Features of Renewable Energy Development in the Republic
of Buryatia and Mongolia
Author(s)
A. G. Badmaev, V. S. Batomunkuev
Abstract
Every year, humanity is increasingly faced with a shortage of electricity on the one hand,
and with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions after the generation of electricity at thermal power
plants (TPPs), on the other. Energy is the dominant driver of climate change and accounts for about
60 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. The article is devoted to the analysis of renewable
energy development in the Republic of Buryatia and Mongolia over the past 10 years. The constantly
growing demand for electricity and relatively small energy capacities are forcing the Republic of Buryatia
(to a greater extent) and Mongolia, which are limited in some types of economic activity, to look
for new sources of energy. One of these restrictions is the ban on the construction of hydroelectric
power plants on the rivers of the Baikal Lake basin. Therefore, Buryatia and Mongolia have embarked
on the path of building environmentally friendly power plants and have succeeded in many ways. In
last years, in connection with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on the development of infrastructure
for the provision of affordable and clean energy (Goal 7), there has been a need to develop
renewable energy sources. One of the priority areas for the development of renewable, including alternative,
energy in Buryatia and Mongolia is solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy. UN Sustainable
Development Goal 7 aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern
energy for all. As part of the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7, solar and
wind power plants have been actively built in Buryatia and Mongolia over the past 10 years. Despite
the high costs of their creation, the contribution to alternative energy is a long-term and profitable
investment in infrastructure. At least investors (including foreign ones) investing in a seemingly lowprofit
project look far into the future. Smart investors do not run after «quick money», realizing that
the constructed power plants will pay off for a long time, since at the moment of development they
have a relatively low efficiency. Despite the criticism, they are investing in green energy, modern
infrastructure, and a future without emissions (CO2, NO2, SO2 and other Greenhouse gases) from burning
coal, fuel oil and firewood. For the qualitative development of the economy, it is necessary, first
of all, a balanced development of generating and network capacities, therefore, it is possible to solve
the problem of shortage of electricity without a heavy burden on the environment only by developing
alternative energy (renewable energy sources).
About the Authors
Badmaev Aldar Gennadievich,
Candidate of Sciences (Geography),
Research Scientist,
Baikal Institute of Nature Management SB RAS,
8, Sakhyanova st., Ulan-Ude, 670047, Russian
Federation,
e-mail: badmaev@binm.ru
Batomunkuev Valentin Sergeevich,
Candidate of Sciences (Geography),
Deputy Director for Research
Baikal Institute of Nature Management SB RAS,
8, Sakhyanova st., Ulan-Ude, 670047, Russian
Federation,
e-mail: bvalentins@binm.ru
For citation
Badmaev A.G., Batomunkuev V.S. Features of Renewable Energy Development in the Republic of Buryatia and Mongolia. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Earth Sciences, 2022, vol. 41, pp. 21-36. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3402.2022.41.21 (in Russian)
Keywords
renewable energy; alternative energy; Buryatia; Mongolia.
UDC
911.7+620.91
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3402.2022.41.21
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