The Ukrainian Wind Energy Association (UWEA) reports that on September 25th, 2008, the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) passed the act ”On Alternative Sources of Energy”. The law was approved overwhelmingly by 359 parliamentarians out of 426.
According to the law, a special tariffs for electricity generated at the power plants that use of alternative sources of energy will be offered for projects less 10 MW.
The tariffs will be paid for ten years.
The act stipulates that the tariffs must be no more than double the average weighted wholesale cost of generation in Ukraine. The tariffs will be revised annually. It is not clear if tariffs under contract in any given year are revised or if tariffs are revised annually only for new contracts.
The Ukrainian Wind Energy Association urges the government to use the appropriate method for calculating the tariffs, preferably following the model of successful programs in Germany, Spain, and Denmark. The association also urges that the tariffs be extended from ten years to 15-20 years.
For additional information contact the Ukrainian-American Environmental Association, 301-270-6477 x.23.
