Latest Ukraine Renewable Energy Newsletter (#26) published

The latest issue of Ukraine Renewable Energy Newsletter was published. You can download full version here. Please see below introduction and the list of content.

IMEPOWER View

Development of renewable energy projects in Ukraine continues at active pace. Despite complications caused by new local content rules that were introduced by the Parliament in late 2012 via amendments to the Electricity Law, we see more renewable capacities added by developers every month – several small and middle size solar power plants have been commissioned recently, DTEK has given 105 MW order to Vestas for wind turbines, while newly introduced green tariff for electricity produced biogas sparked interest from agricultural holdings to the development of biogas projects.

The EBRD has financed its first small hydro power project in Ukraine and is in the process of finalizing several other loans to renewable developers under USELF program. It also considers, jointly with the IFC, providing debt financing for the first stage (126 MW) of the Western Crimean Wind Power Plant that became the first large renewable project in Ukraine developed by foreign owners (Guris from Turkey and Greenworx from Belgium) that secured the construction permit.

At the same time, there is still lack of clarity regarding ability of majority of developers to comply with the new local content rules after the requirement for “fixed shares” comes in force starting 01 July 2013. We expect that it will delay implementation of many projects before the authorities come up with clear guidelines how new regime should be applied and it will become clear who from equipment suppliers and/or EPC contractors is willing to undertake efforts to comply with it.

In This Issue
I. Legal and Regulatory Developments

1.1. Rules for connection of power units to networks came into force

1.2. Methodology of payment calculation for connection of power units came into force

1.3. NERC approved green tariffs for renewable energy producers for March 2013

1.4. NERC proposed new amendments to the secondary legislation regulating renewable projects

II. Investment News

2.1. Vestas receives 105 MW wind turbine order from DTEK

2.2. EBRD and IFC consider loan provision to the Western Crimean Wind Power Project

2.3. EBRD finances the first hydro power project in Ukraine

2.4. Vindkraft Ukraine plans to expand wind power capacities on the Black Sea coast in 2013

2.5. Ekotechnik Praha launches the first stage of solar power plant in Khmelnytsky oblast

2.6. Smart Holding launches the first stage of pellet production plant

2.7. Eco-Optima revises the construction design of wind power plant due to bankruptcy of Fuhrlander

2.8. Ukreximbank provided UAH 50 million for Ivankiv TPP construction

2.9. Rengy Development plans to construct solar power plants with capacity of 20-25 MW in 2013

2.10. 10 MW solar power plant launched in Kherson region