Aside from the efficient use of energy potential Ukraine also has huge renewable resources to produce electric power. According to V. Didkovsky, development of renewable energy technologies has a potential which is comparable to the country’s nuclear industry capacity. At present a pilot wind power plant of the capacity of 50 MW is constructed in Crimea region by Ukrainian-American joint company and further extension of this project is planned (Didkovsky 1996). In Energy Efficiency and Alternative Power Sources in Ukraine Didkovsky states that present price of electricity produced by wind power planted is about 60 percent less than electricity from heat or nuclear power plant. According to Didkovsky, some other projects of wind energy production were proposed though they are not implemented yet. For example, scientists from the State Institute of Alternative Power and Electric Engineering have proposed to partly substitute the capacity of Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) with the combined hydro-wind power plant. According to project estimations, the capacity of the plant can be up to 500 MW which is comparable to a nuclear unit power production. Moreover, if such project will be implemented it could provide jobs for the Chernobyl NPP employees (Didkovsky 1996). Commercial use of the wind power generation has good perspectives though one obstacle is still remaining for its further development. As stated above, the power distribution companies are under control of the state and it makes almost impossible to gain profit from electricity production (OECD 1996). Privatisation of energy production and distribution industry along with deep reforms in this sector could allow private capital to enter energy market. Cheap costs of electricity produced by wind power plants should attract investments and afford funds for the development of wind power in Ukraine. Thus, economic development could contribute to cleaner energy production in the country.
Recent positive changes in the Ukrainian economy indicate that the country has overcome the decline period. Since the country has extremely high energy intensity, the growth in economy could lead to rising the energy consumption level. However, it is unlikely that in the nearest years Ukrainian economy will be able to reach the GDP level of 1989. Thus, there is an opportunity for economic growth without increasing fuel consumption for the nearest future. Introduction of modern efficient technology could reduce the present energy consumption by 65% Further reform of energy sector could provide investments and further development for wind power production. Introduction of energy saving measures in industry as well as in households and wider alternative energy use will enable economic growth in future without rising fossil fuel consumption and increasing impact on the environment.
List of References:
Centre for Social and Economic Research. 2000. [on-line] Economics of Ukraine section January 2000.
Didkovsky, V. 1996. Energy Efficiency and Alternative Power Sources in Ukraine. In Electricity in Eastern Europe: 10 years after the Chernobyl disaster, ed. Matthes, E. and Mez, L., 134-148. Berlin: Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung, Oko Institut.
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 1996. Energy policies of Ukraine : 1996 survey. Paris: OECD.
Prugh, T., Constanza, R., Cumberland, J., Daly, H., Goodland, R. and Norgaard, R. 1995. Natural Capital and Human Economic Survival. Solomons: ISEE Press.
UA Today (Kyiv). 2000. [on-line] Economic Section 26 October.
Urge-Vorsatz, D. 2000. Introduction to Energy. Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University, Budapest. Duplicated.
Weizsacker, E., Lovins, A., Lovins, H. and Hunter, L. 1997. Factor Four: doubling wealth, halving resource use: the new report to the Club of Rome. London: Earthscan Publications.
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