Alternative Options for Modernization of Regional Heat Supply Systems: Environmental and Economic Aspects

Abstract

At present, environmental pollution by fuel combustion products is one of the key problems in the heat supply sector. It affects the entire population of the Earth. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the necessity of ecological upgrading of thermal power facilities in the Irkutsk region and using a part of municipal solid waste as an alternative fuel at thermal power facilities of the Russian Federation. The research shows that the use of the two kinds of fuel (solid biofuel and alternative fuel) can reduce the anthropogenic load. This measure can be a way of energy efficient disposal of accumulated and annually generated production and consumer waste. The transition to alternative fuels can be most efficiently implemented in boiler houses. This is due to lower capital investments in the modernization of boiler houses as compared to the modernization of thermal power plants. The calculations in the article confirm that the implementation of environmental modernization of regional heat supply systems is not economically beneficial for entrepreneurs. The state should supplement the methods of regulation with targeted co-financing of programs for the modernization of thermal power facilities in order to accelerate the processes of modernization of heat supply in the Russian Federation. At the same time, the recipients of support must comply with the established indicators further on.