The energy crisis of [1973][1974] showed that it is difficult to constantly increase the power supply of production, based only on traditional energy sources. The power supply of society is the basis of its scientific and technological progress. It means that it is necessary to introduce unconventional, alternative energy sources more widely. Unlike fossil fuels, unconventional forms of energy are not limited to geologically reserves. Their use and consumption does not lead to the inevitable exhaustion of stocks. However, currently, the reform of world energy markets and increasing the share of renewable energy sources in their structure is a long and innovative process. Lots of countries (Russia in particular) bear significant risks because of reforming their own energy market, which causes a slight increase in the share of renewable energy sources. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to analyse the influence of environmental factors on the development of renewable energy sources in Russia. The result of this study is a system of econometric equations, which allows to evaluate the impact of changes in key drivers of the development of the renewable energy market.

The article analyzes the current state of the Russian heat power engineering and identifies the main problems in its economic development. From the position of an integrated approach, the problems of the Russian heat supply system are divided into three categories: technological, economic and social. The using electricity for the needs of heat supply is determined as an effective way of solution these problems. In this context the electric heat supply is offered as an alternative to the modern heat supply system. The article identifies the main factors of electric heating, showing its economic advantages over other types of heat supply systems. On this basis the authors justify the prospects of electric heating system from the point of view of economic development of the Fuel Energy Complex and the national economy as a whole.