, there was little
renewable energy in
Belarus, but a lot of potential.
7% of primary
energy in Belarus was from renewables in 2019, mostly
biofuels.
As there is a lot of district heating more renewables could be integrated into that,
but this is hindered by
fossil fuel subsidies
Fossil fuel subsidies are energy subsidies on fossil fuels. They may be tax breaks on consumption, such as a lower sales tax on natural gas for residential heating; or subsidies on production, such as tax breaks on exploration for oil. Or ...
.
Policy
A 2021 study by the
International Renewable Energy Agency
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organization mandated to facilitate cooperation, advance knowledge, and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy. It is the first international organis ...
(IRENA) recommended:
#Revising renewable energy targets
#Improving the quota allocation for renewables
#Designing renewable
energy auctions
#Harnessing renewable energy potentials in heating
#Developing an energy sector master plan with higher shares of renewables
#Adopting a grid code for renewables
#Improving variable renewable power generation forecasting
#Improving de-risking mechanisms for renewable energy investments
#Standardising power purchase agreements
#Building human and institutional capacities for renewable energy development
Producers
About half is from
independent power producers.
Economics
In 2019 energy imports cost 5.5% of GDP, and this could be reduced by increasing renewable energy. According to IRENA this would also create jobs and increase
energy security
Energy security is the association between national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption. Access to (relatively) cheap energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven d ...
.
Environment
In 2019 two-thirds of
greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The largest emitters include coal in China and ...
were from energy, and this could be reduced by increasing renewable energy.
Sources
Biomass
There is large potential from wood waste, crop residue, and
biogas
Biogas is a mixture of gases, primarily consisting of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste and food waste. It is a ...
from manure.
About 10% of
district heating
District heating (also known as heat networks or teleheating) is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location through a system of insulated pipes for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating a ...
is biomass.
Solar power
Wind power
Geothermal
Although not hot enough for electricity generation it may be possible to integrate geothermal into district heating.
Hydroelectricity
Although small power plants were common before the national grid there is now less than 100MW of hydroelectricity, because the country is flat.
External links
Renewable energy sector in Belarus: A review
References
{{Renewable energy by country