First physical meeting in the strengthened energy partnership between Denmark and Ukraine
On Tuesday, 5 September 2023, Denmark and Ukraine held the Third Steering Committee Meeting of the Ukraine-Denmark Energy Partnership Programme (UDEPP). The meeting was co-chaired by Ukraine’s Minister of Energy German Galushchenko and Denmark’s Ambassador to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. Also, attending physically for the first time since COVID-19 and Russia’s full-scale invasion attempt, was a delegation from the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and the Danish Energy Agency, as well as Ukrainian partner institutions, including the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine and the State Agency on Energy Efficiency of Ukraine (SAEE). The Ukrainian ambassador to Denmark Vydoinyk Mykhailo attended via video link from Copenhagen.
During the meeting, the results of the previous stage of the implementation of the UDEPP were presented, and the work programme for the next 12 months, until the end of August 2024, was approved. Minister Galushchenko praised the effectiveness of cooperation and thanked Denmark for supporting the energy sector of Ukraine in the form of both material and financial assistance, emphasising Denmark became the first donor to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund with financing from UDEPP’s budget, setting an example for other countries. Ambassador Mikkelsen took pride in the ability to adjust activities to wartime conditions in a matter of days and saluted the brave Ukrainian energy workers who works tirelessly to ensure Ukrainian victory in the energy battle.
Going forward, the comprehensive UDEPP work program seeks to strike a balance between on the one hand short-term activities for urgent reconstruction needs, decentralisation and resilience. And on the other hand engagements for supporting the green transformation of the Ukrainian energy system to become fully integrated in the European power system and markets with a high share of low carbon and renewable generation. Supporting Ukraine’s accession to the EU and strengthening European energy security in the Peace Formula process.
A few of the most important additions to UDEPP include:
- National and regional heat planning for the coming winter seasons.
- Heat supply scheme for the city of Mykolaiv.
- Support to Mykolaiv’s comprehensive Master Plan
- “Heat Road Map” for the whole of Ukraine.
- Scenario-based long-term modelling of the energy system, presented in annual Energy Outlook Reports.
- Development of technology catalogue for energy efficiency in industry.
- Implementation of energy savings obligation in the EU’s Directive on Energy Efficiency.
- Integration of the Ukrainian energy market with the EU.
- Synchronization of Ukrainian regulatory framework on heat supply.
- Implementation plan for Ukraine’s reconstruction of onshore wind.
The meeting was conducted in an atmosphere of friendship and Ambassador Mikkelsen expressed Denmark’s readiness to continue supporting Ukraine’s energy sector in its recovery and modernisation process and in achieving the goals of the green transition.
Conclusions included a strengthened focus on offshore and onshore wind energy development, support for Mykolaiv district heating and a renewed focus on energy modelling to implement Ukraine’s 2050 Energy Strategy.
Facts: UDEPP was established in 2014 following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable attack on Crimea, Donets and Luhansk. UDEPP seeks through a government-to-government approach to ensure solutions for an independent and sustainable energy sector in Ukraine. For more background: Danish Energy Agency.
