Lack of in-situ measurements of wind flows at the rotor axis height of a wind turbine and usage of numerical extrapolation methods, which may lead to its erroneous production forecasts are the main problems in wind resource assessment. In connection with the trend of increasing capacity and mass-dimensional characteristics of modern wind turbines in the world practice, remote sensing devices are often used for measuring the vertical wind speed profile. This article describes the experience of practical application of remote acoustic sensing device SODAR. The analysis of the obtained measurement data for 12 months period was carried out, vertical wind speed profile and wind flow characteristics in the height of 20-140 m was calculated and wind resources map of Gulf of Finland and Leningrad region at 100 m height was composed.

There is a shortage of electricity during the construction of hydrotechnical structures on the Arctic shelf, especially at the initial phases. The problem could be solved by using wind turbines, which could be delivered to the installation site by sea. An important prerequisite for their successful work is resistance to the ice loads. This article is devoted to this problem.

The article considers the issues connected with creation of floating wind farms that are intended for the exploitation in the Arctic conditions. It shows the world experience in design and construction of offshore wind farms, features of such structures designed for conditions of Russian seas, the wind energy potential of the offshore zone of the Russian Federation. Design and layout solutions for offshore wind power stations are considered and a methodology for design substantiation of engineering solutions aimed at creating wind power farms for Arctic conditions are proposed.

Issues of substantiation of basic parameters of wind turbines in climate conditions of Russian Federation are considered in the paper. Main directions of wind turbines parameters optimization as a part of nature-technical system are studied. Structural constructions of the wind turbine foundations at permafrost are analyzed.

In this article the amount of solar radiation is evaluated from satellite imagery and geographic data. These data are received by NASA of 340 points for 20 years. This method allows calculating the distribution of solar radiation in Venezuela using the interpolation process with software QGIS. When building, the technique uses multiple databases, comparison of that allows determining the difference between radiation emission in a given area. Data from the radiation received by the interpolation were confirmed by data obtained from the surface with an annual error less than 10%. The most significant differences between the studied databases were found in mountainous areas, some coastal areas, as well as in areas, where the modeling of solar radiation can not guarantee the reliability of the results due to lack of accuracy and quality of the data.

This work considers the modern methodology of automated determination of parameters of hydroturbines of designed HPP. A description of application software and informational support used at searching optimum parameters of HPP equipment is given. An example of the proposed method realization is presented.

The article describes participation opportunity of hydropower plants (HPP) in electricity export optimization process from Russian Federation to Nordic countries. The paper focuses on the issues of cross-border electricity trading with Finland as a principal exporter of electric power from Russia to estimate potentials for hydropower development in the region. Benchmarketing analysis of Russian and Nordic electricity markets showed up the problems and weaknesses of the market models hindering development of cross-border electricity trading. Power generation mix in Russian Federation and Finland as well as export share in total electricity consumption of the countries are identified. The HPP development and operation effect for export-import improvement is estimated. Authors mention iniquity of HPP within conditions of developing cross-border electricity trading between countries.

The main ideas of optimization technique for allocation scheme and hydro power plant parameters with respect to regional peculiarities are described in the article. The discussed problem uses rivers channel network. Energy, economic, social, ecological, water-energy and resource specific regional peculiarities are taken into account. Rivers channel network water energy cadastre calculations have been formalized. Algorithm for hydro power plant optimal location search and its number of rivers channel network have been developed. Main hydro power plant parameters are substantiated for each of numerous location variants based on formalized water energy calculations.

When developing the project of reconstruction of Andreevskaya hydroelectric power station of low power, there was a need of its parameters specification. Due to the lack of measurements of water expenses the Perovka river was taken as the river-analog, having similar with the Andreevka river square, length, sizes of variation and asymmetry coefficients. Hydro-power calculations proved reservoir marks, pressures, guaranteed and established power, and electric power production in different years with respect to water content.

The article considers the role of pumped storage power plants (PSPP) within energy systems and their status on energy markets in Russian Federation and abroad. Problems and weaknesses of acting methods of tariff estimation are evaluated; the necessity of changings in tariff policy is emphasized. Authors note iniquity and versatility of this type of power plants within conditions of developing market of auxiliary services. Article describes results of approbation of methodology for estimating tariff increments, which are proved by the system impact of PSPP in regimes maintaining the system reliability. Assessments of flat-rate tariff and increments, which are dependent on the system impact of PSPP and structure of the electric power system, showed that amount of the recomputed flat-rate tariff increases by half. Significant improvement of the investment attractiveness of PSPP from increments for the system efficiency is shown.

