Germany to assist burgeoning Ukrainian bioenergy sector

It is understood, through a statement made by its Federal Ministry of Environment, Germany is to assist Ukraine in developing its own bioenergy production this year.

Ukrainian scientists outlined draft plans for new facilities that would convert agricultural waste into thermal power and biogas via German technology as ministry representative Jurgen Keinhorst revealed that Germany is considering investment into the projects.

‘The Ukraine-German scientific exchange goes back decades, but has intensified over the past few years to this point,’ Viktor Tymoshchuk, an expert in the department of engineering and machinery at the ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, was quoted as saying. ‘There are 30 projects under consideration at this time.’

It is believed the Ukraine produces around 700,000 tonnes of solid biomass a year currently, with a first wood pellet producing pilot plant unveiled in October 2012.