The Energy policy of Russia is contained in the Energy Strategy document, which sets out policy for the period up to 2020. This document outlines several main priorities: an increase in energy efficiency, reducing impact on the environment, sustainable development, energy development and technological development, as well as improved effectiveness and competitiveness. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in order to achieve sustainable development a new powerful independent branch of renewable energy must be created that can play a significant role in ecological compatibility of the fuel sector, and increase the share of net energy in the global fuel and energy balance.
Renewable sources of energy include solar energy, wind energy, water energy (including wastewater energy), tidal power, wave energy of water bodies, including ponds, rivers, seas, oceans, geothermal energy, low potential thermal energy of the earth, air, water, biomass, including the specially grown for energy production plants, for example, trees, as well as waste production and consumption, biogas, gas released by industrial and consumer waste in landfills and gas generated in the coal mines.
Renewable energy in Russia is largely undeveloped although there is considerable potential for renewable energy use. Geothermal energy, which is used for heating and electricity production in some regions of the Northern Caucasus and the Far East, is the most developed renewable energy source in Russia.