PECULIARITIES OF ENERGY TRANSITION IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES

The authors have identified the problems and prospects of implementing the energy transition from conventional to renewable energy in the countries of the South Caucasus in the context of the challenges of sustainable development. The authors analyzed the concept of «sustainable energy» with the definition of its basic components (security, quality of life, environment). The issues of energy transition are studied in the context of new geopolitical challenges, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The authors presented the specifics of the development of energy systems of the countries of the region in the context of both energy security and integration challenges. Through comparative analysis, the authors have identified opportunities for effective implementation of energy transition policies in the countries of the region. The article studies the structure of existing capacities of the power systems of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which allowed to determine the share of renewable energy in these countries. A comparative analysis of renewable energy development in the countries of the region has been carried out to determine the possibilities of increasing hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy components. The authors also assess a number of major renewable energy projects currently being implemented in the region.

1. Megatrends: The main trajectories of the evolution of the world order in the XXI century, 2022 / Edited by T. A. Shakleina, A. A. Baykov. 3rd ed., ispr., add. and reprint. M.: Publishing house «Aspect Press», 520 p. (In Russ.)

2. years of energy in Armenia / Edited by L. V. Yeghiazaryan et al. Yerevan: Publishing house «Media Model», 2003. 192 p. (In Russ.)

3. Kodaneva S. I., 2022a. Energy transition: Global trends and their consequences for Russia // Contours of global transformations: Politics, Economics, Law. Vol. 15. No. 1. Рp. 167–185. DOI: 10.23932/2542-0240-2022-15-1-8. (In Russ.)

4. Kodaneva S. I., 2022b. Energy transition: prospects and implementation mechanisms // Russia and the modern world. No. 4. Рp. 162–183. DOI: 10.31249/rsm/2022.04.09. (In Russ.)

5. Markarov A. A., Davtyan V. S., 2021. Renewable energy development in Armenia: challenges of diversification // Geoeconomics of Energetics. No. 3 (15). Рp. 116–129. DOI: 10.48137/2687-0703_2020_15_3_116. (In Russ.)

6. Mirzoeva S. M., 2022. Prospects for the development of alternative and renewable energy in Azerbaijan // Bulletin of Science. No. 11 (56). Vol.1. Pp. 293–303. (In Russ.)

7. Odabashyan V., Khachatryan S., 2007. Renewable energy in the Republic of Armenia // 21st century: Information and Analytical journal. No. 2 (6). Pp. 143–158. (In Russ.)

8. Khlopov O. A., 2023. Energy transition in the context of global warming and climate change // Bulletin of Eurasian Science. Vol. 15. No. 4 // https://esj.today/PDF/12ECVN423.pdf, accessed 12.11.2023. (In Russ.)

9. Chuvakhina L., 2018. Eastern Partnership: a new stage in the development of relations between the European Union and the post-Soviet countries // Bulletin of the University. No. 4. Pp. 24–30. DOI: 10.26425/1816-4277-2018-4-24-30. (In Russ.)

10. Arabidze M., 2021. Georgia’s experience with SDG7 // https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/8%20Geo_24.02.2021%20-w%28ru%29_0.pdf, accessed 12.11.2023. (In Russ.)

11. Badalyan N., 2023. By 2040, Armenia plans to increase the renewable energy capacity to at least 2000 MW, or about 60 % of gross final consumption // https://finport.am/full_news.php?id=49083, accessed 11/17/2023. (In Russ.)

12. Gabisonia T., 2022. Investments in Renewable Energy in Georgia: A Legal Aspect // https://lta.ge/ru/article/renewable-energy-investments-in-georgia-legal-framework-, accessed 11.14.2023. (In Russ.)

13. Georgoliani L., 2021. Energy of Georgia – problems and prospects // https://newcaucasus.com/economy/20716-energetika-gruzii-problemy-i-perspektivy.html, accessed 14.11.2023. (In Russ.)

14. Nabieva K., 2020. Towards «green energy»: Renewable energy and energy efficiency in the countries of South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. – F. Ebert Stiftung // https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id-moe/16850.pdf, accessed 17.11.2023. (In Russ.)

