Oleksandra Gumeniyk, Director of EUEA, was invited to the Public Consultation for the EBRD Energy Sector Strategy 2019-2023, on October 25.

IMG 1842First of all, the EBRD presented its results in 2014-2017. Among the most striking examples are the following: within the framework of 67 renewable energy projects, capacities were generated to generate 3.3 GW; 119 operations contributed to the liberalization of electricity markets, etc. In total, investment in this period amounted to 6.9 billion euros (34% of which are investment in RES projects, 11% electricity distribution, 4% electricity transmission).

The new Strategy takes into account the lessons EBRD has learned during the implementation of the previous one. On their base, a new model was created that would provide reliable and sustainable supply of affordable energy, the main components of which are:

-energy with increasing role of electricity;

-increase of electricity generation from RES;

important role of gas in ensuring energy security during the transition period in the energy sector;

-The distribution of energy should be based on smart, flexible, diversified grids (Currently, the EBRD together with the NPC “Ukrenergo” complete the study of necessary investments in the modernization of electricity grid and the transmission of electricity).

In order to expand the scope of periodic application of working RES, important integration measures are needed, among which EBRD allocates:

-flexibility (storage devices and shunting energy sources such as batteries and gas, reserve power in the power industry and fuel infrastructure);

-grid infrastructure (distributed generation sources, smart grids, accounting and control of power from the consumer side);

-adaptive power markets (the ability to balance practically zero costs with increasing production through the introduction of appropriate energy sources and increased costs of integration).

In 2019-2023, the bank plans to invest in: RES capacity, infrastructure for electrification and decarbonisation (electric transport, charging infrastructure), the formation of efficient electricity markets (energy exchanges, distributed generation), environmentalization of oil and gas production and distribution chains . One of the areas for financing, which will be considered as a priority, is the technology of energy storage and its balancing. EBRD is also interested in financing waste to energy within the framework of municipal financial projects. During a private discussion, the EBRD representatives emphasized that energy efficiency is not a separate point of the strategy, as it is the basic characteristic of all projects in all areas, including transport, budget infrastructure and so on.

Unfortunately, the strategy does not reveal the amount of investment planned for this period.