the cost of solar energy reduced by 85%, and that of wind energy reduced by 56%. This makes RES attractive for countries with limited financial resources.
2. Energy efficiency and smart grids. Implementation of energy efficiency and smart grid technologies enables energy consumption optimisation and loss reduction. For example, in India implementation of smart grids helped to reduce energy losses by 15%, which is equivalent to annual savings of USD 6 billion.
3. Hydrogen energy. Hydrogen, especially “green” hydrogen (i.e. produced using RES), is considered to be the key element of the future energy system. Russia is actively developing this area and plans to occupy 20% of the world's hydrogen market by 2030.
4. Small modular reactors (SMR). SMRs can become the solution to energy shortage in countries with limited infrastructure. Russia already oper ates “Akademik Lomonosov” floating nuclear power plant that supplies energy to remote regions.
Focus on economic and social effects Development of affordable and sustainable energy has significant economic and social consequences:
• Economic effect. Access to energy stimulates industrial development, creation of new job opportunities, and GDP growth. For example, in Africa, introduction of solar power plants in rural areas made it possible to create thousands of job opportunities and increase incomes of local communities.
• Social effect. Energy improves quality of life: it provides access to educa tion, healthcare, and modern communications. In Bangladesh, a program of solar panel installation in houses allowed 20 million people to gain access to electricity, which positively affected the level of education and health.
• Ecological effect. Switch to low carbon energy sources reduces green house gas emissions and improves ecological situation. For example, in China introduction of wind power plants helped to reduce CO2 emis sions by 200 million tons a year.
General conclusions, expected results:
Technologies for affordable and sustainable energy are not only a tool to solve energy problems, but also a powerful driver of global growth. These tech nologies provide new opportunities for economic development and improved quality of life in countries of the Global South and East.
Having significant resources and technological expertise Russia can play the key role in this process. Support of such areas as RES, hydrogen energy, SMR, and smart grids will not only strengthen Russia's position on the global energy market, but also contribute to the achievement of global sustainable develop ment goals.
Expected results include:
• Reduced energy poverty in the countries of the Global South and East.
• New markets for Russian technologies and equipment. • Strengthening of international cooperation in the energy sector.
• Achievement of the goals of the Paris climate agreement.
• Thus, technologies for affordable and sustainable energy are not just a fash ionable trend, but a necessary condition for sustainable and equitable future.
Head of direction Public Joint Stock Company «T Plus» Investments in technologies: Technologies for affordable and sustainable energy In the modern world, energy is one of the key foundations of economic development and social wellbeing. However, access to sustainable and afford able energy remains a major challenge for countries of the Global South and East. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), approximately 760 million people still have no access to electricity, and more than 2.6 billion use traditional types of biomass for cooking, which negatively affects their health and the environment.
Energy technologies can become the solution to these problems, as they not only ensure access to energy, but also create preconditions for sustainable development. Under conditions of the global energy transition caused by cli mate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, countries of the Global South and East are facing a dual challenge: to ensure energy security and simultaneously switch to low carbon energy sources. Russia being one of the major players on the global energy market can play an important role in this process. Having significant resources and technological expertise Russia is able to offer solutions that will help countries of the Global South and East to overcome energy poverty and achieve goals of sustainable development.
The essence of the hypothesis:
Hypothesis of this essay is that development of technologies for affordable and sustainable energy can become a driver of global growth, especially for countries of the Global South and East. This requires concentration on several key aspects:
1. Renewable energy sources (RES). Solar and wind energy becomes more accessible. According to report by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), over the past decade, the cost of solar energy reduced by 85%, and that of wind energy reduced by 56%. This makes RES attractive for countries with limited financial resources.
2. Energy efficiency and smart grids. Implementation of energy efficiency and smart grid technologies enables energy consumption optimisation and loss reduction. For example, in India implementation of smart grids helped to reduce energy losses by 15%, which is equivalent to annual savings of USD 6 billion.
3. Hydrogen energy. Hydrogen, especially “green” hydrogen (i.e. produced using RES), is considered to be the key element of the future energy system. Russia is actively developing this area and plans to occupy 20% of the world's hydrogen market by 2030.
4. Small modular reactors (SMR). SMRs can become the solution to energy shortage in countries with limited infrastructure. Russia already oper ates “Akademik Lomonosov” floating nuclear power plant that supplies energy to remote regions.
Focus on economic and social effects Development of affordable and sustainable energy has significant economic and social consequences:
• Economic effect. Access to energy stimulates industrial development, creation of new job opportunities, and GDP growth. For example, in Africa, introduction of solar power plants in rural areas made it possible to create thousands of job opportunities and increase incomes of local communities.
• Social effect. Energy improves quality of life: it provides access to educa tion, healthcare, and modern communications. In Bangladesh, a program of solar panel installation in houses allowed 20 million people to gain access to electricity, which positively affected the level of education and health.
• Ecological effect. Switch to low carbon energy sources reduces green house gas emissions and improves ecological situation. For example, in China introduction of wind power plants helped to reduce CO2 emis sions by 200 million tons a year.
General conclusions, expected results:
Technologies for affordable and sustainable energy are not only a tool to solve energy problems, but also a powerful driver of global growth. These tech nologies provide new opportunities for economic development and improved quality of life in countries of the Global South and East.
Having significant resources and technological expertise Russia can play the key role in this process. Support of such areas as RES, hydrogen energy, SMR, and smart grids will not only strengthen Russia's position on the global energy market, but also contribute to the achievement of global sustainable develop ment goals.
Expected results include:
• Reduced energy poverty in the countries of the Global South and East.
• New markets for Russian technologies and equipment. • Strengthening of international cooperation in the energy sector.
• Achievement of the goals of the Paris climate agreement.
• Thus, technologies for affordable and sustainable energy are not just a fash ionable trend, but a necessary condition for sustainable and equitable future.
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