Small Energy: not a Panacea, but an Alternative

The meeting was participated by M. P. Fyodorov, Rector of SPbSPU, Yu. S. Vasilyev, President of SPbSPU, L. D. Khabachev, Chairman of the Board of the Leningrad Region Electric Grid Company, V. V. Fisenko, Chief Designer of the «Fisonic» Holding, S. V. Avakyan, Head of the Laboratory of  Aerospace Physical Optics at the Federal Unitary State Enterprise «S.I. Vavilov State Optical Institute», as well as representatives of the Saint Petersburg Municipal Administration.
The event was traditionally organized on the threshold of the Moscow International Energy Forum «Russian Fuel and Energy Complex in the XXI Century» (MIEF). Information about the Forum was presented by A. P. Epishov, Principal Analyst of the MIEF.
«Economic analysis and the world experience prove that the optimal decision of the energy deficit problem is a reasonable composition of centralized and decentralized power supply types, small and large power industries» – stated M. A. Antipov, Director General of the «President-Neva» Energy Center» company, Vice-President of the Russian Scientific-and-Technical Society of Power and Electric Engineers.
The participants of the Round Table presented interesting reports. Just every speech reiterated the idea that the market of the small power industry means was thriving and special for its diversity.
The small power industry, being materially mobile and local, is capable of taking on the power supply problems related to the sectors missing energy; thus, the consumers have a lot of reasons to take an interest in it: potential reduction of energy costs, highly reliable performance, high-quality energy, increased energy efficiency and independence of the power supply.
Besides, the small power industry, based on the renewable energy sources (RES) which can not be used in the large power industry, yields considerable environmental results. 
This is the way of development that many specialists regard as the future of the Russian power industry.
In big cities, including Saint Petersburg, the energy consumption rate grows faster than it would be suitable for the municipal infrastructure to satisfy it. The participants of the discussion dissented whether the municipal services of Saint Petersburg faced energy deficit or energy surplus. Anyway, no doubt was cast on the fact that the municipal authorities should seriously consider the idea of giving access to serving multistory dwelling houses and enterprises of social importance to private energy companies. Today, enterprises of this sector serve industrial institutions, shopping centers and cottage communities.
The collective opinion: the leading role in the development of the small power industry should be played by the state. The small or distributed power industry needs economic and legal support badly. This support should be expressed in affording preferential terms of investment in small power industry objects, attracting various investment sources and creating a favorable tax and lending environment backed by legislation.
The reports presented by the Round Table participants in the Polytechnical University will be published in the April issue of the «Academy of Energy» Magazine (www.energoacademy.ru)

Translated from Russian into English by Literra translation bureau