Wind energy is the most dynamically developing renewable energy sector in Russia. During
the recent years it has surpassed even hydro energy in terms of numbers of newly installed
power facilities. After the closure of RAO EES, Rushydro now also manages the
development of the sector and the main wind park projects. Currently about 10 big and 1600
small wind parks are installed in Russia.8 The country has excellent potential for wind power
generation. An attempt to utilize just 25 percent of its total potential would yield some
175,000 MW of power. The highest wind energy potential is concentrated along seacoasts, in
the vast territories of steppes and in the mountains.9 Russia has a long history of small-scale
wind turbines located in agricultural areas with low population density. As connection to the
main energy grid is difficult there, small energy suppliers are in high demand. However,
large-scale commercial wind energy production has been having a difficult stand so far in
Russia.
But there are plans to change this situation. The country is to invest US$200mn in the
construction of the country’s largest wind farm (Yeisk) in the Black Sea Territory of southern
Krasnodar. Great Energy RU, a subsidiary of the renewable energy company Greta Energy
Inc., will manage the construction and operation of the wind farm. The wind farm was meant
to enter commercial operation in 2012 with a total capacity of 100MW. However, construction
is dependent on a bill that strategizes the funding procedure; this is yet to be released and,
consequently, the farm is not expected to come online until 2014.10
Russia has no major domestic producers of windmills that can compete with the major
international players in this sector. There are some manufacturers for small windmills, but not
for facilities with big capacities.11