FINANCIAL TOOLS FOR BIOGAS PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS: A CASE STUDY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Biogas projects have been recognized as one of the most efficient tools for implementing the principles of circular economy at wastewater treatment plants: negative environmental waste impact reduction along with the energy independence. These projects are widespread in developed countries, but its distribution in developing countries such as the Russian Federation leaves much to be desired. The article discusses the four financial instruments for implementation of biogas projects in the Russian Federation compared to developed countries, including the analysis of sectoral background, potential benefits, drivers and limitation. The authors concluded that barriers for the development of biogas projects are not directly related to the tool entity or its application: significant moral and physical deterioration of technological process line makes the use of these tools untimely, while the long-term payback period leads towards poor efficiency.