Hydropower development in Russia: retrospective and prospects

Vladislav A. Vendelev ()

Economics of Contemporary Russia, 2026, vol. 29, issue 3

Abstract: Hydropower is one of the most conservative areas in the domestic energy industry. Since the first half of the 20th century, the construction of large hydroelectric power plants has been closely linked to sustainable socio-economic territorial development, forming the energy basis for providing electricity to both industrial enterprises and the population. However, at the moment, the industry is experiencing transition from stagnation to decline. The lack of requests for the commissioning of new hydroelectric power plants within the framework of guaranteed return on investment mechanisms in order to cover shortages of electric energy and capacity caused by the long duration of their construction and high price parameters give rise to dequalification in many industry areas. Along with other problems relevant to both large and small hydroelectric power plants, the pace of development of hydrogenation in Russia significantly decreased over the past 30 years. At the same time, construction has not begun on any of the large hydroelectric power plants projects planned at the time of writing, as outlined in the General Layout of Electric Power Facilities until 2042. This article will propose a number of mechanisms that can have a positive effect on the development of hydroelectric power plants, contributing to increasing the attractiveness of the industry for both investors and the state. The main proposed measures are co-financing the preparation of the reservoir bed by the state and conducting technologically neutral selections for the construction of new capacities, taking into account the construction time of large hydroelectric power plants. Without such stimulating measures, the school of hydropower construction in Russia will continue to undergo negative transformations.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ack:journl:y:2026:id:1183

DOI: 10.33293/1609-1442-2026-29(3)-78-95

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