Despite the relatively large reserves of the hydrocarbon fields under development, Iraq's geographical location and climatic conditions have given rise to extensive opportunities for renewable sources, namely solar energy. The high air temperatures recorded annually in the region create a more favorable technical platform for the implementation of thermal processes when recycling incoming research. Therefore, for the design of solar plants and in the future, a reliable assessment of solar energy resources is required to determine the generated power depending on seasonal changes. Theoretical methods for determining radiation flux in the case of assessing resources for a particular area do not have the required accuracy for a number of reasons, the main of which is the permanent state of cloud. Only taking into account the actual climatic conditions for the construction areas under consideration on the basis of long-term actinometric observations gives a fairly accurate distribution of solar energy. The absence of such information in full implies forecasting of resource availability, including for areas not covered by observation systems. Given these limitations, an analysis of the average monthly daily solar radiation revenues for densely populated areas of Iraq is provided. On the basis of actinometric information of many years of observations, dependencies were obtained to determine the solar energy coming at statistical clouds per day per 1 m2 of horizontal surface of the area, taking into account its latitude and serial number of the month of the year. The equations allow to fulfill the forecast of the area irradiation for the design of solar plants, to justify the subsequent efficiency of the alternative system, as well as the level of possible replacement of traditional resources and the degree of reduction of their consumption. On the basis of the calculated data, it is possible to justify the most expedient scheme of solar energy utilization depending on the available resources and to select the structures of radiation sensing devices required for climatic conditions for the solved tasks. In view of the analysis of solar energy distributions and average monthly outdoor air temperatures in Iraq, two types of thermal solar plants have been recommended for use, which may have additional circuits for generating electricity and cold.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are the two countries in Central Asia that have a huge reserve of hydro resources of the region. It is important to recognize the significance of the part played by the micro-hydropower plants (HPP) in the electric power generation in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan from the point of view of sustainable economic development. This study presents a structural model and methodology of choice of a feasible type of micro-HPP using the developed algorithm for calculation of hydro turbines characteristics based on the hydrological characteristics of small and shallow watercourses located in Central Asian countries, such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Based on this model, the software Calculation and choosing the type of hydro turbines for micro HPP’s has been developed. Depending on the load, a consumer can choose one of the suggested types of micro-hydroelectric power plants to meet his requirements. When choosing the type of micro-hydroelectric power station, a consumer should also take into account the factor of the seasonality of the water level, the constancy and speed of the water, and the volume of river water, since in some places the water freezes in winter. MicroHPPs gained recognition as a good alternative to traditional power generation for many developing countries around the world.

The article presents material on the strategic direction of reducing the negative impact of the fuel and energy complex on the environment through the transition to renewable energy sources, considered by all countries and forecasted, including in Russia. The European development of renewable energy is shown: in the first half of 2020, more electricity was generated than based on fossil fuels (RES 40%, fossil fuels 34%). The potential of the Russian hydropower industry is shown; in terms of the availability of hydropower resources, Russia ranks second, after the PRC. Historically, the use of a hydropower resource has been viewed as supplying energy from a renewable energy source. With their worthy renewable contribution to the energy sector, exploitation indicates environmental problems associated with their appearance, this is the flooding of large tracts of fertile lands, leading to modifications of unique ecological systems in river beds and floodplains, to a decrease in the number and extinction of fish species. One of the ways of transition to environmentally friendly and resource-saving energy is seen in the development of the hydro potential of small rivers, which has received a stable direction of promising development over the past decades due to the fact that the development does not require large territories, while mini-hydroelectric power plants have a short payback period and a lower cost of the generated 1 kWh of electricity. The prospect of developing microhydroelectric power plants is also seen for their use in the field of decentralized energy supply. The article presents a fundamentally new development of the design of a hydraulic converter for a micro HPP - a wave-type hydraulic converter, which is a device for using the energy of a river flow as a source of renewable energy. The design features of the wave-type hydraulic converter make it possible to simplify the operations for manufacturing the working blade, while the power of the developed device will be determined by the dimensional characteristics of the converting mechanism. The possibility of modular design of wave-type hydraulic converters will determine the total power of the device depending on the number and size of modules.

