The potential of partnership between Ukraine and the Netherlands in the development of hydrogen technologies was discussed during an online meeting of the acting Chairman of the State Energy Efficiency Committee Konstantin Gura, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Vsevolod Chentsov and President of the Ukrainian Hydrogen Council Alexander Repkin.
“Hydrogen is the future. This is one of the main instruments for decarbonizing the economy - today's global trend and a guarantee of sustainable development. The European Union has chosen the path to achieving climate neutrality. In its hydrogen strategy, the EU has identified Ukraine as one of its partners. Therefore, we are already actively working on the development of hydrogen energy and we are confident that we need to join forces with the EU countries, ”said Konstantin Gura, acting Chairman of the State Energy Efficiency.
K. Gura spoke about the significant potential of Ukraine in the development of hydrogen energy, as well as about the already conducted studies of various methods of generating hydrogen, the existing and necessary infrastructure for its storage and transportation. Currently, work is underway on the Strategy for the development of hydrogen energy in Ukraine until 2050.
In turn, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Vsevolod Chentsov outlined the ambitious goals of the Netherlands' hydrogen strategy. So, by 2025 it is planned to install 500 MW of electrolytic capacity, and by 2030 - to increase them to 3-4 GW, developing the corresponding infrastructure. A program for the introduction of hydrogen technologies is currently being developed.
Together with the state, business is also analyzing the feasibility of hydrogen projects. As you know, the Dutch consortium announced plans to launch the NortH2 project. It provides for the establishment of offshore wind farms in the North Sea, with a capacity of about 10 GW. It is also planned to build an electrolytic cell to convert wind energy into "green" hydrogen.
In Ukraine, the government, business and scientists are also working on the development of hydrogen technologies.
“We have created three powerful directions. The first is our scientific cooperation with all partner countries. The second is working with the government and parliament. We work closely within the framework of the inter-factional working group and together with the State Energy Efficiency Agency. The third is a platform for bringing together business efforts. By the way, thanks to our active work, we became a member of the European Association Hydrogen Europe, and hydrogen is included in the Economic Strategy of Ukraine until 2030, ”said Oleksandr Repkin.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed on the need to work out potential ways of cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands in the development of hydrogen energy, combining scientific and technical potential and discussing opportunities for joint pilot projects.
