The conference dealt with important issues of energy industry in Ukraine: how we can become independent from Russian gas and introduce a decentralised energy system, what is a smart grid and how it is being promoted in our localities, etc. These issues were discussed in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the inflation and the need to optimise energy capacities and provide the country with its own resources.
Thus, the issue of gas in our country is an acute one: we had to find another source of supply to be independent from Russia and to develop our own energy industry. This process became a challenge not only for us, but also for Europe. It has made significant steps towards independence from Russian gas, in particular by expanding gas supplies from other regions, launching new liquefied natural gas terminals and actively developing renewable energy sources.
Among Ukraine’s achievements is the ability to supply itself with gas from its own wells in the winter of 2023–2024. This shows that, despite the war, we are not only staying afloat, but making a leap forward in energy progress. After all, even before the war, there were few chances for success in this area. After Russia’s invasion in February 2022, gas production dropped sharply by almost 10%. Some fields were occupied, while others ceased operations due to their proximity to the frontline. However, Ukraine has once again demonstrated its resilience.
The conference speakers over and over mentioned that Europe is pursuing a progressive energy policy, actively developing various renewable energy sources and achieving considerable success in optimising energy consumption and ensuring energy sustainability at the local level.
Germany is one of the best examples of successful implementation of local energy cooperatives in Europe. Decentralised energy production is widely used there, in particular through solar panels, wind turbines and biogas plants.
Ukraine has also chosen the path of renewable energy sources. Vasyl Hyryla, a representative of Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, said:
– Solar and wind power plants, which are important elements in reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels, are actively developing in Ukraine.
For example, an initiative was launched in Chernivtsi to create a cooperative to install solar panels on the roofs of apartment buildings.
Undoubtedly, the advantage of renewable energy sources is the infinity of energy, as natural resources are inexhaustible and contribute to the environment, as they do not cause pollution or harmful emissions, unlike the burning of fossil fuels. They are clean sources of energy that reduce the impact on climate change. If we recycle energy, we implement the sustainable development goals.
An equally important topic for discussion was to improve energy efficiency while reconstructing the housing stock, using the example of European standards. The issue of heating in buildings is quite problematic for us. The panel buildings that we inherited from the Soviet Union are far from being as good as they should be when it comes to energy efficiency. This was stated by Lidiia Kasha, Deputy Director of the Institute of Power Engineering and Control Systems at Lviv Polytechnic:
– There is heat loss and excessive use of gas there. It is a big financial burden, as the less gas we use, the less we depend on it. In Kyiv, heat loss through uninsulated walls and bad windows in panel houses is 40%. If we partially insulate the facade and replace the windows, we can save 20%.
We need to build new houses, but how do we solve the problem that exists in panel buildings? We need to make sure that the buildings have almost zero energy consumption. For example, in Lviv, more than 200 houses have been insulated, which has helped to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs by 30% per year, which is a lot.
Lidiia Kasha noted that Ukraine has the opportunity to modernise on a larger scale. We need to adjust the state policy and to simplify the bureaucratic procedures for project registration. This is important to encourage as many people as possible to make the right energy choices. To achieve the desired results in this area, we need to clearly define standards for construction, following the example of Germany. International grants should be sought to implement projects. In addition, we need to create or engage centres to plan and develop strategies. This way, we will be able to modernise the housing stock on a large scale.
