The Cape Baranov Ice Base research station on the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago may become a testing ground for implementing an energy-saving system using renewable energy sources (RES). Scientists from the Arctic and Antarctic Research University will conduct the work together with students from the Sirius Educational Centre. According to project leaders, polar explorers still face the challenge of implementing technologies that minimise human impact on the Arctic environment.

The question of how to apply green energy in the Russian Arctic is currently a topic of open discussion. On the one hand, in recent years, there has been a steady trend in Russia to criticise the 'climate agenda'—viewing it as a tool to pressure the country and hinder industrial development, etc. At the same time, our country does not intend to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, and the goals for transitioning to more environmentally friendly energy production methods are 'maximally integrated into strategic documents' to address global challenges. A middle-ground solution may be the optimal way to address this issue. In particular, the Russia Renewable Energy Development Association (RREDA) is calling for a revision of the principles for implementing wind turbines, solar panels and other power generation facilities. It is proposed that capacities be introduced in regions where they are needed, as opposed to the European approach of total transition to renewable energy without considering local specifics.

Meanwhile, the Arctic has a particularly strong need for energy, often struggling to keep up with industrial development and new capacity. As experts noted at a roundtable on energy issues in the Far North at the Presidential Academy, high fuel delivery costs and increasing equipment wear lead to high electricity tariffs in the Arctic, power outages and environmental pollution. Alternative electricity sources can solve this problem—thousands of rivers, strong coastal winds and biofuels can reduce electricity prices tenfold. These include small hydroelectric power plants, solar panels, wind turbines and more. A significant portion of these projects remain international—ecology serves as a bridge for establishing strong relationships with other countries.

'Our partnership includes over 60 Russian and foreign enterprises working in distributed generation, including scientific, design, construction and installation, service, engineering, financial and investment companies, and power equipment manufacturers,' says Ekaterina Zholudeva, Deputy Chairman for Development at the National Agency for Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Sources Development. According to her, many companies view renewable energy as a strategic direction for developing energy generation in the Arctic and Far East, as well as a priority area of government policy.

Currently, perhaps the most famous result of this policy is the Snezhinka International Arctic Station, which is to be built in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. China is named first among the partners of this project, which aims to demonstrate the possibilities of working with hydrogen fuel. The fully autonomous complex of buildings will be completely independent from the outside world and will house 24 laboratories and numerous scientists from around the world. Additional energy sources will include a 1,050-kilowatt wind turbine and a 300-kilowatt solar power plant.

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