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than 2.5 times. In addition, a reduction in the commissioning of
generating capacity was noted.
Among the main reasons for the decline in the economic
efficiency of the electric power industry are the lack of an
optimal industry managerial system in the context of numerous
owners of electric power facilities, as well as a sharp decline in
the scientific and technical potential of the industry sector.
In this regard, it is planned to develop intelligent systems in the
electric energy transmission and distribution systems. It is
planned to create demonstration and pilot plants, as well as use
of standard RES-based projects. There is also a direct
dependence of the electric power industry development on the
advanced development of the power engineering industry.
Energy from renewable sources can be used for electric energy
production, heating, and hot water supply, as well as fuel and
energy resources, that is, in all areas where traditional energy
products are used (Table 1).
Table 1. Use of alternative energy: the advantages and disadvantages
Kind of energy
Solar
Wind
Hydro
Bio
Geothermal
Utilization
Electric energy
production
+
+
+
+
+
Heat production
+
+
+
Transport sector
+
+
Advantages
Accessibility, renewability, ecological compatibility
The durability of power
units
Occupy relatively little
space
Power regulation, ease
of operation, cheapness
Waste recycling High heat transfer
Disadvantages
High cost, dependence on
climate, need for territory
Noise pollution,
dependence on climate,
need for territory
Dependence on climate,
flooding of the territory
The need to use generated heat near
the source of energy production
Solar cell panels are used for heating and ventilation of
buildings, as well as electric energy production. Wind power has
recently been increasingly used to generate electric energy.
Hydropower is aimed at generating electric energy, as well as is
an integrated water management system which solves the
problems of water supply to the population and industry, water
transport, irrigation, fisheries, recreation, etc. Bioenergy
products are used as fuel in all aggregate states to generate heat
and electric energy aimed at meeting industrial and domestic
needs in energy, as well as used in internal combustion engines
of vehicles. Geothermal energy can be used for power
generation, hot water supply, and heating of premises.
The use of alternative energy in the transport sector should be
singled out because it accounts for a significant proportion of
fuel and energy consumption, as well as since the operation of
vehicles has significant impact on the environment.
Among the outcomes that may result from implementation of
projects based on the Smart Grid and Green Economy synthesis,
it is necessary to distinguish the reduction of peak loads and
energy losses in electrical networks, improving the reliability of
power systems and energy utilization efficiency, reducing the
adverse impact of energy facilities on the environment, and the
like.
The business processes’ management in the industry is an
integral part of the proper functioning of the intelligence
network. These trends include the expansion of the territorial
location of energy facilities, improving the quality and efficiency
of services, reducing the cost of enterprises, ensuring modern
energy efficiency requirements, and the transition to new energy
industry functioning models.
The rapid development of innovative information technologies
also has important impact. This concerns constantly increasing
computing power, growing bandwidth and quality of
communication channels, rising importance of mobile devices,
using automated information and measurement systems of
commercial energy accounting, emerging software solutions that
enable to meet modern requirements and improve efficiency, the
quality of analytics and accuracy of accounting, integrating
information systems horizontally and vertically, emerging
possibilities of rapid cooperation with adjacent systems, growing
speed and amount of information processing, as well as ensuring
its protection.
Thus, there is no doubt that improving the efficiency of small
and medium-sized entrepreneurship in the energy sector can be
carried out using high-performance smart systems of information
processing and energy process control.
3 Review of Global Trends in the Energy Projects’
Development Based on RES and Smart Grid
In recent years, the proportion of alternative energy in the world
is constantly increasing. As of early 2018, almost a third of all
electric energy is generated by RES. However, most of it, about
18-20%, accounts for hydropower plants of various capacities. In
2017, the amount of electric energy generated from RES in
Europe exceeded the energy generation by coal-fired thermal
power plants. In 2017, more than 100 GW of solar power plants
were put into operation for the first time ever, while, according
to forecasts, in 2018 this figure will amount to 106 GW.
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, already in 20
years, more than half of the electric energy will be produced
using renewable sources. At that, the proportion of solar and
wind energy will be about 34% [7].
Due to the impossibility of further economic development along
resource-intensive trajectories, as well as under the pressure of
the global energy and environmental crisis, today, the leading
countries of the world have already actually moved to the
implementation of an energy-saving model of economic
development, which is the basis of the resource-saving type of
social reproduction. This is evidenced, in particular, by the
annual turnover of the green economy, which reaches more than
300 billion Euros in the European Union (3% of GDP),
employing about 3.4 mln people; while 25% of total investment
capital is invested in the development of clean technologies.
China is the undisputed world leader in the use of renewable
energy. China produces 50% of all solar panels in the world. In
2017, China commissioned solar power plants with the total
capacity of 46.7 GW. Now the proportion of renewable energy
in China has exceeded 25% taking into account hydroelectric
power plants. During the year renewable energy facilities have
generated 1.7 trillion kWh of electric energy.
Germany is one of the undisputed leaders of alternative energy
in Europe. The total capacity of solar and wind power plants is
close to 100 GW, while private households account for about
40% of the capacity, and about 10% account for farmers. In
Germany, every 12th citizen owns an alternative power
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