ENABLING PV Russia

Analyses, workshops, conferences and lighthouse projects for the development of photovoltaic markets in Russia

With the support of the Russian section of EUROSOLAR, the office of the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) and some of its member companies, eclareon investigated in 2018 and 2019 the potential for the expansion of photovoltaics in some selected application areas for the grid-connected and off-grid supply of renewable electricity in Russia. The legal framework for the construction and operation of the plants as well as their financing possibilities in the four regions Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Ulyanovsk and Bashkortostan were examined. The resulting economic viability of PV projects for plant operators was determined on the basis of the investment conditions in the regions and their economic effects for the region (new jobs, tax revenues etc).

The results were discussed with energy industry decision-makers from the regions in four local workshops in 2019 and possible lighthouse projects were developed to demonstrate the solutions and to stimulate regional sales markets. For the transfer of the experiences throughout Russia, the results were presented at energy industry events and in energy industry committee meetings in Moscow (RSPP Working Group Energy Efficiency, Ren4Reg Forum, Russian Energy Week) and in Ufa (Russian Energy Forum).

Currently, the about 20 lighthouse projects in the four regions as well as in Moscow and St. Petersburg are being further developed. The first plants have already been installed and commissioned. Others are currently being planned or are already in the tendering or financing and structuring phase for operator models.  In the course of 2020, the project is to be expanded to include the application of larger off-grid solutions to replace diesel for applications in Siberia and the Russian Far East.

 The project is supported by the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. The Business Consulting team is leading the project and is supported by the Policy Consulting team in the analysis of the legal framework.