Off-grid renewable energy in remote Arctic areas: An analysis of the Russian Far East

Electricity supply in remote areas of the Russian territory is heavily dependent on diesel sources. Diesel generation imposes an important economic and social burden on the local population, besides the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions, black carbon and oil spills. Switching to renewable energy could reduce the current economic, social and environmental cost of electricity supply in Russia׳s remote areas. The objective of this paper is to review Russia׳s off-grid renewable energy policy by focusing on the promotion of wind- and solar-diesel hybrid energy in the Russian Arctic. Taking a mainly regulatory perspective, this paper identifies existing barriers to the development of hybrid renewable-diesel investments. Building further on the international experience with the promotion of renewable energy in Arctic climates (e.g., in Alaska and Canada), this paper tests the feasibility of alternative 'best practice' mechanisms to support off-grid renewable energy in Russia.