In the first four months of 2021, total electricity generation in Russia increased by 5.1% year-on-year to 398.3 billion kWh, according to the recent issue of AK&M Information Agency's "RUSSIAN INDUSTRIES: PRODUCTION, FINANCE, SECURITIES. Electric Power Industry" monthly paper (No. 1424) dated May 26, 2021.
Excluding the leap year 2020 effect (February 29), the 4-month electricity output across Russia increased by 6% year-on-year. Electricity consumption in Russia increased by 4.1% to 390.1 billion kWh. Excluding the leap year 2020 effect, 4-month consumption across Russia as a whole increased by 5.0%. In April alone, Russia generated 90.0 billion kWh of electricity (+5.7% year-on-year). Electricity consumption in Russia reached 88.5 billion kWh in April growing by 5.0% YoY.
In the first quarter of 2021, electricity exports from Russia increased by 83.3% year-on-year to 5.589 billion kWh, according to Russia's Federal Customs Service. 3-month electricity imports increased by 23.3% YoY (+8.5% in value terms). According to current data of the Central Dispatching Department of the Fuel and Energy Complex, electricity exports from Russia in January-April 2021 increased 2.2 times year-on-year to 8.1 billion kWh. In April alone, supplies from Russia grew 1.8 times YoY to reach 1.6 billion kWh. According to the Central Dispatching Department of the Fuel and Energy Complex, Russia imported 0.2 billion kWh of electricity for 4 months of 2021.
Rosatom has started construction of units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant (NPP), units 3 and 4 of the Xudabao nuclear power plant in China. The solemn construction commencement ceremony which took place on May 19 was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping via teleconferencing. The units are expected to be launched in 2026-2028, AK&M Information Agency's bulletin notes.
In April-May 2021, the share of energy generation from renewable energy sources in total generation was 0.56-0.96% in the European part of Russia, 0.25-0.33% in Siberia, according to data provided by NP Market Council Association. The solar and wind power was generated in equal measures in Russia in April. According to Russia's Federal Statistics Service, the wind energy output has increased many times since April 2020; in April, it exceeded the peak solar power generation levels seen in August 2020.
An in-depth segment review is provided in issue 1424 of the "RUSSIAN INDUSTRIES: PRODUCTION, FINANCE, SECURITIES. Electric Power Industry" monthly paper dated May 26, 2021.
