News

UKRAINE PLANS GREEN ENERGY TRANSITION UNTIL 2050

On January 21, 2020, the Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection of Ukraine Alexii Orzhel presented a draft concept of Green Energy Transition of Ukraine until 2050 ("Concept"), developed in line with global energy tendencies with focus on climate change.

The Concept is aimed at increasing RE share in the national energy balance up to 70 % by 2050. "We are talking about reaching 70% of RES share by 2050. We have estimates, different timelines and scenarios. The most important thing is to have this development economically justified", said Olexii Orzhel at the Concept presentation.

In addition, according to the authors of the Concept, termination of unreasonably high “green” tariffs for energy from RES is required to reach 70% RES share in electricity generation. According to Mr. Orzhel “even with high “green” tariffs taken out, investing in renewables is more profitable than into conventional energies”. The Minister recognised the modern need to develop renewable energies and actively invest in the sector: “Currently we have only 5% RES share in national energy generation while the remaining 95% - from conventional energy sources”.

Another key indicators pointed out during the presentation include:

• decrease of coal share and full replacement of coal fired power plants by 2050;
• construction of small nuclear reactors with further reduction of nuclear generation to 20-25%;
• full integration of the Ukrainian United Energy System into the pan-European ENTSO-E system, and digitization of the Ukrainian grid.

Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection is planning to conduct public hearings on Ukraine “Green” Transition Concept in June 2020 with all strategic documents to be approved by 2021.

Andriy Konechenkov, Vice-President of the WWEA and Chairman of UWEA Board: “The presented concept of Ukraine Green DEAL is both timely and important. At the same time, without the development of an economic model taking into account the renewables and energy efficiency support mechanisms, this concept may remain a mere declaration, as it happened to previous strategies”.

Concept of “Green” Energy Transformation by 2050 is available at: https://menr.gov.ua/files/images/news_2020/21012020/pdf_%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BF%D1%86%D1%96%D1%8F.pdf

Presentation by the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection of Ukraine is available at:

https://menr.gov.ua/files/images/news_2020/21012020/Vision_presentation_website.pdf