The information about the purposes, tasks and main activities of the scientific and educational center "Renewable Energy Sources and Installations on their Basis" of St.-Petersburg State Polytechnical University is provided. The information about the condition of material resources and experimental laboratory installations transforming renewable energy sources, about the base of software, list of the executed research and development and the main publications of employees of the Center is given.

The paper presents classification of active building-integrated solar systems. The methodology of calculation of solar radiation income on variously oriented surfaces in real cloudiness conditions is given. The software, which was developed in order to calculate solar radiation income on differently orientated inclined surfaces in real weather conditions, is described. Using this program calculations of solar radiation income on variously orientated surfaces and recommendations for optimal disposition of photovoltaic modules and solar thermal collectors in climatic conditions of Saint-Petersburg were carried out. Influence of cloudiness and orientation of photosensitive surface on solar radiation income is reviewed.

Coastal areas of the Russian Federation (northern and far eastern territories) have a significant wind power potential. Currently, the above said areas have decentralized energy supply and, therefore, local diesel power stations (nonintegrated mill) provide electricity to them. The total installed power of diesel power stations (DPS) operating in northern regions is over 3 million kW, these DPS produce about 15 billion kWh., in that case power generation demands 5-6 million tons diesel fuel consumption annually. Diesel power stations generating costs 25-150 rubles per kWh. In the short term, the infrastructure development of Northern Sea Route ports are to be in inaugurated of the top priority nowadays. Therefore, establishing reliable and efficient power systems, which take an advantage of local renewable energy sources, mainly wind energy, and provide fuel saving with hardware adaptation for operating in cold climates maximizing energy and economic effects, is actual. During the last two years the regional authorities have shown a great interest in the construction of wind-diesel power systems as the best way to minimize the diesel fuel consumption. The paper includes results from two case studies of wind-diesel power systems (WDPS) in Russia, which should be operated in Arctic climate. Both systems are located within the polar circle with winter temperatures at least -50°C. Thus, the task to find small and medium sized wind turbine working under harsh climate cold and ice conditions was challenging. The research is focused on the detailed analysis of the wind-diesel power station (WDPS) concepts with different penetration levels and feasibility calculations. According to the results of the feasibility studies, medium penetration level scheme was proposed for WDPS in Amderma village and 250 kW wind power capacity, which provides savings of 35% of diesel fuel and payback period of 7.3 years.

Wind power is the most actual and perspective direction in renewable energy in Russia. In northern regions of Russia, increasing reliability and efficiency of power supply is suggested to be solved by optimizing the equipment composition, parameters and modes of operation of wind-diesel power plants. Structure of WDPP equipment is analyzed in the article and recommendations on selecting the equipment in harsh environments are given. Methodology for selecting the equipment according to the power parameter, based on multi-objective optimization techniques, and processes of the optimal solution are proposed.

Wind and hydraulic energy are considered to be the one of the most perspective new energy sources. In the article the main features of the process of justification of the parameters of the power objects, which use wind and hydraulic power, are analyzed and revealed. The engineering method of justification of parameters of such objects, including four levels of optimization, is developed. For each level of optimization the sequence of the solution of a task is offered, the optimization criteria are developed.

Approaches to solving the problems associated with the design and operation of energy-water-supply systems are presented. Principles of management and features of such systems are considered based on system approach. The importance of a river basin approach is emphasized. Appropriate optimization problem, solution of which allows justifying the selection of parameters of the systems, is formulated.

Emergencies that may arise during the operation of multipurpose water resources system on the basis of hydropower plants are discussed; possible approaches to assessment in order to overcome with minimal losses are suggested.

An analysis of greenhouse gas emissions research from reservoir surfaces of the world, which shows ambiguousness of estimates of reservoirs influence on greenhouse gases emissions into the atmosphere, has been made. It is recommended that an assessment of greenhouse gas emissions should be made according to "GHG Measurement Guide lines for Freshwater Reservoirs" of 2010 in order to create a database with the results of standardized measurements. Currently, the program of research in greenhouse gas emissions from "RusHydro" reservoirs is developing in SPbSPU in accordance with the procedure IHA.