Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and Natural Resources 2022 number 3

An analysis is made of the development potential of various types of alternative energy in the steppe zone of Russia, one of the most promising territories in this regard. It is established that solar, wind and bioenergy and, in some cases, their exploitation are more profitable commercially as compared to the use of traditional energy sources. It is found that at the present time in the steppe zone of Russia (without steppes of Eastern Siberia), the share of alternative energy sources is becoming increasingly more significant. Its growth rate increases simultaneously with the interest of the regions in switching to environmentally adaptive energy supply systems. However, the industry is developing very unevenly and depends not only on natural factors, but also on economic and economic factors. The leading regions (Orenburg oblast and Krasnodar krai) and lagging regions (Voronezh, Novosibirsk and Chelyabinsk oblasts in which alternative energy and plans for its development are absent) were identified by analyzing the current state of the sector according to the level of development of alternative energy. The study also addresses the issues of further development of the industry and provides a forecast for each region. As a result, it was established that Krasnodar krai, Orenburg oblast and the Republic of Kalmykia will have a higher level of alternative energy development than the other regions of the Russian steppe zone. The results obtained are of practical interest for planning the development of alternative energy, substantiating investment policy, improving infrastructure development of the territory, and using natural resources in the regions of the Russian steppe zone.