Development of trends in the energy intensity of regional economies

Aim. To develop recommendations of strategic nature for regional authorities to make decisions aimed at reducing energy intensity and electricity intensity of regional economies, taking into account the identified trends of changes in the process of analyzing the calculated data and applying the typological grouping of the country’s regions.

Objectives. To analyze normative legal acts, reporting documents of federal and regional authorities, as well as publications devoted to the research topic; to consider the possibilities of applying to the analysis of energy intensity of regional economies along with the sectoral territorial approach; to present the methodology of analysis of energy intensity of regional economies based on the decomposition of energy intensity and subsequent typological grouping of regions on several grounds; to characterize the obtained results and to determine strategic solutions for the reduction of energy intensity and electricity intensity of regional economies.

Methods. Along with general scientific methods of research, such as analysis, generalization, analogy, description, the methods of statistical data processing, including index, methods of average values, dynamic series, balance, aggregation, statistical and typological groupings, summary were applied.

Results. Along with the sectoral approach to analyzing the energy intensity of the Russian economy, used primarily by the federal authorities, the territorial approach was considered. The latter makes it possible not only to identify trends and latent factors affecting the energy intensity of the gross regional product (GRP), but also to manage it within the framework of the regional authorities’ targeted policy to reduce energy intensity. By means of the proposed methodology, a typological grouping of regions was carried out, which makes it possible to identify the subjects of the Russian Federation (RF) with the highest values according to the growth rates of electricity intensity and energy intensity, in respect of which it is necessary to use a differentiated approach and incidental measures that take into account the influence of latent factors and the sectoral structure of the regional economy.

Conclusions. From the methodological point of view, the article may be of interest to the scientific community focused on finding solutions in the context of improving the energy efficiency of regional economies, and from the practical point of view to regional authorities, whose competence includes the issues of reducing the energy intensity of economies. The study contains elements of novelty, manifested in the methodology of analyzing regional electricity and energy intensity, application of territorial and sectoral approach to improve regional energy efficiency. The article contributes to the evaluation support of management decisions at the regional level in the framework of the state task to reduce energy intensity of the Russian economy.

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