In particular, in the first half of 2017, the total capacity of renewable energy facilities increased in Ukraine by 183 MW and exceeded 1.46 GW. It is estimated that by the end of the year, this figure may exceed 1.52 GW.

As the founder of SEF Vitaliy Daviy pointed out at the opening ceremony of the event, Ukrainian legislation in the sector of renewable energy and energy efficiency is one of the most advanced in Europe and has allowed to create clear rules of the game in the field of renewable energy, which in its turn has become a powerful impulse for investments in Ukraine.

- This year, SEF-2017 Kyiv gathered more than 400 delegates and 58 exhibitors from 32 countries, with about 80% of the participants being foreign companies that have already invested or are planning to invest in renewable energy projects in Ukraine. Renewable energy has indeed become a market of great opportunities for both large international players and small businesses in Ukraine. The main thing is not to scare off investors with inappropriate legislative initiatives,” - said Vitaliy Daviy.

Energy sector goes green

According to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Hennadiy Zubko, the reforming of housing and communal services and the Ukrainian economy in general is impossible without the use of the latest technologies, in particular in the energy sector.

- Ukraine is today one of the European leaders in the pace of renewable energy development and a large number of companies that have joined the Forum in Kyiv is a vivid example of effective state policy. Increasing energy efficiency at all levels of the Ukrainian economy is an important component of reforms. Introduction of the latest technologies of solar, wind energy, biomass energy contributes not only to strengthening Ukraine's energy independence, but also to forming fundamentally new opportunities for business, the high-ranking official said.

According to Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency of the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety Alexei Ryabchyn, the energy sector is going to face serious changes, and this regards not only Ukraine.

- The development of “green” technologies changes dramatically the model not only of the economy, but of society as a whole. This process is not simple, because it is about changing the system, which already exists for decades, stressed the Member of Parliament.

- The development of the legislative framework for investment protection is one of the priorities of the parliament. Based on the renewable energy sector, we can evaluate the effectiveness of such work, added Viktor Halasiuk, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship.

Feed-in tariff paves the way to energy sector developments

In the opinion of Deputy Minister for European Integration of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Nataliya Boyko, the Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2035, which was presented by her agency in September, could become a powerful impulse for the development of the energy sector and modernization of the infrastructure. According to this document, the renewable energy industry should play a significant role in the development of the energy sector.

The basis for the formation and rapid development of renewable energy in Ukraine is the feed-in tariff, which was adopted in 2010. The purchaser of all “green” electricity in Ukraine is SC Energorynok. It is the guarantee of this enterprise to ensure a stable payment of the feed-in tariff to renewable energy facilities for produced electricity, which is the basis for the growth of investments in the industry.

- We have developed a clear and understandable system of contractual relations with generating companies. Recently, we have made changes to the payment procedure for produced electricity in accordance with the Law “On Alternative Energy Sources”, but all that is needed for companies is to conclude a new contract” - said Iurii Gnatiuk, director of SC Energorynok, during his speech at SEF-2017.

Ukraine and Eastern Europe, in general, are today a projection of global structural and technological changes that accompany the evolution of the energy sector of the most developed economies in the world.

- Today, China is the world leader in the field of solar energy, where, by the end of 2017, the total capacity of power stations will exceed 125 GW,  said Dimitris Titopoulos, Executive Director for Middle East, North Africa and CIS countries at Suntech Power (Title Partner of SEF-2017 KYIV) during his speech at SEF-2017 KYIV.

- China, the USA, India and Japan account for 75% of all new world power plants installed in 2017, Suntech Power’s top manager underlined.

The 9th International Sustainable Energy Forum and Exhibition of Eastern Europe SEF-2017 Kyiv was held on October 9-11 in Kyiv at “Parkovy” Congress and Exhibition center. 440 delegates and 58 exhibitors from 32 countries became participants of the industry event. The organizer of SEF-2017 KYIV is Innovative Business Centre (IB Centre).

www.sefkyiv.com