Ukraine’s energy system has suffered significant damage from russian missile attacks, with 24 generation facilities destroyed and nearly half of the system damaged. The cost of restoring the power plants is deemed too expensive, and as such, experts suggest that it is better to replace thermal power plants damaged by heatstroke with alternative energy.
Olexander Kharchenko, EIRCenter Managing Director, told the UNIAN information agency that old-fashioned coal-fired power plants are no longer useful and should be replaced by newer, more eco-friendly alternatives. Expert notes that coal as an energy resource should be entirely decommissioned within the next ten years. With this shift to alternative energy, Ukraine can pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
«If the relevant plans are implemented correctly, then in seven years, the Ukrainian energy system will be very close to carbon neutral», – said the EIRCenter Managing Director.
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine has already developed a strategy to move towards carbon neutrality in the energy sector by 2050, which includes clean energy, energy poverty alleviation, the development of an innovative and decentralized energy system, and the full functioning of national energy markets and their integration into international ones.
Solar and wind power offer the most affordable electricity
Georgii Geletukha, Head of the Board at UABio, also told the UNIAN, that solar and wind power are the most cost-effective sources of electricity. Therefore, they should be prioritized when building the country’s energy system.
International analytical organizations have found that by 2050, 87 percent of electricity in Ukraine should come from renewable sources, with the remaining 13 percent coming from shunting generation to balance the power grid.
Experts suggest building 10 gigawatts of solar and wind parks instead of coal-fired power plants, along with 700 megawatts of energy storage batteries and 1.5 gigawatts of gas turbines that can start and stop quickly.
In addition, there is an opportunity to build 2-4 gigawatt power plants that run on biomass and biogas, producing electricity and heat by burning straw or biogas from sewage treatment plants, farms, and agricultural waste fermentation.
The pilot project for modernizing energy infrastructure in Ukraine
Ladyzhyn, located in the Vinnytsia region, was heavily impacted by russian missile attacks. The city’s coal-fired power plant, which provided heat to 18,000 residents, suffered severe damage. Since then, the regional authorities have had to find alternative sources of heat for the city.
Yulia Tsukanova, Deputy Director of the RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation, believes that Ladyzhyn could become a pilot project for modernizing energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The construction of solar, wind, and bio farms would promote energy independence for the city and provide new employment opportunities for the workers who lost their jobs due to the destruction of the coal-fired power plant.
«Traditional coal-fired power generation is already outdated, and investing huge resources in rebuilding destroyed equipment makes no sense. It should be replaced by more modern and environmentally friendly power plants», – explained Yulia Tsukanova.
With Ukraine fast approaching accession to the European Union, the country is taking on new obligations to transform its energy policy to be completely carbon-neutral in terms of electricity generation by 2050. Building renewable types of generation in the country, like solar and wind, will replace the share of old thermal power plants and help achieve this goal.
