The Ukrainian hydrogen project H2U Hydrogen Valley was included in the international system of hydrogen valleys Mission Innovation Hydrogen Valley, which unites more than 80 such valleys.
A hydrogen plant with a capacity of 100 MW will be built near the city of Reni in the Odesa region, Oleksandr Repkin, the special representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy, said in a column on Economic Truth.
He emphasized that the Ukrainian hydrogen business continues to develop despite the challenges of the war and the lack of a legislative basis.
Repkin explained that the system has become a single window for collecting and receiving information about the most significant hydrogen projects in the world, 60 of which are European. Its target audience is investors, developers and scientists, politicians and other market stakeholders.
"Hydrogen valleys in the European Union mean the initiatives of local market makers in the field of pure hydrogen. Business implements infrastructure projects at the local level and creates "mini-hydrogen economies" thanks to cooperation between various sectors and industries," he said.
The author explained that the hydrogen valley will have the following advantages:
- large-scale joint investments (from 10 million euros to several billion euros);
- full coverage of the hydrogen value chain, namely:
- centralized production of green hydrogen;
- common infrastructure (pipelines, gas stations, etc.);
- various end-uses (e.g. steel industry, fuel cell trucks);
- clear regional coverage (say, around a major port).
"It is hoped that these relatively small value chains will pave the way for a regional, and eventually global, hydrogen economy that will become an alternative to fossil fuels," he said.
Repkin emphasized that H2U Hydrogen Valley LLC "Voden of Ukraine" competed for placement on the platform with 30 other companies, having passed a detailed professional analysis. Experts confirmed the absence of negative impact on agriculture and drinking water supply of nearby settlements.
It is noted that the company has currently focused its efforts on the creation of wind and solar power plants that will power the future plant. The company plans to supply Ukraine with hydrogen and export it. One of the European metallurgical plants, which plans to replace coke with hydrogen for recovery of iron ore, also became interested in the production.
"Ukrainian experts are concerned about the lack of legislation in Ukraine in the field of hydrogen economy. And first of all, the Ukrainian hydrogen strategy," Repkin emphasized, adding that the draft document was developed at the end of 2021.
He explained that the authorities and all parties interested in the development of hydrogen energy understand that the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine opens up opportunities for launching the latest technologies. However, the Strategy has not yet been finally approved.
"Despite the obstacles, Ukrainian hydrogen companies are not sitting still, looking for investors, signing international contracts and working for the future," Repkin emphasized.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that at the end of December 2021 presented in Ukraine the Hydrogen Strategy project countries. Its implementation will make it possible to achieve real energy independence and become a powerful producer of a strategic energy carrier for the global market.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that as part of the Government's Priority Action Plan for 2023, the government plans to approve a long-term strategy for the development of hydrogen energy industry
