Rosseti's Territory at the Russian Investment Forum 2018 was finished with the discussion on the power industry's future and new openings

Participants in the closing panel discussion that took place in Rosseti's Territory in the Russian Investment Forum in Sochi expressed their opinions on the future of the Russian and global power industry.

When opening the session, Mr. Evgeny Olkhovich, Deputy CEO, Strategic Development, at Rosseti, noted that grid companies in Russia are the initiators and drivers of the power industry transition to a new technological level now.

"Nowadays, by offering the digitalization initiative to the power grids, we lay the groundwork to the innovative development of future relations between grid companies and consumers", added the top manager.

Antonio Buondonno, Head of EMEA Business Development Department, at Enel told about the experience with the digital technology introduction in Italy's power grids and expressed his confidence that Russia had the technological framework for development of breakthrough technologies.

"Most companies change approaches to their operations in Italy now. It is the self-preservation strategy. Russia needs companies capable of creating and using know how", concluded Antonio Buondonno.

Mr. Oleg Dubnov, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency Technologies Cluster at Skolkovo Fund, voiced the opinion that IT, development of alternative energy source production and use, will soon trigger some tectonic shifts, will change the technological system of the entire industry.

"On the example of foreign companies, we can see that they go in the direction of the most convertible consumer sector, look for technologies to reduce the price for their services, provide storage devices to consumers, are engaged in provision of other value-added services", emphasized Skolkovo representative.

Other discussion participants also agreed that Rosseti was quite right when pointed at the inevitability of drastic changes in the power industry under the influence of digital technologies, RES, storage devices. The experts who gathered at the meeting pointed to the timeliness and fairness of the decision to implement the new strategy that focuses on greater flexibility, gives responses to current and future consumer needs, includes development of a significant scope of value-added services.