‘All wars are started over energy resources, but nobody fight for green energy’: industry leaders about RES prospectives in Ukraine
On 9 January, Interfax Ukraine held a press conference where industry experts summed up the results of the renewable energy sector in 2024 and shared plans, prospects and possible challenges for 2025. The topic of the press conference: Sun, wind, biogas: how green energy will help Ukraine withstand the challenges of 2025.
The professional opinion was expressed by:
- Oleksandr Dombrovskyi, chairman of the board of Global 100% RE Ukraine, president of MHP Eco Energy PJSC.
- Georgii Geletukha, chairman of the board of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine.
- Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, chairman of the board of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine.
- Andriy Konechenkov, chairman of the board of the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association..
We share the key theses of all speakers.
Oleksandr Dombrovskyi
For me, the year 2024 is characterised by the fact that everyone both in and outside the government has realised that green energy is not a whim of someone — it is a very serious energy tool from the point of view of the country’s energy security.
If we sum up the results of 2024, we at MHP have built and launched several cogeneration systems with a total capacity of 18 MW. This year we also built about 15 MW of solar generation for MHP’s own needs. I think in March 2025 we will make a final decision on the construction of a 60 MW wind farm in one of the regions of Ukraine.
Georgii Geletukha
The year 2024 was quite successful for the development of biomethane production in Ukraine. In September, the first biomethane plant of the Vitagro group of companies started operating in Ukraine. In November, the second biomethane plant of Gals Agro was launched.
As of today, these two plants are injecting biomethane into the underground gas storage facilities of Ukraine and have already accumulated more than 1 million m3 of biomethane there. In other words, in 2024, Ukraine produced its first million cubic metres of biomethane!
In 2025, we expect to launch at least 5 more biomethane plants and increase biomethane production capacity to over 100 million m3/year. We believe that Ukraine should create the best competitive conditions for investors in biomethane plants in Eastern Europe, which will compensate for the current risks of wartime and potential risks of post-war conditions.
Vladyslav Sokolovskyi
Solar power added capacity in 2024. According to our estimates, about 800-850 MW of installed capacity was installed last year. This was facilitated by the abolition of VAT and import duties on solar panels and other equipment in the summer.
Therefore, there is some growth. Of course, this is not the same growth as in 2019, when industrial solar power plants were being built. However, we can still see positive movements. I think that next year the sun, wind, and bioenergy will go hand in hand. We will continue to move forward and provide the country with more energy security and opportunities for development.
Andriy Konechenkov
Last year, just over 20 MW were commissioned. At the same time, about 4 GW of wind power projects are ready to be implemented by 2030 in accordance with the National Renewable Energy Plan adopted in 2024.
I want to say that all wars start over energy resources, but no one is at war over green energy. That’s why the sooner we develop our own energy through wind, bio, solar, storage systems, the sooner we will become more energy independent and energy secure. This is much better than if we go back to importing oil and gas, not to mention nuclear fuel.
