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The paper presents a mathematical model and calculation results for the process of gasification of solid hydrocarbons (SHC) placed in form of spherical bedding inside channels with variable cross section and washed with high-temperature gas. Parametric study was performed for analysis of generator performance (mass flow rate and gasification products) as function of different parameters: temperature and composition of gas phase, thermophysical properties of SHC, sphere diameter in the bedding, and channels configuration. The method for estimating the SHC gasification process in a flow duct of low temperature gas generator (LTGG) without loss of spheres shape (due to melting) was developed. The method offers recommendations for obtaining the required level of mass flow rate and gas temperature at the generator exit. These data can be used for analysis of experimental results on SHC sublimation at the stage of preliminary designing of the LTGG.

The article considers a promising steam-turbine heating plant, which includes a steam turbine with back pressure and a steam boiler operating on natural gas, with waste heat recovery. The mathematical model of а steam-turbine heating plant has been developed to perform one design calculation in the nominal mode and several verification calculations in characteristic modes with different thermal loads. Optimization calculations of the unit were carried out for two regions with different climatic conditions and different fuel prices. The optimal design parameters of the equipment, the parameters of the working fluid and coolants at all points of the technological scheme, as well as fuel costs in each characteristic mode of operation have been found by the criterion of the minimum price of electricity. The considered steam-turbine heating plant provides a higher heat utilization coefficient of the fuel than the traditional heating plant.

The article reviews models and methods for managing heat supply of consumers in a market economy. Principal organizational forms of heat supply systems are described in the form of the ‘Unified heat supply organization’ model and the ‘Single buyer’ model that may be deployed in cities and towns of the Russian Federation. The authors analyze different types of competition in the heat market and describe their possible effects. For district heating in large cities of the Russian Federation, the authors point out negative consequences from introduction to the heat market of a new organization model based on the ‘alternative boiler’ method.

The article overviews necessity of state regulation of heat energy supply and attempts to evaluate efficiency of suth regulation from the point of view of consequences for population as its main consumer. The author defines specific of features population that determine their behaviour as heat energy consumers. The population is only a receiver of heat supply and is limited in managing the volume of its consumption. The article estimates income possibilities of the population to pay for heat supply based on the example of southern regions and cities of the Far East. Even with in regulated tariffs the burden of payment on population remains high, especially for low-income groups, which is explained by both high tariff in the region and levels of consumption. Introduction of the new tariff regulation method based on the price of an “alternative boiler room” in the largest heat supply systems of the Far East will increase payments 1.7-3.1 times. This will potentially lead to growth of enterprises’ debt and higher volume of social support from the budget.

The article discusses a wide range of heat supply problems in Russia and the Novosibirsk region. It explores opportunities and limitations associated with use of concessions as a tool to improve efficiency and reliability of heat supply, especially in those localities that are not attractive to large energy companies. The study of heat supply concessions in the Novosibirsk region as well as interviews with participants and initiators of projects allow drawing conclusions from initial practical results and related issues. Modernization projects of district heating systems in Maslyanino and Ob’ were selected as cases for consideration. The first results of these projects showed that small-scale investment from federal and regional budgets made it possible to eliminate subsidies to local heat supply organizations. However, the possibilities of reproducing this experience are limited for a number of institutional and economic reasons. The greatest risks for potential concessionaires arise from the practice of tariff regulation based on “economically reasonable costs” and high transaction costs of transferring private enterprises to operation of centralized heating systems previously served by municipal unitary enterprises. The authors suggest new financing tools for concessions that can increase the attractiveness of such projects for private investors and significantly reduce the need for continuous grants from regional and local budgets to support loss-making municipal enterprises.

According to a long-standing tradition of our journal, we try to complement opinionsof scientists on various problems of economy with a point of view of experts.In this set of articles and opinions on problems of domestic heat supply, we asked S.V. Bukharov, a representative of energy business, to take part in our discussion. He has over 15 years of experience in financial and economic management of power engineering (Novosibirskenergo Group, TGK-13, Association NP Market Council and others).As a consultant, he participated in preparation of materials for the Government of the Russian Federation concerning a decision to include the workers' village of Linevo of the Iskitimsky District of the Novosibirsk Region into a heat supply price zone.The article describes possible implications for the industry as a whole and consumers as part of transition to a new market model - an “alternative boiler”, including a description of smoothing mechanisms for consumers of price implications arising from the transition. He also shares his professional opinion on possibilities of implementing this model.

This article reviews development trends of global and Russian electric power industry. Among the principal trends there are energy security, shifts of market product structure, emergence of new technologies and equipment and establishment of international standards. Three road maps of industry development are considered: conservative, optimistic and that of advanced technology. The scenarios make reference to progressive evolutionary industry development and leading-edge engineering growth with faster growth of new technologies, innovative solutions and infrastructure risks reduction. Power energy evolution can be described by an increasing role of engineering competences, renewable energy, smart grid innovative solutions and energy storage systems. These factors, along with other technological solutions that change basic operation characteristics of the energy system, will bring about a new power system architecture and economy.

The article presents a comparative analysis of socio-economic indicators of the level and quality of life in the Republic Buryatia. The differentiation of those in 2012-2016 is considered through the system of social standards. The author analyses changes in the population’s monetary incomes and singles out features of their use. The growth in average per capita incomes is combined with a slight reduction of income-disparity and high heterogeneity in the welfare of the population. The author notes that these negative trends and patterns in the incomes formation are due to low wages of certain categories of employees and high unemployment in Buryatia. This indicates the need to establish a stimulating regional policy, which would help develop various economic activities with a view to narrow the gap between individual incomes of different population groups.

Pension reforms in the CIS countries have been going on since 1991. Transition of former USSR countries towards market economy and shifts in the social order called for radical transformation of all basic state institutions and social security mechanisms that provide for elderly citizens. The process entailed establishment of obligatory and voluntary pension insurance.Mechanisms of social and corporate insurance have been built with obligatory insurance payments of the employers and workers that helped balance the budgets of pension funds. Information systems have been created to take care of insurance rights and simplify the procedure of pension calculation. The majority of the Commonwealth countries raised the retirement age, introduced the institute of funded pensions, and created funds of non-state pension insurance. However, effectively functioning institutes of pension insurance and the national systems of pension insurance and state social security are yet to be completed. Another factor is the insufficient scope of pension insurance relative to the independently employed and people occupied in the informal sector. Thus, by the end of 2017, pension insurance in the Commonwealth countries covered no more than 40-50% of the total number of economically active population.In this regard, many Commonwealth countries are developing programs that will grant social payments to pensioners at the level of basic social income. The article reviews issues of system transformation in the field of pension insurance in the attempt to reveal typical problems and propose measures for their solution.

Reliable supply of consumers with petroleum products at affordable prices has traditionally been one of the most discussed problems of the Russian economy. This problem directly affects interests of a large number of car owners, and indirectly (through a system of inter- sectoral relations) almost the entire population of the country. Interest in this topic rises dramatically in periods of shortage of oil products and / or a sharp rise in their prices. But the “fuel” question is only a visible part of problems that have accumulated in the Russian oil and gas sector and our domestic economy as a whole. The article identifies a range of sectoral problems that perpetuate crises of fuel supply with uncanny recurrence. Each failure to resolve those problems will require more effort later and incur higher cost, while their complexity gets more exacerbated.