Biofuel Application as a Factor of Sustainable Development Ensuring: The Case of Russia

Abstract

Diffusion of the biofuels (BF) using is justified by opening up the opportunities for obtaining fuel and energy from previously inaccessible sources and by the existence of energy-deficient regions, in particular in Russia. Works of different scientists on the problems of creating and using BF were the methodological basis of this study. Information on the state and prospects of the development of renewable energy sources in Russian regions was collected from regulatory documents and was obtained by employing a questionnaire survey. For the study of the collected materials, the different methods of comparative analysis, and the methods of expert assessments were used. The results of the Status-Quo analysis of BF production in Russia have shown that the creation of BF performed relatively successfully. However, there are many more perspectives, connected with expanding the utilization of the different raw materials. Also, the analysis of organizational and economic mechanisms applied for production of BF and the obtained data on several organizations-producers allowed for proposing six indexes for the assessment of the BF production effectiveness. It is suggested that BF production in Russia will contribute to the sustainable development of a number of the country's regions in the near future.Energies 2019, 12, 3948 2 of 30 impact of permanent anthropogenic factors has required the taking of appropriate measures in this field both at the federal and regional levels. In particular, the accumulation of industrial, agricultural, and household wastes is becoming an essential incentive for the development of innovative activities aiming at the production of biofuel (BF). According to the existing data [3], the resource potential of recyclable organic waste biomass, including solid household wastes and sediments of wastewaters reaches 13,490.26 tons of coal equivalent (TCE) per year in Russia. This study led both at the federal level and in particular regions which have significant differences in terms of economic, geographic, and climatic conditions. According to pessimistic forecasts, the share of green energy in the Russian economy will arrive at 3-5% by 2035, according to positive ones, it will be equal to 8-10%. The proposed share of BF in the production of electric and heat energy with targeted management could be about 2-3% [4].Different geographic, climatic, economic, and other conditions in regions of Russia necessitate solving several scientific problems for optimization of the existing regional programs for the provision of sustainable development and determination of the role of REn and BF production in them.Therefore, the progress in BF production achieved in some leading countries has become a significant factor which causes a positive impact on the sustainable development of their economies. This gives rise to the suggestion that Russia has some conditions for a more extensive application of REn, in particular, for BF production and use. Correspondingly, this article characterizes some general trends of B...