Inclusion of distributed generation in the agenda of the 25th World Energy Congress in St. Petersburg to be held on October 24-27, 2022 was discussed with the WEC Russia
The Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEDC) and Russian National Committee of the World Energy Council (WEC Russia) discussed preparations for a specialized session on “Development of distributed generation in remote and isolated regions of the Earth: Role of the state and business” within the framework of the anniversary XXV World Energy Congress, which will be held in October 2022 in St. Petersburg.
According to Daria Kiryanova, Deputy Director General for FEDC Project Activities, the Corporation is systematically attracting private investment in the development of distributed generation in remote and isolated regions of the Far East and the Arctic.
Within this activity, the FEDC together with the industry representatives have prepared a concept and corresponding road map. Its implementation will ensure the creation of a unique state management system for local energy development in the Russian Federation based on long-term planning, effective mechanisms for return on investment, industrial and macro-regional measures of state support for this type of business.
“To attract the attention of the international professional community to the problems of local energy operation, learning fr om international experience in this field, increase in the number of interested investors and discussion of their participation in distributed generation projects in the Far East and the Arctic, as well as to creation of the necessary prerequisites for exporting unique Russian technologies to other countries the FEDC, with the support of WEC Russia, initiated a proposal to include a separate session in the largest global energy event, the 25th World Energy Congress St. Petersburg”, Daria Kiryanova said.
In the view of Alexey Gospodarev, Executive Director of WEC Russia, the question of developing distributed generation in remote and isolated regions is consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 7 on ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy sources for all and corresponds to the WEC “energy trilemma” concept.
Modernization of inefficient diesel, coal and oil-fired generation is relevant to many countries, including the Northern regions of Canada, USA, Denmark, remote regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America, Oceania and Caribbean states and the base of polar explorers in Antarctica. Such moderniztion is of considerable interest for companies and investors in the field of distributed generation and renewable energy sources.
“Based on the FEDC initiative, we are actively working with the World Energy Council to include a session on “Development of distributed generation in remote and isolated regions of the Earth: Role of the state and business” in the business program of the Congress. Currently, its main tracks and architecture have been published, it represents the interest of WEC in discussing regional features and new models of financing and investment in the energy sector. All this correlates with the theme of the FEDC, and we expect that our joint work on promoting and covering this session will be supported by the Council,” Alexey Gospodarev noted.
Vasily Potemkin, Managing Director of the Corporation, told about the preparation of FEDC to the Congress. According to his words, given the high level of representation, in order to ensure the interest of foreign delegates to the topic of distributed generation at the Congress, it is necessary to study thoroughly the content of the session and its broad information coverage at the international level.
This large-scale work was initiated in October 2021 on the sidelines of Expo 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, wh ere during the days of the Far East and the Arctic the Russian national pavilion held sectoral session on the topic “Development of energy infrastructure in remote regions using the technology of distributed generation and renewable energy: investment potential of the Russian Far East and the Arctic”. The event was organized by the FEDC together with the Association of Small-scale Power Engineering and the All-Russian Public Organization “Delovaya Rossiya” with the support of WEC Russia. The session was attended by more than 300 experts from all over the world, including representatives of governments, major energy companies, financial and investment structures, and development institutions. The session was opened by Angela Wilkinson, WEC Secretary General and Executive Director. And representatives of the United States, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates took part in the discussion.
The next large-scale event preceding the Congress is a session on the development of distributed generation in remote and isolated regions of the Arctic which is planned as part of the International Arctic Forum in April 2022. Participation of representatives of WEC Russia, governments of the Arctic macro-region countries and major Russian and foreign companies in the field of distributed generation is expected.
In addition, the FEDC plans to highlight its work and preparations for the Congress at major industry and investment forums in the regions of Russia, as well as in Europe, Asia, America and Oceania.
The content basis of the speech at the Congress shall be the implementation results of the FEDC roadmap for attracting private investment in the development of distributed generation in remote and isolated regions of the Far East and the Arctic, as well as the results of an international scientific study on the impact of distributed generation on climate change, which can potentially be presented as part of the International Energy Award “Global Energy” ceremony.
“We have really ambitious plans to prepare for and participate in the Congress, which will allow us to tell the whole world about the development of distributed generation in our country and its impact on the global energy transition and climate change. We are already working closely with Delovaya Rossiya and the Distributed Power Generation Association are interested in maximizing the involvement of relevant companies and organizations in this work. The key purpose of participation in the Congress for FEDC has increased attention of the state, business and society to the topic of distributed generation in remote and isolated areas, the emergence of effective mechanisms of state support of private investors and their implementation on the basis of investment projects to ensure local supply of industrial enterprises and modernization of inefficient diesel, fuel oil and coal generation in the Far East and the Arctic”, summed up the results of the meeting Vasily Potemkin, ESG expert.
For reference: the 25th World Energy Congress will be held on October 24-27, 2022 in St. Petersburg. This is the main global event of the World Energy Council and an authoritative platform for discussing all aspects of the international energy agenda. The Congress brings together top officials of the world's largest energy companies, international leaders of the energy sector, heads of ministries and departments, experts and scientists, heads of public and intergovernmental organizations, representatives of the business community and the world's media. The 25th World Energy Congress will be attended by Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO of the World Energy Council. The event is co-organized by WEC Russia and the Roscongress Foundation.