An overstated tariff for energy from renewable sources (RES) in comparison with the market rate leads to significant and problematic payments to investors for Ukraine, which are estimated at $ 10-20 billion until 2029, acting Energy Minister Yuriy Vitrenko has said.
“If to look at the difference between the feed-in tariff and the market price, at least now, and multiply this by conservative estimates of production from renewable sources and multiply this by the term of the feed-in tariff – until 2029, then the amount of compensation from the state budget to investors in green energy will be from $ 10 billion to $ 20 billion,” he said while discussing the economic strategy until 2030.
Vitrenko noted that the feed-in tariff is several times higher than the market price.
“For a developing country like Ukraine, $ 10-20 billion is a significant amount, which is a problem,” he stressed.
The minister also criticized the current system of payments through the energy system operator Ukrenergo, which has no interest in paying for renewable energy sources, since their uneven generation brings it additional problems. According to Vitrenko, such payments should be made through the state budget as a public good in the form of clean energy.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez discussed areas of cooperation between the countries, including energy, infrastructure, digitalization and cybersecurity.
“Energy, infrastructure, digitalization, cybersecurity – there are many areas in Ukraine for cooperation with Spain. I am glad to speak with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, our mutual understanding is a step towards warm and effective relations between the two countries. I wish you health! I will be glad to see you in Ukraine!” Zelensky wrote on his Twitter page.
The interlocutors noted the importance of holding the fourth meeting of the Ukrainian-Spanish Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Industrial Cooperation this year in Kyiv, the presidential press service reported.
The leaders also discussed the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two states.
“Spain is one of Ukraine’s main trading partners in the European Union and maintains its position as Europe’s largest importer of Ukrainian grain. We are ready to continue being a reliable strategic supplier of grain products to Spain,” the Ukrainian President said.
The Spanish Prime Minister said that he would assist Ukraine in obtaining the vaccine both at the level of bilateral relations and at the EU level.
In addition, particular attention was paid to the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union with Ukraine. “I am grateful to the Spanish party for its efforts and willingness to facilitate the signing of this long-awaited and mutually beneficial agreement. I expect a positive decision from the EU in the coming weeks,” Zelensky said.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is ready to provide funds to Ukraine to implement energy and energy saving projects if the risk factors can be controlled, Head of the EIB Resident Representation for Ukraine Jean-Erik de Zagon said.
He said that the EIB is ready to provide the funds if the Ukrainian government can convince the bank of the economic viability of the potential projects. .
He said at the 11th Energy Day organized by the European-Ukrainian Energy Agency on Thursday.
At the same time, the Head of the EIB Resident Representation in Ukraine said that the bank sees many opportunities for cooperation with the government of Ukraine, specifying that “the EIB in Ukraine has a portfolio totaling EUR 6.5 bln. It includes many project in energy sector, social and economic infrastructure, transport and connectivity, local private sector development, and innovation. ”
At the same time, according to de Zagon, with regard to international projects on energy efficiency, Europe highly values a clearly defined time frame for achieving climate change.
Speaking about projects that may be of interest to the bank in the future, he pointed out among the others the need to develop bioenergy. As for the diversification of projects, it is likely that biomass will deserve new attention. It is one of the decarbonization tools. It is challenging, but this is the need to process those resources that are raw materials for renewable energy in Ukraine, de Zagon said.
He also focused on that Ukraine has a good existing gas transmission system (GST). It offers a vast potential where development is most necessary by ensuring that the transmission system is supportive of renewable energy (like transport of hydrogen) the EIB representative said.
At the same time, he explained what donors pay attention to when making decisions on financing certain projects and what Ukraine needs to take into account and do in order to receive international funding. This is about the need to balance positions on the energy market and promote legislative initiatives so that legislation of Ukraine met European requirements and standards, he said.
As for the National Action Plan, the EIB is pleased to cooperate with the government of Ukraine in its implementation, de Zagon said.
Ukraine and Spain will strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy, digital economy and healthcare, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.
“We talked about energy, digital economy, and healthcare. These are the areas in which Ukraine and Spain will soon be very actively deepening interaction in the interests of our peoples,” the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said at a joint press conference with the Spanish Foreign Minister in Madrid.
Kuleba also explained the meaning of four documents signed earlier by Ukraine and Spain during his visit.
“We have signed four important documents that meet the interests of both Ukraine and Spain. The convention on avoidance of double taxation will help attract Spanish investments in Ukraine. The convention on cooperation in the customs sphere will facilitate trade between our countries. The memorandum of understanding in the field of agriculture will strengthen our agricultural trade,” he added.
At the same time, Kuleba recalled that Spain is “number one importer of Ukrainian grain in Europe.”
Also, Ukraine and Spain signed a memorandum in the field of cybersecurity.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Foreign Minister of Romania Bogdan Aurescu have agreed to establish a joint working group on cooperation in the energy sector.
“We discussed in detail the ambitious potential projects in the energy sector, primarily those related to electricity, gas and hydrogen. We decided to create a working group on energy issues and look forward to when our colleagues from the ministries of energy of Ukraine and Romania and the involved business companies will start a detailed substantive conversation on the issues that I have mentioned,” Kuleba said at a joint press conference with Aurescu in Bucharest.
He also noted that he had discussed with his Romanian colleague how to launch the Isaccea-Orlivka ferry service at a maximum capacity.
“I am absolutely sure that we can, we have every opportunity to create and implement ambitious projects that will make Ukraine, Romania, and our region as a whole stronger. It would be an unacceptable mistake not to use the opportunities that we have, primarily in energy and infrastructure sectors. And so today we’ve really discussed how we can launch the Isaccea-Orlivka ferry line at a maximum capacity and eliminate certain problematic issues,” the Ukrainian minister added.
Free Online Session dedicated to the Ukrainian renewable energy crisis will be held on 28th May within the framework of Energy Week Black Sea 2020.
Due to the lucrative feed-in tariffs introduced in 2009, Ukraine has achieved remarkable progress in mobilising sizable private sector investments in the energy sector and becoming one of the fastest–growing renewables markets in Europe. In 2019, renewable energy deployment saw a record growth to 4 250 MW compared to the installed capacity of only 743 MW in 2018.
However, the recent developments, and, in particular, the initiative of the government to cut the feed-in tariff for wind and solar energy producers can change the outlook and turn the Ukrainian renewables success story into an illustration of why the state is not ready for foreign investment.
In December 2019, bill No. 2543 on improving the investment climate in the renewable energy sector was registered in Ukraine’s parliament. The bill proposes a voluntary restructuring of FIT with a simultaneous extension of the terms for their payment and a reduction in the terms of preliminary power purchase agreements (pre-PPA).
The following negotiations which have now lasted for six months failed to produce a compromise solution acceptable to both Ukrainian authorities and domestic and foreign investors. The key issues are still open, namely restructuring of power purchase agreements and feed-in tariffs, the release of capacity for wind energy investors for the benefit of future auctions, balancing responsibility and compensation for curtailments of wind and solar producers.
Online Session “Ukrainian Renewable Energy Crisis: Where Are We Now; Where Do We Need To Be?” is organised to address the situation and discuss the following questions:
What should be the state’s immediate steps in resolving the renewable energy crisis?
What are the most practical solutions and stabilisation measures acceptable for foreign investors?
How will Ukraine continue attracting investors in global competition? Are “green” auctions attractive enough?
What will be the pace of renewable energy project commissioning post-FIT?
What are the possibilities for addressing intermittency and energy security? How does the transition meet the need for continuous supply in the absence of storage? How should energy storage be supported?
Free Registration: https://www.bsenergyweek.com/online-session/
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