Energy Efficiency in Russia
Development, Potential, Barriers
Christian Mahler, Gianguido Piani
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Russia is one of the world’s largest energy consumers. The amount of energy wasted is enormous. Up to 40 percent of primary energy consumption could be saved. Boosting energy efficiency in Russia may have become a factor in Russia’s energy strategy. But implementation falls short. Restructuring of the energy-intensive economy is not making headway. Structural obstacles stand in the way of greater energy efficiency. Gas prices for industrial and residential consumers are regulated. Thus there is a lack of market incentives to introduce efficiency-enhancing technologies. Particularly important is the housing sector. About half of the gas here is wasted due to heat loss. This amounts to Germany’s total annual gas consumption.
(Osteuropa 6-8/2012, pp. 363–369)