As part of the working trip of the Ukrainian delegation headed by UWEA to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the participants of the trip took part in the international conference “Decentralised energy solutions for Ukraine’s security”, which took place on 25 November 2024 in The Hague. The conference, organised by the Ukraine Facility Platform and Open Door Ukraine – two non-governmental organisations that are at the forefront of strategic development and cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union – brought together, on the basis of the Clingendael Institute, professionals in the field of renewable energy, investors, business leaders, politicians and representatives of local authorities to address Ukraine’s most pressing problem: the restoration of energy infrastructure.
During the conference, the participants analysed the possibilities of deploying in Ukraine advanced decentralised systems that combine solar and wind energy, bioenergy, as well as energy storage systems.
During the opening of the conference, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2014–2019 Lana Zerkal, a representative of the Ukraine Facility Platform, noted that “Ukraine needs a new modus operandi (plan of action) for the energy system. Decentralised renewable energy systems offer a resilient energy security strategy for Ukraine that corresponds to climate goals and strengthens Europe’s strategic autonomy”.
The Special Envoy for Ukraine at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Erica Schouten, in turn, noted that “Ukrainian winters are long, and therefore, in this case, simply restoring damaged equipment is not enough. Ukraine needs two things today: a) more air defence systems and b) a more decentralised and sustainable national energy system. The Netherlands is ready to comprehensively support Ukraine. In particular, regarding the development of renewables systems, the Dutch government is ready to implement various instruments, both financial and insurance-related.”
Andriy Konechenkov, Chairman of the UWEA Board and head of the Ukrainian delegation on the trip to the Netherlands, spoke at the conference within the framework of the session “Combining investment and innovation: Strategies for Ukraine’s energy transition” and presented the role of wind energy in building a decentralised energy system in Ukraine. “Today in Ukraine we have very many different strategies and plans for the development of renewable energy, but the result will come only when the country has a single vision and single goals towards which everyone will strive. As is the case at the EU level, wind energy projects must acquire the status of projects of overriding public interest. In addition, the effective utilisation of the entire potential of renewable energy sources in the country, in particular wind energy capacity, will be possible with a balanced regulatory environment, the availability of state support and instruments for attracting investment.”
Also invited to speak was Andriy Herus, Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy and Housing and Communal Services, who emphasised that “in modern Ukrainian realities, the question is not what is more important: the restoration of existing facilities or the construction of new ones. Today the Ukrainian consumer expects a comprehensive approach and unequivocally needs a decentralised system in which generation will be located closer to places of consumption.”
UWEA extends its gratitude to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) of the Ministry of Economy and Climate Policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the association NedZero for organising the trip of the Ukrainian delegation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
