Energy Efficiency of the Russian Regional Economy (a case study of the Sverdlovsk Region)

Abstract

Today, Russia has the second highest value of GDP energy intensity in the world. Among many factors that determine this indicator, special mention can be made of low use efficiency of the fuel and energy resources. This leads to a decreased competitiveness of the national economy. The aim of this paper is to identify practical challenges that serve as a barrier to the reduction of specific energy consumption and to respond with optimal solutions at the level of a territorial entity of Russia (the Sverdlovsk region). The analysis of the fuel and energy balances and the gross regional product between 2015 and 2018 enabled us to identify the changes in the pattern of fuel and energy resources consumption in individual sectors of economy, as well as influencing factors. Special attention is given to the dynamics of average specific energy consumption indicators and to the status of communal infrastructure in the housing and community amenities sector. The study revealed that reduction of technical and commercial losses due to modernization of communal systems and implementation of energy-saving technologies can be achieved through efficient management via further development of public private partnership. © 2020 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.