19 November 2021
The Eastern Economic Forum held an offsite session in Dubai on the theme ‘Development of Energy Infrastructure in Remote Areas Using Distributed Generation Technologies and Renewable Energy Sources: Investment Potential of the Far East and Arctic’ as part of the World Expo 2020. The event was organized by the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation jointly with the Small Energy Association and the Business Russia All-Russia Public Organization with the support of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic and the Roscongress Foundation.
The event was attended by more than 300 experts from all over the world, including representatives of governments, major energy companies, financial and investment entities, and development institutions.
Opening the session, World Energy Council (WEC) Secretary General and CEO Angela Wilkinson highlighted the special role that distributed generation plays in realizing UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Wilkinson pointed out that much of our planet does not have a centralized power supply, which makes it necessary to use local energy sources. These regions primarily include northern countries such as Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, and many island states such as Indonesia, the Philippines, the Caribbean, and Oceania. In addition, several developing nations have a low density of energy infrastructure whose development is limited by the capabilities of their economies. In these conditions, the only way to provide consumers with affordable and clean energy is to develop distributed generation.
“The Russian Federation has enormous potential and is implementing a consistent policy to develop distributed generation in remote and isolated regions of the Far East and Arctic. The introduction of modern technologies, primarily those based on renewable energy sources, will significantly reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere and accelerate the global energy transition,” Wilkinson said.
Maxim Zagornov, the session moderator, president of the Small Energy Association, and business ambassador of Business Russia to the United Arab Emirates, noted that implementing investment projects to develop local energy infrastructure requires close interaction between business and the government. In order to unleash the potential that regions in the Far East and Arctic have to develop distributed generation, it is essential to consolidate international experience and attract foreign partners, including from the UAE, to implement investment projects in the macro-region.
“If the government removes administrative barriers for business and provides guarantees on a return on investments in distributed generation projects, this will open up a huge market in the Far East and Arctic for private investors from all over the world,” Zagornov said.
Clay Koplin, the mayor of Cordoba, Alaska, spoke about his city’s unique isolated power supply system that is based on renewable energy sources. The use of carbon-free technologies does not harm the environment and creates conditions for a comfortable life for people living in remote areas.
“We are interested in sharing experience with municipalities in different countries and are very happy that the Russian Federation pays significant attention to the development of micro-energy systems in remote areas,” Koplin said.
Far East and Arctic Development Corporation Managing Director Vasily Potemkin spoke about Russia’s systematic work to develop distributed generation in remote and isolated regions of the Far East and Arctic.
A Russian presidential decree from 2018 set a strategic task for the country’s development until 2024 as the guaranteed provision of affordable electricity, including through the development of distributed generation in remote and isolated areas, which are mostly located in the Far East and Arctic. As part of these activities, the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation is actively introducing the best world practices in attracting private investment to develop local energy infrastructure, including on the basis of renewable energy sources, and is facilitating interaction between all stakeholders in implementing investment projects.
“Russia is taking up the baton from the United Arab Emirates to host the World Energy Congress, which will take place in St. Petersburg in 2022. In preparation for the Congress, we, along with the Russian National Committee of the International Energy Council and the Small Energy Association, have initiated an international scientific study of the impact that local energy has on climate change. We invite all interested countries and companies to take part in this work,” Potemkin said.
The 25th World Energy Congress will take place on 24–27 October 2022 in St. Petersburg. It is the main global event of the World Energy Council and an influential platform for discussing all aspects of the international energy agenda. The congress brings together senior officials from the world’s largest energy companies, international energy industry leaders, heads of ministries and agencies, experts and scientists, heads of public and intergovernmental organizations, and representatives of the business community and the global media. Wilkinson will attend the 25th World Energy Congress. The event is being co-organized by the World Energy Council and the Roscongress Foundation.
27 February 2024
Russia and Bahrain Look to Intensify Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation
Advisor to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov held a meeting in Moscow with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Russian Federation Ahmed Al-Saati, during which the two officials discussed a wide range of issues concerning economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries and reached a number of agreements.
11 April 2024
2nd Falcon Day International Forum Dates Announced
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19 April 2024
Preparations for EEF 2024 Underway
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev held the first preparatory meeting for the 9th Eastern Economic Forum. Topics included in the agenda range from future technologies and the development of transport infrastructure to the modernization of energy systems.
