WBA news

A high-level Ukrainian delegation comprising policy makers, investors, civil society and city officials visited Stockholm on invitation from World Bioenergy Association for a 2-day study trip during October 23 - 24, 2018. The study trip included a 1-day event on ‘Sweden Ukraine Bioenergy Cooperation Forum’  followed by site visits to bioenergy installations. The forum was organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden and Swedish Bioenergy Association.

Sweden Ukraine Bioenergy Cooperation Forum (23 October 2018)

The Sweden Ukraine Bioenergy Cooperation Forum was attended by both Swedish and Ukrainian stakeholders in the bioenergy and renewable energy sector. The forum was an opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices of sustainable development of biomass resources to produce electricity, heating and transport fuels. Separate sessions in the forum focussed on already existing cooperation in energy, bioenergy development in Sweden and Ukraine, technological solutions for efficient conversion of biomass and waste to energy, and projects and financing for the development of bioenergy in Ukraine.

The session on cooperation was opened by H.E. Ambassador of Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden Mr. Ihor Sagach by informing about existing Sweden Ukraine cooperation and inviting Swedish companies to invest in renewable energy in Ukraine. Representative from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ms. Lisa Qvarfordt informed about the existing Swedish Ukraine Policy focussing on democracy, peace and climate & energy.

Speakers from Ukraine included Mr. Oleksandr Dombrovskyi, Member of Ukrainian Parliament and Acting Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety who informed about the legislative support for the development of renewables and bioenergy in Ukraine. The core message was ‘It’s time to invest in Ukraine Now’. Also, Mr. Sergiy Savchuk, Head of State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving informed about the investment potential of renewable energy and bioenergy in Ukraine. The country requires an increase of 16 GW of electricity and heat/cooling plant capacity and 423 thousand toe. of renewable fuels before 2020 to implement National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) till 2020.

The opening statements were followed by presentations from Gustav Melin of Swedish Bioenergy Association (SVEBIO) and Georgiy Geletukha of Bioenergy Association of Ukraine (UABIO) about biomass development in their respective countries.

The session on technological solutions had local Swedish and Ukrainian companies Henrikson Salix AB, Ukrteplo and Mantex AB informing about latest technological solutions in short rotation crops and biomass analysis.

Finally, the session on finance and projects involved presentations from Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), Sitra Innovation Fund, Lantmännen AB and consultancies of WSP Group and SWECO. Ukraine is a key country of operation for NEFCO as they currently have 133 municipal projects in the country and 26 potential projects focussing on biogas, biomass boilers, individual heat stations etc.

Site Visits (24 October 2018)

On the 2nd day, WBA organised 2 site visits for the delegates to know first-hand, the development of bioenergy and waste CHP (Combined Heat and Power) technology in Sweden. 

The first site visit was to Vattenfall Waste CHP plant in Uppsala which produces 146 MW_el and 828 MW_th along with district cooling and steam for the city of Uppsala. 95% of all properties in Uppsala are heated with District Heating. The main fuel at Vattenfall’s units in Uppsala consists of household and industrial waste materials. Vattenfall is currently investing in improvements which will make production at Uppsala completely carbon neutral by 2030. After a brief presentation about the plant, delegates had an opportunity to have a tour of the facility.

More information here: Link

The second visit was to E.On circuit plant in Högbytorp which is under construction, north of Stockholm. Once completed in 2019, the CHP plant will produce 425 GWh heating and 165 GWh electricity. The biogas plant is already operational with an annual  production capacity of 60 GWh. At the same time, E.On is building a 23 kilometre long district heating district heating linking E.ON's district heating network in Upplands-Bro and Järfälla municipalities.

More information here: Link

WBA wishes to express gratitude to Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden and Swedish Bioenergy Association (SVEBIO) for their cooperation in organising the forum. We also express our gratitude to Vattenfall and E.ON for their assistance in organising the site tours.

Read the news here (Pdf, Word)

Photos

E.On circuit plant in Högbytorp (October 24, 2018)

Vattenfall Waste CHP plant in Uppsala (October 24, 2018)

Sweden Ukraine Bioenergy Cooperation Forum (October 23, 2018)