After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the development of the energy system of the peninsula gained not only technical and economic, but also important political significance. For decades, the energy sector of Crimea depended in many respects on the supply of the Ukrainian energy system. Already in 2014, the Russian authorities, realizing the unreliability of these supplies, began to develop an ambitious and complex project, as a result of which the Crimean Peninsula should be fully provided with electricity of its own generation.
Regulation until 2014
In the 1980s, the construction of a nuclear power station in Crimea was carried out, which would cover the energy needs of the peninsula with a large margin. However, there was a terrible disaster in Chernobyl, the construction was suspended, and then completely frozen. After the collapse of the Union, Ukraine had neither the ability nor the desire nor the need to resume construction.
The young country went to Crimea with a very dilapidated energy system. The most “modern” of the still operating power plants was built in 1958. The first years of independence were remembered by the frequent blackouts in the Crimea. The construction of power plants operating on expensive fuel during the period of the economic crisis seemed extremely unprofitable. In addition to the inheritance from the Union, Ukraine received a powerful energy system with several nuclear power plants, which produced electricity much cheaper than thermal power plants.
Therefore, the problem of energy supply of the peninsula was solved with the help of supplies from Zaporizhzhya NPP. Cheap electricity gradually began to crowd out thermal power plants that consume expensive gas. On the peninsula, the centralized supply of hot water steadily decreased. Crimeans were forced to equip houses with electric water heaters and heaters.
In addition, the Ukrainian authorities set out to develop alternative energy on the peninsula. In the late 90s, the first wind farms of the Crimea appeared, by 2013 their total capacity was 60 MW. At the expense of foreign investors, solar power plants with a capacity of about 400 MW were also built. And thermal stations were increasingly declining.
After joining
Since the spring of 2014, all the problems that have accumulated in the energy sector of Crimea have been borne by the Russian Federation. In 2013, the peninsula consumed a total of approximately 6.5 billion kWh, while the Crimean power system generated about 1.2 billion kWh. The share of electricity supplied from Ukraine reached approximately 82%. Moreover, the unfriendly Ukrainian authorities could stop deliveries at any time, as happened with the supply of fresh water.
It was not possible to quickly increase the generation of their own energy; the scale of such a task was too large. The Russian government approached the problem in stages. The first stage is to significantly reduce dependence on Ukraine with the help of an energy bridge laid across the Kerch Strait. The second stage is the construction of power plants in the Crimea, capable of completely eliminating the energy shortage on the peninsula in a few years.
Blockade
Until the end of autumn 2015, Ukraine was fulfilling the terms of the contract, regularly supplying electricity to the Crimea. But on November 22, Ukrainian activists with the tacit consent of the authorities began to undermine the supports of electric lines. Soon, the energy supply to the peninsula completely stopped. A week later, one power line was restored, but under pressure from nationalists and an aggressive public, the Ukrainian leadership refused to resume the supply of energy and extend the contract with Russia.
Energy Deficiency
In Crimea, rolling blackouts began . To overcome the energy hunger of the peninsula, dozens of mobile gas turbine high-power stations and hundreds of diesel generators were brought from Russia. Crimeans massively bought gas generators. But these measures only mitigated the consequences of the blockade. It became obvious that without an energy bridge and new TPPs, Crimea is doomed to live in conditions of severe energy shortages.
The builders of the energy bridge presented a pleasant surprise. Ahead of the schedule, they launched the first string of the bridge on December 2, and the second on December 15, 400 MW per day began to flow through them to the Crimea. However, although to a lesser extent, blackouts continued until May 2016. Total electricity supplies increased to 800-810 MW.
Opening of new power plants in Crimea
Despite the fact that the Crimean energy system became much more stable and powerful after connecting it to the Russian energy system, the launch of new TPPs near Sevastopol and Simferopol with a capacity of 470 MW each remained a priority. The first phase of these stations was supposed to work in September 2017, the second - tentatively in March 2018.
But the construction of power plants in the Crimea was greatly inhibited by sanctions. Four powerful Siemens turbines were purchased for the TPP, which, bypassing the prohibitions, were delivered to the peninsula. Litigation, as well as the unfair work of some Crimean contractors forced several times to postpone the date of delivery of power plants.
A significant event took place on October 1, 2018, on this day the first units of two new TPPs were launched, and the Saki TPP with a capacity of 90 MW was launched. The second unit of the Tauride Power Plant near Simferopol began to generate energy on December 28, 2018. At the Balaklava power station near Sevastopol, the second turbine was launched at full capacity on January 16, 2019. Two new Crimean thermal power plants increased electricity generation on the peninsula by 940 MW.
Prospects
Today, the Crimean power system, with a total capacity of approximately 2160 MW, can easily transfer the holiday season and cold winters. But the region is booming, so experts predict that already in the 2020s, existing capacities may not be enough. The additional construction of power plants in the Crimea looks too expensive.
In addition, Russia has not yet learned how to produce powerful gas turbines necessary for thermal power plants, and it is unlikely to get around European sanctions again. Therefore, the authorities plan to develop the energy of the peninsula in other areas: to reconstruct and improve existing thermal power plants, as well as build stations that generate energy using the sun, geothermal sources or wind.