On May 12, four of Ukraine's leading energy experts held a discussion on opportunities for investment in bioenergy projects as part of the virtual conference Ukraine in Washington 2021: Powering Partnerships Through Innovation and Startups organized by the US-Ukraine Foundation.
The panel was moderated by Georgii Geletukha, Chairman of the Board of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine (UABIO), with presentations made by Oleksandr Dombrovskyi, Chairman of the Board of the Global 100% Renewable Energy Ukraine platform and President of MHP Eco Energy PJSC, Sergiy Savchuk, CEO of Clear Energy Group, and Yurii Shafarenko, Deputy Head of the State Agency of Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving.
Georgii Geletukha stated that the bioenergy sphere is developing actively in Ukraine and that forecasts by UABIO see this growth continuing strongly through 2050.
"The share of energy from bioenergy has grown more than threefold between 2010 and 2019, with the average rate of growth at 16% per year," he said.
Oleksandr Dombrovsky gave examples of some of the successful bioenergy projects implemented by MHP Eco Energy. MHP is one of Ukraine's largest agricultural and industrial holdings and operates along a circular economy model. Earlier this year they signed a memorandum with the US company Marquis Energy for the development of the first carbon-neutral plant for high-protein chicken feed, oil, CO2 and bioethanol.
Oleksandr Dombrovsky also highlighted that the members of the platform "Global 100% Renewable Energy Ukraine" believe that by 2050 Ukraine could achieve 100% RES in the production of electricity and heat and completely convert the country's transport and energy sectors to clean energy by 2070.
Sergiy Savchuk presented projects for the production of bioethanol, generation of energy from waste wood, and degassing of solid waste landfill sites being implemented by Clear Energy LLC, a leading company in Ukraine in renewable energy projects and waste management.
He stressed the need to prioritize the adoption of legislation that will improve the investment attractiveness of bioenergy projects in Ukraine.
Yurii Shafarenko presented the state policy on bioenergy development and pointed to rising trends in RES share in electricity production, renewable power installed capacities and solar installations in private houses.
With the aim of reducing gas consumption and improving conditions for investment in bioenergy, the State Agency of Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving together with the Ministry of Energy and UABIO have drafted a number of bills, including: on the development of the solid biofuel market; on promoting the cultivation of energy crops; on setting a zero CO2 tax rate for biofuel combustion plants; on the development of the biomethane market; and on the development of the liquid biofuels market.
Yurii Shafarenko added that a special online resource has been created called UAMAP to facilitate investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
The session concluded with the speakers identifying some of the things that Ukraine needs to do to speed by bioenergy development:
- Adopt legislation faster;
- Enforce relevant legislation;
- Create an appropriate investment climate to boost bioenergy technologies;
- Hold auctions for electricity production from renewable sources;
- Develop a new energy efficiency strategy through 2050 with an emphasis on green energy and transition to alternative sources, including bioenergy;
- Develop a general strategy for bioenergy development;
- Undertake public awareness efforts on the need to switch to clean energy and become energy independent.
The speakers stressed Ukraine's great potential for bioenergy given its resources and the importance of bioenergy to regional development.
"Bioenergy allows to resolve three security issues for Ukraine: food, energy and environmental security," Oleksandr Dombrovskyi said.
The video of the discussion (with English translation) can be viewed on the Ukraine in Washington online conference platform through August 11, 2021 or on YouTube.