15. Tagieva A., 2023. Contribution to green energy: how the reintegration of Karabakh will affect the energy sector of the Republic of Armenia // https://az.sputniknews.ru/20230926/vklad-v-zelenuyu-energetiku-kak-reintegratsiya-karabakha-skazhetsyana-energosektore-ar-458966235.html, accessed 18.11.2023. (In Russ.)

16. Tsintsadze G., 2014. On the possibility of changing the location of the power node of the Ingur HPP from the conditions of energy security of the Georgian energy system // Energyonline. No. 2 (8) // https://www.energyonline.ge/issue_8/stat-Tsintsadze-rus.pdf, accessed 14.112023. (In Russ.)

17. Roser M., 2020. Why did renewables become so cheap so fast? // https://ourworldindata.org/cheap-renewables-growth, accessed 10.11.2023. (In Russ.)

18. Azerbaijan plans to increase the share of RES in electricity production to 30% by 2030 // https://www.eprussia.ru/news/base/2022/5886758.htm, accessed 18.11.2023. (In Russ.)

19. A solar power plant with a capacity of 230 MW has started operating in Azerbaijan – the largest in the Caspian region and the CIS // https://www.newscentralasia.net/2023/10/30/v-azerbaydzhane-zarabotala-solnechnaya-elektrostantsiyamoshchnostyu-230-mvt-samaya-krupnaya-v-kaspiyskom-regione-i-sng/, accessed 18.11.2023. (In Russ.)

20. Geothermal power plants to be built in Armenia // http://www.cleandex.ru/news/2011/07/20/v_armenii_postroyat_gyeotermalnye_elektrostantsii, accessed 17.11.2023. (In Russ.)

21. «Green Transition» in Georgia – what the government is doing // https://sputnik-georgia.ru/20230926/zelenyy-perekhod-v-gruzii---chto-predprinimaetpravitelstvo-282697260.html, accessed 16.11.2023. (In Russ.)

22. The largest hydroelectric power plants of Georgia // https://sputnik-georgia.ru/20211215/krupneyshie-ges-gruzii-262888055.html, accessed 16.11.2023. (In Russ.)

23. The first floating solar power plant in Armenia and in the region has been installed on Lake Yerevan // https://armenpress.am/rus/news/1119394/, accessed 17.11.2023. (In Russ.)

24. The National Statistical Service of Armenia. Energy // https://armstat.am/file/doc/99541103.pdf, accessed 14.11.2023. (In Russ.)

25. Preparing for the energy transition: Key issues for countries dependent on oil, gas and minerals (policy document). Ways of Transition to Sustainable Energy: Accelerating the Energy Transition in the UNECE region (UNECE Energy Publication Series N67).

26. UN, Geneva, 2020 // final_report_-_Pathways_to_Sustainable_Energy_-_RUSSIAN. pdf, accessed 11.11.2023. (In Russ.)

27. Solar energy in Armenia and Tajikistan // https://inlnk.ru/ELPEPj, accessed 17.11.2023. (In Russ.)

28. Strategic program for the development of the energy sector of the Republic of Armenia until 2040 // https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docID=149279, accessed 14.11.2023. (In Russ.)

29. Turkish company ENKA announced its withdrawal from the Namakhvani HPP project // https://www.ekhokavkaza.com/a/31472875.html, accessed 16.11.2023. (In Russ.)

30. Georgia’s Energy Industry plans to add 2,260 MW of renewable energy sources by 2025 // https://ru.ecogreenground.com/10261276-georgia-power-plans-to-add-2-260mw-of-renewables-by-2025, accessed 16.11.2023. (In Russ.)

31. Energy profile of Azerbaijan // https://www.eeseaec.org/energeticeskij-profilazerbajdzana, accessed 14.11.2023. (In Russ.)

32. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, 2021 // https://eiti.org/sites/default/files/attachments/ru_eiti_policy_brief_preparing_for_the_energy_transition.pdf, accessed 12.11.2023. (In Russ.)

33. REN21: Renewables 2020. Global Status Report. Renewable Energy Network, 2021 // https://ren21.net/gsr-2020/, accessed 12.11.2023. (In Russ.)