2nd National Conference in Wind Energy took part on the 12th of November, 2010, in the Radisson Slavyanskaya in Moscow.
Thanks to all the participants, speakers and organizers!
It was the second year when RAWI arranged a large unique forum to discuss wind energy. The first conference took part in 2009 and defined major tasks for the industry while their number was much more that the number of implemented projects. However, in 2010 the wind energy experts discussed successes and new large-scale projects.
The major wind generator producers like Vestas and Siemens delegated their representatives to the conference. The speakers included General Director of OAO Atomenergomash Vladimir Kaschenko and GWEC Secretary General Steve Sawyer.
President of RAWI Igor Bryzgunov signed a cooperation agreement with Renewable Energy Association from Belarusian Republic at the conference. Vladimir Nistyuk, Executive Director of the Association and Member of Social Consulting Council under President’s Administration of Belarus, said that the Russian colleagues had a lot of innovations that could be effectively implemented in Belarus, while Belarus could share some new technologies as well. “We are a bit tired of the pressure from European, American and Chinese wind energy markets. Indeed, Russia will always be a partner and a sister for Belarus, notwithstanding any political winds” – Mr. Nistyuk said. The second reading of the Renewable Energy Law is expected in Minsk in December. However, Mr. Nistyuk believes that the legal base for the industry is less developed in Belarus than in Russia.
President of RAWI Igor Bryzgunov believes that the resolution by Russian Government which defines criteria for “subsidies as compensation for costs related to technical connection to the grids” is the most important news for the industry now. According to the resolution, the federal budget will compensate for the costs related to technical connection of renewable energy generators with capacity under 25 MW to the grids. Though the experts do welcome the resolution, they note that some questions are still left unanswered. “Now we have the criteria, but the mechanism is still unclear. Who will pay? What the amount will be? Who will receive the subsidies? We need the sub-laws to make the resolution work” – Igor Bryzgunov says.
Vice-President of RAWI Anatoly Kopylov believes that the legislative base for the renewable energy industry will be established in Russia in early 2011. It will boost the industry. By December 1, 2010, the Ministry of Energy of Russia will make a program for development of the sub-laws needed to support the renewable energy: “The working group under the Ministry of Energy is busy developing the sub-laws. We need about 10-15 legal documents on various issues”.
As for the deadlines, Anatoly Kopylov says that they will be determined by a certain resolution by Russian Government: “The will enlist the by-laws, appoint a federal executive authority, ministry or agency in charge, and determine the deadlines”. Step-by-step, the system of national support will be transformed in a sub-laws system. Some of these laws were adopted in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Key laws are still expected to be adopted to determine the economy for development of the renewables.
And while waiting, the Russian wind energy market is open for first large-scale projects. Siemens has signed an agreement with Rostecnhology and RusHydro on local production of wind generators. OAO Atomenergomash, a leading energy machinery producer in Russia, has announced its plans to develop in the wind energy industry by production of wind turbines and installation of wind parks. If large companies with governmental shares are ready to introduce themselves on the wind energy market, we have a sufficient reason to believe that the legal base will make this market profitable, and the market conditions will be equal for traditional and renewable energy. So far there is no real competition: $1 subsidies for the renewables versus $6 for the traditional energy.
