The Land Code and registries must be amended to develop bioenergy
The law adopted on the implementation of EU standards in the field of renewable energy opens up opportunities for Ukraine to develop the energy crop sector. To effectively utilize this potential, the state must develop appropriate bylaws and standards. This was reported by Economichna Pravda citing UABIO, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Ukraine can change its role in the global market by shifting from the export of cheap raw materials to the sale of energy resources, the value of which is steadily increasing. However, for the successful implementation of European requirements for biofuels and biomass, as outlined in bill No. 14271, it is critical to detail the legislation at the level of bylaws.
Prospects for the Ukrainian bioenergy sector
European experience demonstrates that growing energy crops on arable land is less profitable compared to food production. Most of the areas in EU countries designated for energy needs are still occupied by annual food plants, while the cultivation of perennial species such as miscanthus, poplar, or willow remains limited due to the lack of long-term contracts and premiums.
For Ukraine, experts highlight four key niches: growing intermediate crops for biomethane, using severely degraded lands, creating shelterbelts of perennial plantings, and producing lignocellulose for industrial use. In particular, the use of intermediate crops can significantly strengthen capacity for biomethane production, which has a government-set target of 1 billion cubic meters by 2030.
Using degraded and frontline lands
The scale of degraded soils in Ukraine significantly exceeds European figures, amounting to about 10–12 million hectares. Some of these territories, including lands affected by hostilities or the loss of irrigation, could become sites for energy plantations, provided there is proper legislative regulation and the creation of a corresponding state registry.
Creating “energy eco-strips” along water bodies and on slopes will allow not only for biomass production but also for a significant reduction in soil erosion and nitrate leaching levels. Implementing such an initiative on 0.4–1 million hectares could provide for the replacement of billions of cubic meters of gas and a reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Biochar production and industrial raw materials
The most innovative segment is the processing of lignocellulose into biochar, where the product value is significantly higher than that of regular fuel. Developing this direction requires the creation of national standards and the inclusion of biochar in the list of fertilizers, which will allow Ukrainian producers to integrate into European green supply chains.
To achieve success in these areas, systemic changes are needed: the adaptation of the Land and Water Codes, the implementation of carbon farming standards, and the launch of pilot clusters. “What these niches have in common is that a ton of biomass is sold not as fuel, but as a carrier of carbon, ecosystem services, or materials,” the analysis notes.
Photo: UABIO
