Russian PV market: Russia is slowly joining the global solar race. With just 1.5 GW of solar power announced so far, its intentions are firm. Representatives of the Ministry of Energy stated at the Market Council Renewables Conference in November that despite criticism by the press and lobbying from conventional energy suppliers, the government will fully support the deployment of renewable energy sources, aiming to create a self-sufficient industry sector that builds and supports photovoltaic, wind and biogas power plants, write Dimitry Miroshin an independent consultant and Matthias v. Armansperg of Accelios Solar.