Unholy Alliance? Russian Nuclear Authority to Provide for Wind Energy Expansion

Climate change does not stop at Russian borders

A white spot on the map. This is how Russia is looking in terms of wind energy. Up to now, the country's population of 145 million, had mainly focused on the seemingly unlimited fossil fuels coal, gas and oil, in addition to nuclear power, and lived well on their exports all over the world. However, in recent years these markets have become increasingly difficult. Climate change can no longer be denied even by the greatest ignorants. More and more countries are relying on an expansion of renewable energies as the only reasonable alternative. Onshore wind and solar energy have started to  replaced the raw materials as the most favorable form of energy generation.

Now Russia's President Vladimir Putin also seems to recognize that his country can not rely on its raw materials alone. However, it seems odd that Rosatom should pave Russia’s path to wind energy in the coming years. Rosatom is a federal authority, which heads the country's civilian and military nuclear industry, and is directly subordinated to the government. According to experts, the agency controls 98 percent of the nuclear material in Russia and also contributes to the construction of nuclear power plants abroad, including India, China and Iran.

CO2-poor nuclear energy

At the COP22 climate summit, high-ranking representatives of the Russian government discussed the issue of "Low-carbon development of Russia: Challenges and Opportunities" where Russian policy in the fight against climate change and the possibilities of modern Russian technologies for the development of a low-carbon energy sector were in the focus.

The discussion clearly showed that Russia still sees its future in nuclear technology. "We promote in Russia and abroad NPPs based of VVER technology which is safe, mature and one of the most referenced globally. The current contribution of nuclear to low carbon electricity generation in Russia is 48%. It is our contribution to the low-carbon future of the planet," said Kirill Komarov, Deputy CEO of Rosatom. Russia is also aiming at a decarbonisation of the electricity generation sector by 2050, but it is focusing on nuclear power.

Financial injection for wind energy

So far, so bad. However, Russia does not entirely want to rely on nuclear power. "We are sure that the future of the energy industry is in diversified balance of low-carbon technologies that provide price affordability, safety of delivery and minimum impact on the environment". In a press conference, Komarov said that nuclear energy and renewable energies weren't competitors. That's why Rosatom is investing 1 billion Euros in wind energy projects over the next four years.

By the end of the year, a foreign partner is to supply the technology for three wind farms. According to the Russian news agency Tass, 21 companies have shown interest, three are on a shortlist of Rosatom. The selected company will supply technology to build farms with a total output of 610 megawatts.

With all due respect to their environmental commitment – until Russia will draw at least a small share of its electricity from renewable energies, one swallow doesn't make a summer.