Global Energy Transition: New Challenges and Possible Opportunities

Abstract

The authors analyze the trends of shifting national priorities of the Russian Federation in the field of sustainable energy development in a tense geopolitical situation. The trend of strengthening the position of the energy security criterion among other components of the energy trilemma can be traced not only in Russia, but also in the EU energy system, where there is an increase in the use of lignite coal and suspension of nuclear generation curtailment against the background of the overall lagging behind the schedule for achieving carbon neutrality. Nevertheless, replacing natural gas with renewables remains an urgent medium-term goal for the EU. The withdrawal of Western technological and investment partners from Russia has led to a partial suspension of significant decarbonization projects. Forced technological sovereignty reduces the pace of energy transition with the observed shift in priorities – climate problems are taking a back seat to the search for new technological solutions and distancing the prospect of fossil fuel phase-out.