Ukrhydroenergon explores hydrogen potential in Ukraine

Ukrhydroenergo specialists took part in an expert discussion on ways to develop the hydrogen economy in Ukraine, initiated by the Energy Club in cooperation with the State Agency for Energy Efficiency.

The discussion focused on modern methods of hydrogen production, research and development that exist in the industry, as well as the willingness of market participants to invest in hydrogen projects.

Opening the meeting, the head of the State Agency for Energy Efficiency Valery Bezus, stressed the priority of hydrogen energy development at the state level.

“Today, a working group to develop a hydrogen strategy has been set up and is actively working at the Ministry of Energy. A powerful document has been developed – a draft of the National Hydrogen Strategy, which contains the main directions and prospects for the use of hydrogen in Ukraine. This topic is the basis of energy security, as hydrogen is seen as the energy source of the future, as an element that can replace natural gas,” said Valery Bezus.

In turn, Andriy Lets, Head of the Project Technical Support Department of the Ukrhydroenergo Innovative Projects Implementation Department, focused on the introduction of modern technologies for the production of “green” hydrogen using renewable potential of Ukrainian hydropower plants.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the country’s largest hydropower company, the German multinational company MAN Energy Solutions and the global supplier of equipment and services for hydropower plants ANDRYTZ HYDRO to develop and implement projects to produce “green” hydrogen in Ukraine. The signing of the relevant Memorandum will launch global processes that will help in the long run to create a hydrogen hub in our country.

The company is considering the production of “green” hydrogen through water electrolysis. We study and analyze the experience of other countries that produce hydrogen at power plants. We are currently working on technical issues related to a pilot project to install a 1 MW hydrogen production plant at the Dnipro HPP, ” said Andriy Lets.

In October 2021, Ukrhydroenergo’s management, headed by the company’s CEO Igor Sirota, visited the MAN Energy Solutions office. During the visit, Ukrainian hydropower engineers got acquainted with the Hydrogen Initiative of the Federal Government of Germany and the green hydrogen platform “H2 Global”.