Medical and Hospital News
SOLAR DAILY
Russian invasion catalyst for renewables in Ukraine: minister
Russian invasion catalyst for renewables in Ukraine: minister
By Isabel MALSANG
Paris (AFP) Feb 16, 2024

The wartime destruction of its coalmines and several of its power plants are proving a catalyst for Ukraine's renewable energy transition, said the country's Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

Ukraine is also looking to replace some of its lost nuclear energy production, he added.

The minister said moves towards wind and solar power, coupled with the war's impact on classic energy infrastructure, means that "the green transition should be implemented faster than we expected."

Russian forces have destroyed 11 coalmines, which they did to weaken Kyiv's capacity to produce energy, Galushchenko told AFP on the sidelines of an IEE energy summit this week in Paris.

"Of course we would never restart the operations, that's obvious," said Galushchenko. "We understand that we will never repair" the destroyed facilities.

Ukraine has eight power plants in non-occupied territory that can run on coal or natural gas, of which three have been knocked out of action.

"We want to phase out coal of course" for climate protection reasons said Galushchenko.

"Transition will happen faster that expected due to war," he added.

The immediate focus is on wind and solar farms.

Galushchenko said last year Ukraine constructed around 200 megawatts of wind and around 150 megawatts of solar power capacity.

Even if "it's not a big amount, I can say that this is due to the war," he said.

Ukraine is also looking to rebuild nuclear power to compensate for production it lost from Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, since Russian forces occupied the facility in 2022.

That would, Galushchenko said, involve buying two Russian VVER-1000 reactors stored in Bulgaria, initially earmarked for the Belene nuclear power plant decommissioned as a precondition for Bulgaria joining the European Union.

Two AP-1000 type pressurised water reactors would also, he said, come from US nuclear power company Westinghouse for deployment at Khmelnytskyi, in western Ukraine.

Yet some experts are sceptical as to whether that project is viable as new reactors would take at least a decade to come on stream while there are worries the reactors in Bulgaria may prove to be too old.

Galushchenko said expanding nuclear production would also open up possibilities for Ukraine to supply Europe with green hydrogen.

Hydrogen is being looked at as a fuel that could help decarbonise industry and transport as it produces no carbon dioxide when burned, and is green provided it is produced using renewable or nuclear power.

Ukraine has "calculated it will be able to produce three to five million tonnes of hydrogen per year," Galushchenko said.

"The one question is how to transport this hydrogen ... that is the most difficult question."

Galushchenko said Ukraine's electricity network was faring better this winter than last year.

"It's not the same as it was before the previous winter... when we were under almost constant restrictions. Generally, we do not have restrictions in supply of electricity," he said.

Ukraine can produce up to 18 gigawatts of electricity, he said, which is enough to handle even peak hours of consumption.

And even if Kyiv has had at times to import electricity, international support has enabled it to get by more or less.

With the end of winter approaching they may get through the most demanding season without major restrictions for consumers.

"It's great news, and due to this we also have a growth in the economy," said the minister.

im-ant/cw/rl

TOSHIBA

Related Links
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SOLAR DAILY
Activist fund urges BP to hit brakes on green energy
London (AFP) Jan 29, 2024
Activist investment fund Bluebell Capital on Monday urged BP to scale back its "irrational" clean energy ambitions, one week before the British oil major's annual results. The fund wants BP "to adjust strategy" to abandon its medium-term emissions target linked to its use of products, in order "to retain flexibility on (hydrocarbon) production in line to demand", Bluebell partner Giuseppe Bivona told AFP. BP should "invest in clean energy" like biofuels and hydrogen, rather than areas where it h ... read more

SOLAR DAILY
Two dead after cargo ship hits bridge in southern China

Ancient Antioch turns into container city year after quake

Global turbulence the 'new normal': EU's von der Leyen

Libya needs $1.8 bn to rebuild flood-devastated areas: report

SOLAR DAILY
Galileo, now fit for aviation

APG Launches NaviGuard: A New GPS Anomaly Detection App Enhancing Aviation Safety

Korea's satnav system certified by national authorities and enters operational service

Pre-Industrial travel routes and times uncovered through innovative digital project

SOLAR DAILY
Roads, farming threaten Ecuador 'lost city' complex

Scandinavia's first farmers slaughtered the hunter-gatherer population

US patient 'happy again' after brain implant treats epilepsy and OCD

App lets Indigenous Brazilians connect in own languages

SOLAR DAILY
How an invasive ant caused lions to change their diet

Fluffy nuisance: Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Second critically endangered gorilla born at London Zoo in a month

Several UK seabird populations in decline due to bird flu: report

SOLAR DAILY
Malaria jab rollout in Cameroon a 'turning point': Gavi

Chinese laud 'great' Gao Yaojie, dissident doctor and AIDS whistleblower

Cholera claims 23 lives in Ethiopia: charity

Climate change could upturn world malaria fight: WHO

SOLAR DAILY
Hong Kong to allow recognition of some China court rulings

Terminally ill Hong Kong activist jailed again for sedition

Australia says China's suspended death sentence for writer will 'impact' ties

AI game trains young Chinese to face nosy relatives at New Year

SOLAR DAILY
Indian navy frees Iranian fishing boat hijacked off Somalia

As gang violence grips Ecuador, U.S. announces support, security aid

U.S. blacklists Ecuadoran gang, leader who escaped from prison

Indian navy rescues 19 crew after Somali pirate hijack

SOLAR DAILY
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.