Energy independence of Ukraine depends on decarbonization and "green" energy - State Energy Efficiency
The path to energy independence of Ukraine is a consistent decarbonization of the economy and the development of "green" energy, said Yuriy Shafarenko, Deputy Chairman of the State Energy Efficiency Committee, at the round table "Sustainable financing of" green "energy. New approaches in the EU and the situation in Ukraine ", organized by the DIXI Group.
“In 2020, Ukraine spent $ 7.5 billion on imports of petroleum products, natural gas and coal. These funds could remain in the economy if we used the full potential of local energy sources. Thanks to bioenergy alone, it is possible to replace the equivalent of 37 billion cubic meters of 3 gas per year. Half of this potential is enough to abandon the import of blue fuel, which in 2020 amounted to 15.9 billion cubic meters 3 , ”Yuri Shafarenko stressed.
Together with the Ministry of Energy and international partners, the State Energy Efficiency Agency investigated the potential for the production and use of "green" hydrogen as a universal decarbonization tool. The next step is to develop a Strategy for the Development of Hydrogen Energy in Ukraine until 2050.
In addition, the State Energy Efficiency Agency is working on the implementation of the world's popular Net Energy Metering system - a mechanism for generating and consuming electricity from renewable sources with the ability to supply excess energy to the network and then use it at a convenient time.
"Now, within the framework of the Working Group created at the State Energy Efficiency Agency, we are developing conceptual provisions for the future bill," Shafarenko said.
Another initiative of the State Energy Efficiency is the implementation of the system of Guarantee of the origin of energy from renewable energy sources. Origin guarantees inform about the energy source that is used. Such confirmation is important, for example, when exporting products to the EU, where it is planned to introduce a mechanism for border carbon taxation.
National regulator NKREKP predicts that the weighted average "green" tariff in 2021 compared to 2020 will decrease by 4.4% to UAH 382.12 /MWh, while the total cost of electricity from renewable energy sources (RES ) will increase by 23.3% - from 40.579 to 50.032 billion UAH.
According to the commission, the cost will increase due to an increase in the volume of electricity supply from renewable energy sources.
According to NKREKP estimates, the total electricity production from renewable energy sources in 2022 will exceed 15 billion kWh (in 2020, according to the Ministry of Energy, it amounted to 10.862 billion kWh).
“The dynamics of the commissioning of new facilities has dropped significantly, while vacations will continue to increase this year and next ... Many facilities continue to connect to the networks ... By the end of 2022, the milestone of 15 billion kWh will be crossed ", - said the head of the department of alternative and renewable energy NKREKP Alexander Mikhailovsky during the conference" Transition from "green" tariff to market conditions ", which was organized by the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association.