This result can be achieved through implementation of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan by 2020. It was reported by the Head of the SAEE Serhiy Savchuk at the discussion "Global Trends in   Alternative Energy Development. The EU and China Experience. The Strategic Potential of Ukraine".

According to Serhiy Savchuk, the action plan covers the development of all renewable energy sources, but special attention is paid to bioenergy. For example, in 2020 the capacity of bioenergy plants for electricity generation should be 950 MW. According to the Agency's Head, resources for development of this sphere are available almost in every region of Ukraine. Also the land's structure enables to use about 4 million ha of agricultural land for energy crops without any risk to agriculture. In 2020 it is planned to exploit 200 thousand ha of land to grow corn for silage, willow, miscanthus, poplar.

"Today bioenergy actually replaces 3 billion cubic meters of gas per year. More than 3650 MW thermal power capacity on biomass is operating, - said S. Savchuk. - According to the plan, in 2020 it is planned to replace up to 7.2 billion cubic meters of gas per year realizing the potential of bioenergy only".

The total investment required to implement the plan is about 17 billion euros. The planned priorities include building plants for pellets and biofuel boilers production, cooperation on production of the second generation bioethanol, energy crops cultivation.

In turn the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Dombrovskyi noted that the adopted National Action Plan for Renewable Energy was highly praised by the Energy Community Secretariat. Today, the document plays a key role in renewable energy development strategy of Ukraine.

Hans-Josef Fell, a prominent German physicist, developer of the "green tariff" model in Europe, also urged Ukraine to speed up development of renewable energy, particularly bioenergy. During his speech he presented the current global trend: use of renewable energy is rising rapidly, but fossil fuels and nuclear energy is reducing. Among reasons for this trend there are increasing prices of traditional energy and environmental protection. EU countries invest more and more in alternative energy.

"Ukraine will have no chance to reduce energy dependence, if not create conditions for diversifying sources of energy, - said Hans-Josef Fell. - Only the switch to renewables will help gain political and energy independence".

According to the expert, the development of this sector will be promoted by an appropriate legislative framework for the introduction of "green" tariff, tax relief, tax on carbon dioxide emissions, cancelling subsidies for fossil and nuclear power, removing red tape, informational campaigns to raise public awareness on the benefits of renewable energy use.

Note: The discussion "Global Trends in Alternative Energy Development. The EU and China Experience. The Strategic Potential of Ukraine" took place on February 4, 2015 at the International Institute of Management (MIM-Kyiv) supported by the interfractional deputy association "For Energy Independence of Ukraine".

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