UWEA signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Dutch wind energy association NedZero

From November 22 to 29, 2024, representatives of the UWEA Board and Secretariat, as well as NPC Ukrenergo, paid a working visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The main purpose of the visit was to strengthen partnerships between the Ukrainian and Dutch wind energy businesses, exchange views on the restoration of Ukraine’s energy sector and develop ideas for joint projects. In particular, they discussed opportunities for the development of onshore and offshore wind energy, the introduction of refurbished wind turbines and new turbines with a capacity of up to 1 MW to meet the self-consumption of small and medium-sized businesses.

The week-long visit also included participation of the delegation in industry events, including, in particular, the international conference “Decentralized Energy Solutions for Ukraine’s Security” held on November 25 in The Hague and a two-day exhibition and conference on offshore wind energy in Amsterdam. During the second event, UWEA representatives had the opportunity to present the current state of the onshore wind energy sector and the technical potential of offshore wind energy in Ukraine, speaking at a separate thematic session “Onshore and offshore wind energy solutions for Ukraine’s economic sustainability”. The speakers of the session were UWEA Board members Galyna Schmidt and Ivan Bondarchuk, Partner at LCF Law Group, as well as Kateryna Knysh, Head of UWEA Analytical Department and Business Development Director at MCL Group.

The first step towards strengthening cooperation between the Dutch and Ukrainian wind energy businesses was the solemn signing of the Memorandum of Partnership and Cooperation between the Dutch wind energy association NedZero and the UWEA. The Memorandum was signed by the heads of the national associations – Andriy Konechenkov (from Ukraine) and Jan Vos (from the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

“We need to defend Europe and we need to defend Ukraine together. And part of defense is not only military power, but also energy, because if there is no energy, there is no army. Energy is the main basis of any war. Therefore, it is very important that we support Ukraine much more than we do now,” Jan Vos commented on the event.

“I would like to thank NedZero and the Dutch people for their commitment and partnership. This cooperation symbolizes the powerful synergy between Ukraine and the Netherlands, two countries united by the goal of using clean, renewable energy for a sustainable, green and secure future,” said Andriy Konechenkov.

An important part of the visit was the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to the production facilities of such Dutch companies as Business in Wind, one of the new UWEA members specializing in the repair of used and commissioning of refurbished wind turbines, and EWT, a national manufacturer of wind turbines with a capacity of up to 1 MW inclusive.

Both companies have demonstrated clear intentions to operate in the Ukrainian wind energy market. The delegation from Ukraine was also invited to the Port of Eemshaven, a key industrial and energy hub in the Netherlands, which hosts large energy facilities such as gas, coal, solar, bioenergy and wind power plants, as well as bases for the installation and maintenance of offshore wind farms in the North Sea. The Ukrainian group also visited TKF’s production of submarine electric cables. Separately, a meeting with the Dutch TSO TenneT was organized for Roman Grabchak, Head of the Balancing Reliability Department, a representative of NPC Ukrenergo.

Finally, UWEA representatives invited NedZero’s management to a meeting with DRI, a company that develops wind energy projects in European countries.

It should be noted that the trip was made possible thanks to the organization of the visit by the Dutch wind energy association NedZero with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine and funding from the Dutch Business Support Agency (RVO) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of the Netherlands. The event was a continuation of a project to develop legislative changes to stimulate the development of wind energy in Ukraine.