Solar potential is reasonable despite the country’s location in the northern latitudes. The
highest solar potential is in the southern regions,12 especially in the Northern Caucasus.
Solar power is very poorly developed in Russia with the first plant having opened in Belgorod
Oblast in November 2010. Russia plans to increase its solar capacity up to 150 MW by 2020.
Among the most prospective projects is the construction of a new solar power plant
undertaken by a joint venture of the Russian state nanotechnology firm Rusnano and energy
conglomerate Renova. The plant, to be built in the spa town of Kislovodsk on the Black Sea
will have a 12.3 MW capacity, split evenly between photovoltaic (PV) and thermal power. The
deal is worth US$97mn and the plant is expected to establish its presence by 2013.13
Although Russia does not utilize many solar plants, it is quite advanced in photovoltaic
technologies, especially in the production of silicon. Among the manufacturers of products
for solar energy generation, the Russian high-tech company Nitol Solar is the largest one. It
focuses on the production of polysilicon, the basic raw material used to make solar panels