Сreation of local energy markets based on biogas technologies in Russian regions

This work is the next authors' publication devoted to the topic of scaling biogas technologies in the Russian energy market. The relevance of this study is determined by the need to address the problems of reliable energy supply to isolated and remote territories in Russian regions, combined with energy transition measures declared at the national level. The aim of the study is to develop a concept of local energy markets operating in these territories based on the use of biogas technologies. The methods used include a systematic approach to data collection and processing, comparison and generalization of initial information, as well as visualization of the results obtained. The study utilizes findings from previous research on assessing the economic feasibility of biogas plants in Russian practice, current regulatory legal acts governing domestic energy markets, and accumulated regional statistical data. The obtained research results showed that, under current conditions, the scaling of biogas technologies in Russian regions is realistic. It is possible due to the formation of a new category in the energy sector — local energy markets, that involve the construction and operation of biogas facilities by interested agricultural, fishery and forestry enterprises for their own energy supply and sustainable energy supply to isolated and remote territories. In particular, the architecture of such local markets is proposed, which includes a description of its specific elements and an algorithm of functioning. Based on the «traffic light» principle, a map of potential local energy markets in Russian regions was developed, taking into account a set of geographical, natural, climatic and economic criteria. Programs for state financial, economic and regulatory support for the national biogas sector were proposed, aimed at producers and owners of large biogas facilities, as well as indirectly aimed at stimulating local energy markets. All of the above substantiates the novelty and practical value of the results obtained. Directions of further research include the comprehensive efficiency assessment of using large biogas facilities when agricultural, fishery and forestry enterprises enter retail electricity markets to generate new sources of income; the feasibility study of modern biogas technologies and the creation of conditions for their reasonable use in conditions of low temperatures in specific Russian regions.