The work is devoted to studying the mechanisms of generating bioelectric potentials in the root-inhabited-plant system and the creation of plant-microbial fuel cells (PMFC). The construction of experimental PMFC that allows studying the influence of the configuration and material of electrode systems on the values of bioelectric potentials (BEP) generated in the         root-inhabited-plant system, on the physiological state of the plant organism depending on environmental factors: mineral nutrition, light regime, soil layer depth, has been developed. The possibility of using the developed technology for measuring BEP to create long-lasting plant-microbial fuel cells based on the use of the electrical activity of plants as an electromotive force was shown. The electrodes were made of various carbon materials. The maximum current value obtained in the experimental PMFC was 83 nA per plant growth area (0.0023 m³). The maximum value of the biopotential obtained from one PMFC on the 16th day of the growth was 150 mV; the average BEP was about 100 mV. Thus, a hybrid system that combines plant and microbial organisms with electrogenic properties is aimed at generating sustainable renewable environmentally friendly energy. PMFC technology allows the production of green energy almost everywhere where plants grow, and is applicable both in the natural environment and for growing agricultural crops in open ground, greenhouses, phytotech complexes and regulated agroecosystems. An agrotechnological energy complex based on PMFC is not only capable of ensuring the production of renewable energy, but will also make it possible to simultaneously obtain high-quality plant products. A bioelectrochemical system based on plant electrogenesis can be used to create low-power unattended energy sources capable of partially supporting the vital activity of plants by supplying power to pumps, light sources based on LEDs, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and IoT-based sensors, various sensors of environmental parameters and physiological state of plants. It can also be used in scientific research in the field of plant growing, agrophysics, plant biophysics as a biosensor for monitoring the condition of a plant and correcting cultivation technologies.

Physical interactions and mathematical model of the hybrid power plant are considered. It contains a multimachine wind plant with two groups of different type’s generators and a typical solar electrical installation which are considered here and as the reserve sources a synchronous diesel generator and the accumulator battery are used. This way all sources, through straighteners, are working for direct current common bus bar with the load connected to it which, in its turn, switches on connected in parallel payload variable and the ballast load to relieve excess power. Mathematical description of the power plant is represented by a number of equations of electrical and mechanical equilibrium, ratios for calculating the current - for the optimal wind turbine rotation speed.

In the description of synchronous generators done according to the Park-Gorev's the damping contours, the electromagnetic dynamics of the winding swaying of the machines and the saturation of magnetic circuits are not taken into account. At the same time the individual equation takes into account the angle of the difference between the axis of wind turbines and the reserve generator. The simplified battery model in working mode represents the series connection of internal resistance and the voltage source and current flowing through the battery characterizes the speed of its charge changing. Mechanical equilibrium equations take into account the torque of the wind wheel and the brake electromagnetic moments of the VEU generators. As the generators voltage is served to the DC bus through the straighteners, the task is mainly not to stabilize the wind turbine rotation speed but to maintain its operation with maximum output power while speed changing.

According to the modeling results of the simulation implemented in the Mathcad environment it is shown that the constructed mathematical model as a whole really reflects the processes of its working mode and the physical interactions of the main elements - sources and consumers of electricity in case of variable wind streams, sunlight level and load changing.

This article shows and discusses the main trends and prospects for the development of alternative electricity until 2030 in Europe. The activities of the European Union are defined to prevent greenhouse gas emissions, economic growth and energy consumption by applying the latest technological innovations in the transition to clean energy, while ensuring energy security. Trends and prospects for progress in the direction of affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all are considered based on an ambitious regulatory framework agreed at the level of the European Union state members, problems of the development of the clean sector and industry integration for energy companies and energy service providers are also identified. It is determined that the switch to energy will reduce the European Union’s dependence on energy imports, increase the security of energy supplies and reduce vulnerability to volatile fossil fuel prices. European Union has achieved its renewable energy and energy efficiency targets will reduce its dependence on natural gas imports from neighboring countries. The energy transition will reduce air pollution and help limit global warming to 2°C or below, creating large economic benefits for human health, economic activity and the environment. These savings could more than offset the additional annual grid costs associated with meeting the 2030 renewable energy and energy efficiency targets. It has been found that significant innovation has a positive impact on the countries of the European Union to develop cost-effective technologies and services for a low-carbon energy and transport system. Conclusions and recommendations have been developed for member countries in order to develop clean energy.

