Selecting an optimal power generating facility to support the sustainable development of Russia’s Arctic territories

This article addresses the issue of energy supply in Russia’s Arctic territories. The aim of the research is to identify the best type of electricity generation for these territories using expert-based methods. Given the strategic importance of the Arctic for Russia's socio-economic development, solving issues related to the cost, availability, and reliability of energy supply in this region is essential. The study focuses on various types of power generation facilities located in the Russian Arctic. Strengthening energy security in these regions aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 (“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”), which was adopted as the core objective in the decision-making model based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Based on a review of the relevant literature and regulatory documents, the settlement of Tiksi in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was selected as a case study due to its need for power system modernization in line with energy security and sustainable development requirements. Using AHP, power generation options were evaluated based on key characteristics of the facilities. Among the alternatives considered—conventional nuclear power plants, floating nuclear power plants, and wind/solar power installations—the floating nuclear power plant was identified as the most appropriate solution for Tiksi. This option best meets the settlement’s needs in terms of cost-efficiency, energy accessibility, and supply stability. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the development and application of an expert-based framework for selecting optimal power generation technologies, taking into account the characteristics of both the territories and the generation options. The framework incorporates a two-tier expert evaluation using AHP, aligned with the requirements of energy security and sustainable development in Russia’s Arctic regions. This methodology for determining a priority generation facility can be adapted and expanded depending on the objectives of the study and the unique characteristics of the territory in which a modernization project is to be implemented. Additional selection criteria may be introduced, and new alternatives considered, in response to evolving conditions or specific research goals.