Carbon footprint of the energy sector

The world's attention is focused on the anthropogenic component of climate change. The energy sector (77.9%) makes a significant contribution to these changes. Russia, has natural gas, oil and coal as a source of energy production, while the issue of using low-carbon resource base, application of new technologies of carbon capture and utilization, use of renewable energy sources remains relevant. The purpose of this study is to analyze the carbon footprint of generating enterprises and various energy sources, and to determine the way of development of the use of low-carbon sources, such as nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants, the application of new technologies in the heating system, refrigerant utilization technologies, secondary energy resources, etc. Results: The carbon footprint of the energy sector has been considered for Scope 1 and Scope 2. The analysis of the carbon footprint of generating enterprises (Scope 1) showed that the largest contribution is made by fossil fuel power plants with specific CO2 emission rates of 450-1000 g/kWh. Hydroelectric power plants belonging to the category of renewable energy power plants (RES) due to large total methane emissions from reservoirs are in the second place (24 g/kWh), ahead of nuclear power plants with specific emission rate of 12 g/kWh. Wind power plants (11 g/kWh) are close to nuclear power plants in terms of carbon neutrality. The ambiguous position of one of the leaders of green energy, solar power plants (48 g/kWh) is associated with the stage of utilization of the equipment used. Specific emission values of Scope 2 category are also given. Based on the results of the analysis of the energy sector of Scope 1 and 2, recommendations for reducing the carbon footprint are given.