On September 27, 2022 the meeting of the Working Group on drafting the Hydrogen Energy Development Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 was held by the Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Yuliia Pidkomorna and the Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE) Valerii Bezus.

"It is important to adopt the Hydrogen Strategy of Ukraine as soon as possible. I emphasize that the issue of hydrogen energy is constantly being raised at the level of the top political leadership. In addresses to international business circles, the President of Ukraine draws attention to the possibilities of cooperation in hydrogen energy. This position of the top management should be supported by government policy in the form of a Strategy", Valerii Bezus emphasized.

Yuliia Pidkomorna outlined the final stage of work on the strategy and noted that the adopted document with a clear position of Ukraine will contribute to the development of the hydrogen economy and investors attraction.

The Hydrogen Strategy should be considered from the point of view of the importance of the country's strategic positioning, the Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE) is convinced. "There is a lot of talk today about the maturity of hydrogen economy technologies. Nevertheless, Ukraine should take an active position regarding its place in the new hydrogen economy, even in the context of international competition for attracting investments in this sector," Valerii Bezus explained.

"There are three important aspects of this positioning. The first of them is, of course, energy security. There is a decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine that we have to implement regarding strategy development. Also there is the "REPowerEU" plan, which provides for the rejection of the russian energy carriers. And it is hydrogen that is given extremely great attention," Valerii Bezus emphasized.

Another aspect is the issue of decarbonization of the economy and the need for Ukraine to fulfill its commitments to reduce CO2 emissions.

"Another aspect is European integration. In 2020, the EU adopted the European Hydrogen Strategy, the implementation of which should be part of Ukraine. It is also important that the European Hydrogen Strategy is a component of the European Strategy for the Integration of Energy Systems," said Valerii Bezus.

The developed draft strategy defines the main principles, stages, ways, methods, priorities and necessary resources for the formation and development of the hydrogen economy in Ukraine. It is considered as part of the new energy security architecture.

The document envisages the use of hydrogen for the decarbonization of industry, transport and energy, as well as for increasing the competitiveness of exports and avoiding the carbon tax at the border with the EU under the CBAM mechanism.

The introduction of national hydrogen standards and guarantees of origin, developed in accordance with EU standards and requirements for joining the European hydrogen infrastructure, is also foreseen.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the finalization of the Hydrogen Strategy, namely the proposals and comments of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Agrarian Policy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Infrastructure, National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities, Ukrenergo, Energoatom, Naftogaz of Ukraine, Ukrhydroenergo, GTS Operator of Ukraine.

The participants paid attention to the priority types of hydrogen, sources of water resources, the use of hydrogen in industry and transport, the need to take into account the course of decarbonization of the economy, the provisions of the European taxonomy, and specialist training.

Based on the results of the working group, the draft strategy will be finalized taking into account the suggestions and comments made by the participants. At the same time, all participants agreed with the need to adopt the Hydrogen Strategy of Ukraine as soon as possible.

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