Ukraine could produce more energy from renewable sources than it consumes, German expert Hans-Josef Fell has said.
“The prospects for the country are extraordinary, you can provide more than 100% of the country’s energy needs. Ukraine has high solar and wind potential, it can use the energy of marine flows, and geothermal energy. Special attention should be paid to bio-energy: while actively developing this industry, the country can not only cover its own needs, but also start exporting biogas to Europe,” he said in Kyiv on Monday.
According to Fell, Ukraine should seek a full transition to renewable sources by 2030, and at the last resort by 2050. The expert believes that the allegations of the excessive high cost of renewable energy for Ukraine are groundless.
“We’re often told that the development of renewable energy is an extremely high load on the economy. That’s not correct – renewable energy stabilizes the economy. Through the use of renewable energy sources thousands of new jobs are created, and there is no need to seek funds to buy energy resources abroad,” he said.
The expert said that countries spend much more money subsidizing conventional energy rather than supporting renewable energy sources.
“The largest subsidies in the world go to fossil fuel reserves – governments simply fear to increase prices for oil, gas and coal to a realistic level. But this is a road to nowhere,” said the expert.
He said the problem of balancing the energy system while increasing the share of renewable energy sources was also fully solved.
“First of all, you have to combine wind and solar energy with bioenergy, which can be used for balancing. Secondly, it is necessary to achieve greater flexibility in consumption. Thirdly, it is necessary to increase accumulating power, such as hydroelectric pumped storage power plants. Yes, the balancing of the energy system is a task, but it can be done,” he said.
As reported, on June 22 the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry took as a basis the draft updated Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030.
The updated Energy Strategy foresees that the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy balance by 2030 will amount to 4-5%, while the European Union plans to achieve a figure of 20% by 2020.
The State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving, a number of NGOs and environmentalists spoke against the adoption of the document.
