EBRD Renewable Energy Initiative

Ukraine

Country Profile

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Ukraine has a program of state support for the development of nontraditional and renewable energy sources and small hydro power plants. The target set for renewables is 10 percent of generation by 2010.

In 1996 the President of the Ukraine declared wind generation a national priority and established a target of 200 MW by 2010. This has resulted in 40 MW of installed wind capacity in the Ukraine. It is estimated that the Ukraine has 5,000 MW of mid term potential for wind generation in over 40 percent of its territory.

Ukraine has a moderate technical potential for solar energy. The incidence of solar radiation increases from northwest to southeast with the highest potential on the Crimean peninsula. An emphasis has been put on the development of solar hot water heating. Hydro power currently meets 7 percent of the Ukrainian demand for electricity. Some 327 MW of potential new hydro projects exist, with 220 MW of that on the Tisa River alone.

Ukraine has considerable geothermal resources that are used primarily for heat supply. Total installed capacity of thermal systems is 13 MWth. Plans are in place to increase the thermal water utilization up to 250 MWth by 2010. There are prospects for binary geothermal plants using existing wells at abandoned oil and gas fields, and a 1.5 MWe pilot binary geothermal is scheduled for Poltova in 2005.

The biomass potential is 4.0 million toe, which includes livestock manure, straw, and lumber mill waste. There is strong interest in the use of livestock manure for biogas power generation as well as straw and wood combustion for district heating plants and combined heat and power facilities.

The major impediments to the growth of renewables are the uncertain economy, lack of financing and extreme bureaucracy. However, given the good technical potential and experience with existing capacity, renewable energy prospects are reasonably good.