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 2013scalingrenewablesjudges 2013scalingrenewablesjudges Jul 6, 2013 02:18  |
Hello Ms. Bakhanova,
Thank you for your submission and congratulations on your selection as a finalist for the final judging round. To improve your proposal we have the following comments/questions that we would like you to address:
1. We would like to know what areas of technology you think that Russia should invest in. Is there a specific type of project you think that Russia could specialize in?
2. What kind of department would oversee the implementation of this large policy shift?
3. What are the macroeconomic of what you propose? (i.e. internal GDP, government budgeting, and longterm return)
4. Which specific agents need to act in order for your proposal to work? Which natural resource companies?
Please consider these comments/questions in your next draft.
Thanks,
CoLab Judges.
Climate Co
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2013scalingrenewablesjudges 2013scalingrenewablesjudges Aug 1, 2013 10:30 |
The Author has updated their proposal to answer some of the questions and comments that the Judges’ posed in the previous round. The proposal is more of a policy suggestion than a project proposal. While the proposal examines in detail the dynamic of the Russian energy policy and the knowledge base of the author is commendable, the Judges believe this proposal is highly unfeasible. The larger issue with the proposal is posed by the author herself: “The biggest constraint for the suggested involvement of large oil & gas companies in transition to renewables is the political one. To large extent it is a matter of the political will of Russian authorities as well as a matter of strength of lobbying oil & gas companies’ interests.” Russian politics and the nepotism of the state-controlled oil and gas entities are too volatile of a variable to make any predictive assumptions about.
Additionally, the approach that the author suggests looks at diversifying domestic supply for domestic demand (solar, wind, and geothermal). This focus is flawed in the sense that Russia is one of the world’s leading net-exporters. The issue becomes the lack of need for energy diversification and moreover an entrenched vested interest for the continuation of the current energy regime.
The author is correct in pointing out that other oil and gas companies have pushed into developing renewable energy programs/initiatives, they were pushed largely by a desire to gain PR goodwill or loss of direct dominion over oil and gas reserves. Russian government controlled companies such as Gazprom do not face such scrutiny or need.
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