Theoretical foundations of the thermal energy complex development

Abstract

A comprehensive study of the current state and development prospects of the heat and power industry in Russia has been conducted. The structure of fuel and energy resources consumption, as well as the role of heat supply in ensuring the sustainable functioning of the country’s economy have been analyzed. Special attention has been paid to the intersectoral nature of thermal energy and its impact on industry, housing and communal services, and the social sphere. The high energy intensity of the industry has been emphasized, and the need to optimize the processes of generating, distributing, and consuming thermal energy has been pointed out. Various types of heat supply systems – centralized and decentralized – have been studied in terms of their efficiency, environmental friendliness, and economic feasibility. The current dynamics of these systems development in the context of regional specifics and climatic conditions has been described. The key issues of the industry have been analyzed, including uneven distribution of generating capacities, high level of physical wear of equipment, significant losses of thermal energy in distribution networks, as well as insufficient transparency and accuracy of consumption accounting. An important place in the study is devoted to the issues of tariff formation, and both technical and economic factors have been considered, including excess losses, excess costs, the investment component of tariffs, and the need to modernize infrastructure. A forecast of the Russian thermal power industry development has been proposed, and the main barriers hindering its modernization have been identified. Possible ways to increase the energy and economic efficiency of the industry in the face of rising fuel prices and stricter environmental requirements have been listed.