Expert: Construction of green energy is 5-7 times cheaper than that of nuclear energy

On August 13, the government approved the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the period up to 2030. The plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 27% during this time. Volodymyr Omelchenko, Director of Energy Programmes at the Razumkov Centre, emphasized the importance of expanding the use of renewable energy sources for Ukraine. This is especially valuable in the context of European integration and the ongoing Russian attacks on our energy sector. He shared these insights on Hromadske Radio.

“Ukraine has made certain commitments to the European Union to develop renewable energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this plan is very important. It is also crucial for the development of our economy and attracting investments, particularly since the Russians have destroyed a large part of the Ukrainian energy sector,” Omelchenko stated.

He noted that small power plants powered by green energy sources are much less vulnerable to missile and drone attacks. This makes them better than large thermal or hydroelectric power plants. Additionally, he pointed out that building solar and wind power plants is significantly cheaper than constructing nuclear or thermal power units.

“To give you an idea, it costs about one billion euros to build one gigawatt of green energy. The same nuclear capacity costs five to seven times more,” Omelchenko explained.

He further mentioned that renewable energy currently accounts for about 10% of Ukraine’s total annual energy consumption. This share increases during the summer. During that period it can reach 18-20% due to heightened solar generation.

However, Omelchenko expressed skepticism about the success of the green energy programme. He noted that only a few out of hundreds of strategies and programmes adopted since independence have been fully implemented.

“But the trends indicated by this plan are correct. What matters most is not the programme itself, but the mechanisms for its implementation and the government’s will to follow through. The real question is whether officials can implement the necessary documents to attract investment,” Omelchenko said.

Earlier, the Kyiv School of Economics published a study detailing Ukraine’s losses due to Russia’s full-scale aggression. It included a $11 billion loss in the electricity sector.