Antonina Levashenko, Head of International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, commented for Vedomosti. Sustainable Development, she spoke about the development of small sustainable projects in Russian regions, paying particular attention to green energy in the Kamchatka Krai.
According to the expert, Kamchatka is an example of the harmonious development of renewable energy sources (RES). “By 2029, capacity is planned to increase to 211.1 MW,” Antonina Levashenko said. Growth is being driven by hydrological studies for the construction of the new Tolmachevskaya HPP-4, the expansion of the Mutnovskaya geothermal power plant, and the preparation of a project for a new GeoES-2.
The expert also cited an example from the Vladimir region, where the region's first grid- connected solar power station is being tested at a wastewater treatment plant. “The electricity generated is used to meet the facility's own needs, and part of its energy consumption is covered by a green source,” she explained.
Speaking about the improvement of the urban environment as an element of sustainable development, Antonina Levashenko noted that “there are cities with almost 100% accessibility to parks, squares, and natural landscapes,” such as Krasnogorsk in the Moscow Region and Yalta in the Republic of Crimea.
In terms of the social aspect of sustainable development, the expert highlighted volunteer initiatives, for example, in Salekhard, where volunteers help organize events and support elderly people.