Energy trilemma as an assessment tool for national energy systems on the example of the Republic of Armenia

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

According to the UN Sustainable Development Agenda which replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and includes components of social, economic, and environmental development, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy sources is the seventh global goal in the system of seventeen interrelated goals developed by the UNGA in 2015. The goal implies operation and development of environmentally friendly national energy systems that will contribute to socio-economic development. To assess the dynamics and development trends of global energy systems, the methods of their quantitative assessment become particularly relevant. In this aspect, the most important tool for assessing the sustainability of global energy is the energy trilemma index developed by WEC and «Oliver Wyman Group» consulting company. The index is a comprehensive assessment of the economic, social, and environmental components of the UN sustainable development program. It allows countries to be quantified by their ability to ensure energy security, energy equity and the environmental sustainability of national energy systems, considering socio-economic and political changes. The paper presents the main methodology for calculating the energy trilemma index and its role in assessing sustainable and safe energy. In 2021, there were changes in the methodology of calculating the index, so it became possible only to compare the dynamics of changes of key components. Based on the indicators of 2021, the main trends in the global energy system are presented. The mechanism of the index components’ influence on the formation of a country’s rating is illustrated. A special attention is given to the analysis of the indicators of energy trilemma index for the Republic of Armenia in 2021, considering the main challenges of the Armenian energy sector and the consequences of the Forty-Four Day War in 2020. The dynamics of main components of energy trilemma index of Armenia is shown through the analysis of the conjuncture and the main development trends of the country’s energy system. The practical significance of the index for shaping the state policy for the energy sector development is emphasized as well.

About the authors

Vahe S. Davtyan

Russian-Armenian University

Author for correspondence.
Email: vahedavtyan@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0848-3436

Doctor of Political Science, professor, Institute of Law and Politics, Department of Political Science

123 Hovsep Emin St, Yerevan, 0051, Republic of Armenia

Silva R. Khachikyan

Russian-Armenian University

Email: khachikyans@gmail.com
postgraduate student, Institute of Law and Politics, Department of Political Science 123 Hovsep Emin St, Yerevan, 0051, Republic of Armenia

References

  1. Bardi, U. (2013). The grand challenge of the energy transition. Frontiers in Energy Research, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2013.00002
  2. Davtyan, V. (2018). The Armenian nuclear power plant: problems of electricity export. MATEC Web of Conferences. 212 (02010). 1–7.
  3. Demski, Ch., Poortinga, W., Whitmarsh, L., Böhm, G., Fisher, S., Steg, L., & Pohjolanen, P. (2018). National context is a key determinant of energy security concerns across Europe. Nature Energy, 3(10), 882–888. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0235-8 Energy Dictionary (1992). World Energy Council. Paris: Jouve Sl.
  4. Grigoryev, L., & Medzhidova, D. (2020). Global Energy Trilemma. Russian Journal of Economics, 6, 437–462.
  5. Khachikyan, S. R. (2020). Modernization of Armenian NPP in the context of energy security challenges of Armenia. Vestnik Inzhenernoj akademii Armenii, 17(1), 110–114. (In Russ.)
  6. Khan, I., Hou, F., Irfan, M., Zakari, A., & Phong L. H. (2021). Does energy trilemma a driver of economic growth? The roles of energy use, population growth, and financial development. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 146, 111–157.
  7. Kononov, Yu. D. (2018). An analytical review of the best foreign practices in the comprehensive energy security assessment. Energeticheskaya politika, (6), 98–107. (In Russ.)
  8. Markarov, A., & Davtyan, V. (2021). Integration of Armenian into the common electricity market of the EAEU: risks and opportunities. Geoeconomics of Energetics, 2(14), 124–138. (in Russ.) https://doi.org/10.48137/2687-0703_2020_12_4_124
  9. Mastepanov, A., & Chigarev, B. (2020). Using The Energy Trilemma Index to assess energy security. Energeticheskaya politika, 8(150), 66–83. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.46920/24095516_2020_8150_66
  10. Matsui, E. A., & Kryukova, E. V. (2021). Energy security is an important component of national security. SHS Web of Conferences, 110(01049), 1–6.
  11. Molapisi, L., & Nikitaeva, A.Yu. (2018). Role of state in improving energy security in developing countries: Analysis of world experience. Gosudarstvennoe i municipal’noe upravlenie. Uchenye zapiski, (4), 112–118. (In Russ.)
  12. Pyatkova, N., Rabchuk, V. (2017). Energy security problems and features of its research at the present stage. E3S Web of Conferences, 25(01007), 1–5.
  13. Shilets, E. S., Kravchenko, V. A., & Luk’yanenko, T. V. (2017). The Energy trilemma as the basis for the sustainable development of the fuel and energy complex. Vestnik Instituta ekonomicheskih issledovanij, 3(7), 27–34. (In Russ.)
  14. Simonova, M. D., & Zakharov, V. E. (2016). Statistical Analysis of Development Trends in Global Renewable Energy. MGIMO Review of International Relations, 3(48), 214–220. (In Russ.)
  15. Szalbierz, Zd., & Ropuszyńska-Surma, E. (2017). Energy security as a public good. E3S Web of Conferences, 14(01005), 1–10.
  16. Tomei. J., & Gent, D. (2015). Equity and the energy trilemma. Delivering sustainable energy access in low-income communities. London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
  17. Vallejo, L., Mazur, Ch., Strapasson, A., Cockerill, T., Gambhir, A., & Hills, T. (2021). Halving Global CO2 Emissions by 2050: Technologies and Costs. International Energy Journal, 21, 147–158.
  18. Zakharov, A. N. (2017). Global energy problem: new challenges and threats, opportunities to overcome them. MGIMO Review of International Relations, 1(52), 187–200. (In Russ.) https:// doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2017-1-52-187-200

Copyright (c) 2022 Davtyan V.S., Khachikyan S.R.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This website uses cookies

You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website.

About Cookies