The Impact of economic, technological, social and environmental factors on the development of the energy sector in the Republic of Belarus

  • Tatyana G. Zorina Institute of Power Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the influence of economic, technological, social and environmental factors on the development of the energy sector by improving the methodology of sustainable energy development. By sustainable energy development, the author understands the development of a self-regulating system of energy supply and energy consumption, ensuring energy security, equally affordable satisfaction of energy needs and aspirations of all segments of society to preserve the environment. The factors of sustainable energy development are divided according to the following criteria: by the direction of impact (external and internal); by the sphere to which they relate (economic, technological, social and environmental); by the principles of assessing sustainable energy development (availability of resources, directions of socio-economic development, demand for energy resources, energy security). With the method proposed by the author for calculating the integral indicator characterizing sustainable energy development, each of the factors (economic, technological, social and environmental) is assigned the same weight.

A dynamic analysis of the sustainable economic development of the Republic of Belarus in 2010-2019 was carried out, which, in general, in 2019 increased by 4 % compared to 2010. In the context of individual factors , the following dynamics is observed.

  • 1. Economic factors: the highest value was achieved in 2011-2012 (0.432), the lowest was observed in 2013 (0.385).

  • 2. Technological factors are characterized by a significant degree of unevenness: the highest value was achieved in 2019 (0.418), the lowest was observed in 2014 (0.336).

  • 3. The level of social factors has not changed significantly: the highest values in 2014 (0.949), the lowest value was observed in 2010 and 2019 (0.9234)

  • 4. Environmental factors of sustainable energy development had positive dynamics: their level increased in 2019 compared to 2010 by 4.37 % from 0.559 to 0.585.

Based on the results of the analysis, measures aimed at sustainable energy development of the Republic of Belarus are formulated.

  • 1. Development of electric transport. Currently, about 3,100 electric-powered vehicles are in operation in the republic.

  • 2. The use of electricity in residential construction for heating and hot water supply.

  • 3. Complete electrification of railway transport. Currently, this figure is about 25 %.

  • 4. Creation and development of energy-intensive industries (hydrogen energy, cement industry, non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical industry, etc.).

Author Biography

Tatyana G. Zorina, Institute of Power Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

doctor of science (economics), full professor; head of the energy economy department

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Published
2022-10-11
Keywords: sustainable energy development, factors, integral indicator, dynamic analysis, measures
How to Cite
Zorina, T. G. (2022). The Impact of economic, technological, social and environmental factors on the development of the energy sector in the Republic of Belarus. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology, 3, 4-11. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/ecology/article/view/5144
Issue
No 3 (2022): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology.
Section
Social and Environmental Problems of Sustainable Development