Project coordinator: Nikolai Duraev, First Deputy Minister of Housing and Communal Services and Energy of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Brief information: The project, originally announced by Yukon (Canada), focuses on sustainable energy issues - electricity and heat. The use of such in the extreme North is extremely promising, given the complexity and high cost of using classical energy, and is also a "regional response" to the global initiative of the wider application of "green technologies".

Results:

In support of the project in Yakutsk an annual conference "Development of Renewable Energy in the Far East of Russia" is held under the patronage of PJSC "RAO ES of the East" and the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). In 2017 several official foreign delegations, as well as representatives of more than 100 largest Russian and world companies from Japan, China, USA, Germany, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan took part in the Conference. The conference plays an important role in the development of the renewable energy industry in the region, allowing market participants to establish business contacts and exchange relevant information on available support tools, technical solutions and initiatives in the development of alternative energy.The conference initiated several major cooperation projects such as the construction of the world's largest polar SES in Batagay within the framework of the signed agreement between the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and RAO ES of the East, the construction of a unique wind power complex in Ust-Kamchatsk by the Japanese government organization NEDO in conjunction with the Government of Kamchatsky edge and "RAO ES of the East" and others.

On August 29-31, 2018, an International seminar "Atlas of renewable energy in the Arctic " was held by Singapore National University on the project of the Arctic Council AREA with the participation of representatives of the Arctic states: USA, Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, as well as experts from countries of Southeast Asia - Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia. This project was initiated by the United States, Canada, and Gwich'in Council International (GCI) and one of projects of the Arctic Council Working Group on Sustainable Development.

The seminar was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore and organized by the Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore, in cooperation with the SDWG AREA project management is working towards how to effectively use a renewable energy in Arctic regions.   In the recent years, Singapore has been contributing to the work of this international intergovernmental forum by supporting various Arctic Council projects in the conservation of Arctic flora and fauna, and as one of the observers in the Arctic Council, was contributing to the education and sustainable development in the Arctic. The Energy Studies Institute, Singapore National University, is doing a great deal of research on issues related to climate change, transit energy and the use of new technologies in the field of renewable energy sources, including in extreme Arctic conditions.

During the seminar, participants shared their experience in the field of development of renewable energy in the Arctic and in the countries of Southeast Asia, and also discussed the prospects of the AREA project. Participants came to the conclusion that, despite the great differences between the Arctic states and the countries of Southeast Asia, there are many common problems. First of all, we are talking about remoteness from the central power networks, the use of expensive diesel fuel for energy generation, the isolated, "island" principle of locating settlements and, accordingly, energy infrastructure facilities. Also, extreme climatic conditions (low temperatures in the Arctic and frequent hurricanes in the Southeast Asia), a high level of tariffs for energy services, a low level of development of the overall infrastructure, the availability of indigenous people leading a traditional way of life, etc.

One of the participants of the AREA project is the international organization of governors of the northern regions "Northern Forum" and the Executive Director of the Northern Forum Mikhail Pogodaev gave a presentation, where he he talked about international cooperation between the Northern regions and told about its main projects, including the development of renewable energy in an isolated and remote northern settlements. The governments of the northern regions are directly interested in developing infrastructure in their territories and doing a great job of ensuring access of the population of the North to energy and heat networks. At the same time, it is very important to exchange with gained experience and best practices in the area of renewable energy development. The Northern Forum has long been engaged in projects for the development of alternative energy. The Northern regions of the Scandinavian countries, Canada, Alaska and other Russian regions, including the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, the Kamchatka Krai, the Murmansk Region, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and others have a great positive experience in the development of renewable energy. It should be noted that the top ten countries with the best indicators for the use of alternative energy are the 5 countries of the Arctic Council, mainly from Northern Europe. The first ranking country is Iceland, where about 80% of consumption falls on renewable energy sources.

Participants also discussed the issues of improving international, national, regional and local legislation in the field of tariff policy, regulating the development of renewable energy and sharing experience in this area.

The Executive Director of the Northern Forum, Mikhail Pogodaev met with Mr. Sam Tan, the Minister of Human Resources of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Singapore, the representative of Singapore in the Arctic Council, cooperation between Singapore and the Northern Forum on various topics within the framework of the Arctic Council. They discussed the cooperation in education, sustainable development and conservation of northern nature. In March 2018, the President of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North invited Mr. Sam Tan to visit Salekhard and be a guest of honor in the meeting of the Council of the Association "Reindeer Herders of the World", where Mr. Sam Tan was able to get acquainted with the indigenous people of the Arctic.

On October 20, 2018, a meeting on “The Arctic Renewable Energy Atlas (Area) Project: Key Takeaways from The Singapore Workshop” was organized by the Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore, The Institute of the North as a side event of 2018 Arctic Circle Assembly. Northern Forum was represented by its Executive director Mikhail Pogodaev.