2014 was remembered by many as the date of entry of Crimea into the Russian Federation. Many reacted to this news ambiguously. But the fact of joining itself had a place to be, which means that it was necessary to start taking care of the citizens living in the present Republic of Crimea. Providing these people with gas, electricity and water - these were the most important issues already at the time of the reckoning of the peninsula to the Russian Federation. It was necessary to think over the power supply of Crimea (scheme, explanations). This is what the relevant organizations did.
Crimean energy before separation from Ukraine
The peninsula itself has experienced a terrible shortage of electricity since Soviet times. They wanted to create a nuclear station there, but when the Chernobyl disaster occurred, all these works died out. And after that the USSR collapsed, industrial production began to rapidly lose momentum, hence the decrease in energy consumption. It is precisely because of these events that the energy shortage has decreased, and the need to build a nuclear power plant has disappeared by itself.
But over time, new problems appeared. Already in the early 2000s, the Ukrainian authorities decided to replace gas with electricity. In thermal power plants and boiler houses, a restriction on gas consumption was introduced. People had to switch to a fully electric supply: water heaters, heaters.
Accordingly, a lack of energy reappeared. The authorities tried to provide people with alternative energy from SES (solar power plants), but this was not enough. And it was at that moment that unrest began in Ukraine itself, and this problem went into the background. In fact, the Russian Federation is still struggling with the consequences of such an attitude to energy. The electricity supply scheme of Crimea from Russia began to be built almost immediately after the accession of the peninsula to the territory of the Russian Federation.
What provides Crimea with energy at the moment?
Currently, the peninsula is provided with electricity by the Rostov NPP and other suppliers. Given the lack of its own nuclear power plant, the Crimean authorities in 2014 had to register several MGS (mobile gas turbine stations) in their possession. The Crimean power supply - a scheme associated with the Rostov NPP - is experiencing a little less than before, but still a shortage.
Energy is also supplied by thermal power plants. Among them:
- Simferopol TPP;
- Sevastopol TPP;
- Kamysh-Burunskaya CHPP;
- Saki TPP and others.
In the period from 2010 to 2012, four solar power plants were built on the territory of Crimea. But the energy they produce is too little to satisfy the needs of the population. Solar power plants continue to operate, but only on them the peninsula will not be able to exist. That is, the entire energy supply system is presented as a scheme of the Crimea’s external power supply, since the Republic is not able to provide for itself.
What were your plans for 2014?
After signing the law on the entry of Crimea into the Russian Federation, the question of supplying energy to the peninsula arose by itself. At the time of March 2014, the options were as follows:
- To build several gas thermal power plants, electricity supply to the Crimea (the scheme involves the construction of a branch from the South Stream) will be carried out directly on the territory of the peninsula.
- Lay cables from the Taman Peninsula by air or underwater. The use of local generation is not required. Such a single-line power supply scheme of the Crimea will require only the presence of power lines in good condition.
- Partially use the energy supply through the power lines from the Taman Peninsula, while having a small generation in the Republic.
In the last two options, it is necessary, through strengthening ties with Russia, to fully establish electricity supply to the Crimea (any scheme is suitable, the choice is not fundamental).
2014 - present: what has been done?
The fall of 2014 was significant. Ukraine has limited energy supplies to the peninsula, virtually depriving it of electricity. But taking into account the fact that since August 2014 the Crimean energy system was already “under the supervision” of Russia, a tender was immediately announced for laying a cable through the Kerch Strait. Two organizations reached the final of this competition: JSC Technopromexport JSC and Stroytransgaz OJSC. Construction has begun.
Ukrainian activists tried in every possible way to prevent this. It was recorded undermining power lines in the Kherson region. After restoration, the organizers of the power block partially lifted their restrictions, and the 220 kV transmission line Kakhovskaya-Titan-Krasnoperekopsk was launched.
December 2015 proved itself by the fact that the power supply circuit of Crimean electric networks was finally built and began its work. The second such event occurred in a couple of weeks - the next path was paved.
What is available today?
The construction of two thermal power plants in Simferopol and Sevastopol was approved at the end of 2015. The Crimean power supply scheme will be presented as follows: these stations will have to produce enough energy to provide for the entire peninsula. This process will be carried out using natural gas.
The commissioning of these facilities falls on 2018. And their capacity will be about 470 MW.
In addition, four lines of the energy bridge from the Krasnodar Territory were launched. Of course, this news was very pleasing to the residents of the Crimea, but the problem of their own electricity supply is still acute.
