Scientific session of the General Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
On February 17, 2022, a scientific session of the General Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was held to consider the problems of forming and implementing a model for the development of low-carbon economy in Ukraine.
The event heard and discussed reports of experts from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine on the prospects of low-carbon economy in Ukraine, ways to transform the integrated energy system of Ukraine into an intelligent and ecologically safe system, directions of hydrogen research, its prospects and limitations for decarbonization and the role of natural ecosystems in ensuring the decarbonization of Ukraine.
Climate change is one of the most important global problems, affecting various areas of life of each individual and the state as a whole, and poses great risks to safety and sustainable development. The main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions, including due to ever-increasing anthropogenic activities. The response of most countries, including Ukraine, to climate challenges and threats is to move to a sustainable development trajectory with low greenhouse gas emissions through the development and implementation of low-carbon and carbon-free technologies.
During the session, the Director of the Institute for Safety Problems of the Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine, Academician Anatolii Nosovskyi presented the report “Nuclear Power Energy in Ukraine in the Context of Sustainable Development”.
The report stressed that nuclear power energy is one of the reliable, sustainable and modern sources of electricity and is one of the factors in achieving the goals of sustainable development. Nuclear power plants play an important role in the energy sector of many countries, producing competitive electricity, which belongs to the low-carbon energy sources. Nuclear power energy is important in ensuring energy independence for Ukraine, so the need of implementing a program to build new nuclear power units is obvious.
Based on the analysis, it is shown that the choice of AP1000 technology as a priority reactor technology for high-power light water reactors during the formation of Ukraine’s nuclear energy development strategy is acceptable, but this choice must be confirmed by developing feasibility studies and other measures in accordance with current Ukrainian legislation.
In conclusion, the speaker suggested that the nuclear industry should involve the institutes of the NAS of Ukraine in the work related to the scientific and technical justification of the selection of promising new nuclear facilities in Ukraine, the implementation of the project to create a Ukrainian NPP unit and a program to build new nuclear power units.
Reports and discussions at the session of the General Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine highlighted the importance of effective state policy in implementing measures aimed at the formation and implementation of low-carbon economy. At the same time, carbon neutrality requires careful calculation of possible scenarios, while maintaining a balance between the struggle for the environment and national interests. The solution of such large-scale problems is possible only due to the joint efforts of all branches of government, local communities, private enterprises and business structures with the broad involvement of domestic science.
This post is also available in: Ukrainian
