Alternative energy and the socially oriented economy

Abstract

The article analyses trends in the development of alternative energy and their perspectives in the global and national energy sector with due regard to the UN social development goals of the Agenda for the post-2015 period, including general access to economically sound, reliable, environmentally sustainable and modern energy sources. A forecast is given of the key features of future global energy supply model, based on the major role of renewable energy (RE), distributed power generation and smart grids, enabling the eradication of the social problem of energy poverty. Analyzed are the current positions of Russia in the global RE development and the reasons for late start of the country in this strategic domain. Assessment is made of Russian national legislation and the practice of socially oriented RE support in the national economy. A forecast is made of the Russian possibility of achieving the adopted RE development goals and recommendations are made to improve the national RE priorities considering the social issues and geographical features of the Russian Federation. Refs 23. Table 1.