Analysis of Actions for Ukraine to Replace Russian Natural Gas
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Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Marii Kapnist street, 2a, Kyiv, 03057, Ukraine
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Tetiana Zheliezna
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Marii Kapnist street, 2a, Kyiv, 03057, Ukraine
Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol. 2022; 4:1-9
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ABSTRACT
Purpose of the article is to identify and analyse ten most important actions for Ukraine to completely reject Russian natural gas. The analysis was performed taking into account the following basic provisions: territorial integrity of Ukraine is within its state as of February 23, 2022; total energy consumption is at the level of 2021. Under current conditions, Ukraine urgently needs to elaborate and implement an effective and ambitious program to refuse Russian natural gas and other fossil fuels imported from Russia within several years. Such a program will be much required immediately after the end of the military operations at Ukraine’s territory and should be a solid basis for energy recovery of the country at the post-war period. Taking into account Ukraine’s potential of renewable energy sources and other relevant factors, the program must include such important actions as replacement of natural gas with biomass and solid biofuels for heat production, further construction of wind and solar power plants, production of biomethane, introduction of heat pumps, improving energy efficiency in district heating (DH) systems, buildings and industry and some others. Implementation of these actions will give Ukraine the opportunity to reduce the consumption of natural gas and completely replace its imports in the amount of up to 10 billion m3/yr by 2030. Realization of each action requires some specific organizational and legislative measures. To a high extent, these measures coincide with ones needed to overcome barriers to bioenergy development and expansion of district heating in Ukraine. Representative examples of the measures are introducing an electronic trade system for solid biofuels through electronic auctions; starting auctions for the state support of renewable electricity projects; starting auctions for load following units and energy storage systems; adopting the National Renewable Energy Action Plan until 2030; creating a Register for biomethane; introducing competitive heat market in DH systems; introducing incentive tariffs for electricity for heat pumps, including the "night" tariffs.