All habits die hard : Exploring the path dependence and lock-ins of outdated energy systems in the Russian Arctic

• Published in: Energy Research & Social Science
• Main Author: Salonen, Hilma
• Other Authors: Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Scientific Publ. Co 2022
• Subjects: Russia; Arctic; Energy; Renewables; Mega project; Pragmatism; RENEWABLE ENERGY; CONSTRAINING FACTORS; PLANNING POLICY; TRANSITIONS; SUSTAINABILITY; CONSUMPTION; GOVERNANCE; DYNAMICS; AREAS; POWER; 1172 Environmental sciences; Sakha; Tiksi; Climate change; Northern Sea Route; Republic of Sakha
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/339907

In the middle of accelerating climate change and global energy transition from fossil fuels towards low-carbon alternatives, Russia has set a course for mitigating the negative effects of these phenomena while seeking to profit from the supposed positive prospects of warming climate conditions: for example, the expected opening of the Northern Sea Route for commercial traffic or producing renewable energy technologies for export. To reach these goals, Russia wields a policy tool known as "mega projects", centralized development interventions, which should bypass structural problems like the high cost of fuel deliveries that have plagued the Arctic socioeconomic development for decades. How do new mega projects aim to find quick solutions for complex problems, and why are outdated energy systems so resistant to change? The article analyzes two recent energy projects in the Republic of Sakha: building a wind park in Tiksi and establishing a company to manage fossil fuel deliveries, from the viewpoint of a pragmatist understanding of habits and their interconnected relationship with institutions. Main research questions examine what parts of the established ways of fossil fuel usage are most resistant to change in this context and what we may expect of renewable energy development in the area. Although challenges caused by the accelerating climate change are unpredictable, Russia answers to them by using the same toolkit as with other national mega projects, involving centralized decision-making and one-size-fits-all solutions. Therefore, any actors wishing to further new energy solutions in the region must do so by supplementing and supporting the dominant ones. Peer reviewed