Moscow’s energy complex — a new generation symbiosis

Moscow’s energy complex and life support systems, unlike other cities around the world, are deeply integrated into the urban structure. Moscow, like most Russian cities, annually consumes twice as much heat as electricity (~ 100 billion kWh of heat and 50 billion kWh of electricity). As heat energy is difficult to transmit over long distances, the city has around 1,000 energy sources of different capacity, including around 60 large boiler houses and 11 large thermal power plants (CHP). A strong and extensive heat and water distribution system circulates within the city. The total length of water and heating pipes in Moscow is almost equal to the length of the equator, and the total energy consumption for the delivery and distribution of heat and water throughout the city slightly exceeds the energy consumption of the extensive and growing metro system.

This unique symbiosis of energy infrastructures with the metropolitan area is a key feature of large cities in the Russian Federation. Virtually every tenth building in a city is a node and element of this system: transformer substations, power centres, water distribution complex, pumping substations and other equipment. The aggregate thermal capacity of Moscow’s energy sources exceeds that of all Scandinavian capitals (Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen) and another eight major Canadian cities (Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg, Quebec, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton), and only with its backup thermal capacity Moscow is able to heat just all the Scandinavian capitals.

Let us emphasise again: the system of powerful heating plants, gas and water networks is organically woven into the urban structure and ensures the successful metabolism of almost 15 million people in the city and the nearest areas with large buildings outside the MOSCOW RING ROAD (Krasnogorsk, Khimki, Mytishchi, Zheleznodorozhny, Reutov, Zhulebino, Butovo, Solntsevo and Novo-Peredelkino), including the Troitsk and Novomoskovsk administrative district.

It is precisely because of its capacity and diversity of energy sources (and taking into account thermal capacity reserves) that the energy complex of Moscow’s life support systems is more sustainable and more adapted to climate change. But it should be understood that actual climate change over the past 20-30 years requires new mechanisms, systems and technologies to adapt the heat supply system of cities to it.

We note that the efficiency of the Moscow energy system has been quite high in recent years. Installed capacity utilisation factor (ICUF) of large sources is growing, and fuel heat utilisation factor (FHUF) reaches values of 65–70%. It can be said that the city is about one-fifth “carbon-free” due to the combined heat and power production at CHPPs; accordingly, with this part of the saved fuel, we could provide energy to the same four Scandinavian capitals (Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki) taken together.

By world standards, however, Moscow gets by with a rather modest amount of electricity and fuel, with a rather modest capacity.

Below is a comparative table of energy consumption in different regions of the world.

Over the past 10–20 years, the city’s energy sector has undergone an impressive growth in efficiency and modernisation of energy sources and the grid complex. 27% of the electrical capacity is made up of modern combined-cycle plants with high electrical efficiencies. Energy savings at sources, in networks and at consumers in the complex have made it possible to connect 75 million square metres of different types of real estate without an increase in heat consumption, the overall fuel consumption has even decreased over the years, and the damage to the grid complex from climate anomalies and temperature variations has also decreased significantly.

The active growth of Moscow’s urban agglomeration, combined with the four groups of changes (climate, complexity, new technology, consumer preferences), poses a new challenge of energy transformation for the metropolis in full swing. This includes both a set of private solutions (modernisation of different equipment at sources, modernisation of the network complex of heat distribution substations, ‘green’ solutions on buildings) and complementary methods. An integrated approach to the formation of large territorial formations gives us almost 50 per cent savings in capacity and, consequently, in fuel and energy resources consumption. New reserves of efficiency and sustainability by organically linking the gas, heat, water and electricity supply schemes of Moscow are on the way.

Cover photo: PJSC Mosenergo