Russian energy company Hevel Group will develop solar power projects with storage capacity in the Far East region of Russia under a cooperation agreement with state owned utility RusHydro and another state supported entity Far East Development Fund (FRDV). A pilot project will be set up in Yakutia region.
In the Far Eastern Federal District, RusHydro has an operational diesel power generation capacity of over 240 MW in the form of 269 plants in decentralized energy supply zones. With the help of Hevel, RusHydro plans to audit these diesel generating facilities by the end of 2019 to analyse the solar potential within the Republic of Sakha and identify places for priority implementation of projects.
For the target region, Russia wants to replace inefficient and expensive diesel generation with autonomous hybrid power plants using renewable energy procuring it at the 'lowest possible price for electricity'.
The roles for the three partners are well defined under the agreement with Hevel implementing projects using the latest technology and getting these financed. RusHydro will assist with infrastructural and technical support while the FRDV will finance the projects well 'within its powers'.
Hevel has previously implemented autonomous hybrid solar-diesel power plants in the Altai Republic, Trans-Baikal Territory and the Republic of Tuva where the technology has helped achieve 50% of diesel fuel savings leading to reduction in budget subsidies and freeing up funds for other tasks.
This approach, the press statement from Hevel says, is in line with the country's goal to provide affordable electricity through distributed generation including on the basis of renewable energy sources in remote and off-grid regions.
"In the Far East there are many remote and inaccessible territories for which the proposed integrated solutions are an effective way to ensure reliable, uninterrupted power supply," said Dmitry Chernyshev, deputy general director of the FRDV. "New technologies will not only improve the quality of life of people, but also optimize the costs of consumers and regional budgets."
Still on Hevel, the company has started shipping its solar modules to an unidentified Swedish company with whom it has a long-term supply contract for 3.2 MW capacity to be used for small scale installations for the private sector and residential segment.