BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 1
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
A new interconnection will not only allow Ukraine to be part of the extended EU grid, giving it access to possibly hard needed additional (renewable) power supplies, but it also would be beneficial to EU, Cyril Widdershoven, a Middle East geopolitical specialist and energy analyst, a partner at Dutch risk consultancy VEROCY, nd Global Head Strategy Risk at Berry Commodities told Trend.
“In principle Ukraine could be a major renewables power giant, looking at its available land acreage, position (wind-solar) but also on biomass. All is beneficial to the ongoing energy transition put in place the last years. Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, so its access would be advantageous,” he said.
But the expert pointed out that it is definitely going to take long, as the current military operations will be blocking all.
“In realistic terms, in peace time, it would be able to be done within a year-1.5 years,” he believes.
Kadri Simson, EU energy commissioner, said at the press conference on the Energy Council meeting that EU will move forward with ENTSO-E to connect Ukraine's electricity system as quickly as possible.
She noted that this step would also link Moldova to the EU grid – another country that wants to be able to choose its energy future.
“This is a strategic initiative for increasing Ukraine's energy independence. This is technically challenging. But, as Europe, this is something tangible we can do for our partners,” noted the energy commissioner.
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