In this work, it was shown that low-temperature plasma initiated in liquid-phase media in the discharge gap between the electrodes is capable of efficiently decomposing hydrogen-containing molecules of various organic compounds and their mixtures with the formation of gaseous products in which the proportion of hydrogen is more than 90% according to gas chromatography data.

In the course of work, an experimental setup for hydrogen production was designed and manufactured, which includes a steel reaction chamber with a cooling jacket, a power supply with adjustable parameters, an ultrasonic generator and transducer, and a gas extraction system.

Optimal conditions for the production of hydrogen (yield and selectivity) have been found, and principles have been developed for the automation of the process and the design of a semi-continuous pilot plant in order to increase productivity. The reaction products and the purity of the obtained hydrogen are characterized by a set of instrumental methods of physicochemical analysis, including gas and liquid chromatography, microscopy, calorimetry, and other methods.

Preliminary estimates of the energy efficiency, calculated taking into account the heat of combustion of hydrogen and the initial substances, as well as the consumption of electricity, showed an efficiency level of about 60-70%, depending on the composition of the initial mixture. Theoretical calculations of the voltage and current of the discharge were also carried out during the simulation of the process, which are consistent with the experimental data.

A by-product of hydrogen production by the acoustoplasma discharge method during the decomposition of organic liquids is carbon, which is formed in the form of agglomerates of nanoparticles of various structures and is deposited during the reaction at the bottom of the reaction chamber. As shown by the results of analyzes and stoichiometric calculations, the formation of these by-products consumes most of the carbon and oxygen contained in the molecules of the initial liquid, thereby the resulting gaseous mixture is significantly enriched in hydrogen. The resulting nanoparticles and their agglomerates can also be used as fillers, dyes, components of composite materials.

On April 6, 2020, Russian science and the Lebedev Physical Institute team suffered an irreparable loss - after a short, serious illness, our friend and colleague Mishik Airazatovich Kazaryan died.

Mishik Airazatovich Kazaryan was a well-known specialist in the field of laser physics and optics. Doctor of physical and mathematical sciences, professor, foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, laureate of the USSR State Prize in the field of science and technology (1980). After graduating from MIPT in 1970, he worked all his life at the Lebedev Physical Institute at the Department of Optics. In 1989, he got a degree of Dr. Sci Habil., in 2003, he received the academic title of professor.

The main area of M.A. Kazaryan’s research was in the field of creation of powerful tunable lasers, development of active optical systems with brightness amplifiers, design of color acousto-optic television systems and laser medicine devices, study of the mechanisms of laser acceleration of microparticles, study of light-induced phenomena during dynamic multiple scattering of light and the electro-induced drift of aqua complexes in aqueous solutions. For the creation of the brightest repetitively pulsed laser for the visible region of the spectrum, he was awarded the USSR State Prize in the field of science and technology.

M.A. Kazaryan developed new approaches to the problems of laser isotope separation, alternative and hydrogen energy.

The authors have developed and described an algorithm for promoting innovative technologies, containing a sequence of steps: allocation of priority technological directions in the world on the basis of national projects and joint efforts of science and business; development of conditions and announcement of the international annual competition for the best innovative technologies promoting sustainable development of mankind; carrying out technical and essential examinations of the received projects; signing of innovative contracts with the winners for the development of projects; analysis of the sustainability of projects throughout the year and awarding the winners. The implementation of the project is described: since 2018 NPJS Company SALUS and INIC have established a series of periodic international awards “for technological solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of mankind”; the first competition was completed in 2019 and 31 projects (from 5 countries, 10 cities) out of 126 submitted projects (from 14 countries, 19 cities) passed a multi-stage international examination and became winners. The projects represent 10 technological areas: natural and commercial economy, water extraction and purification, protection of nature and the ecological environment of man, clean industry, transport and transportation, renewable alternative energy sources, energy use and consumption, genetic engineering and biotechnology, medicine and healthcare, physical culture and sports, social sphere and life. Examples of the most interesting projects from different technological directions are given: dispersants and nano-technologies in various fields of industrial production based on a new state of matter, plasma quantum condensate, a source of alternative, renewable and sustainable energy; innovative research in the field of ultra-low temperatures in medicine (cryo-technology). An example of the synergetic effect of the interaction between science and business on the way from the discovery of the phenomenon to the industrial use of the developed technology is described.