Author: Kazbulat Shogenov

Radioactive waste disposal in geological formations in Ukraine

In Ukraine, there are 4 (Zaporizka, Rivnenska, Pivdennoukrainska, Khmelnytska) nuclear power plants (NPP) with 15 power units. The Chornobyl NPP ceased operation on December 15, 2000. As a result of the activity of NPPs, which are the largest producers of waste (95% of their current generation), three main types of radioactive waste (RAW) are generated: gaseous, liquid and solid.

On average, NPPs generate up to 27 m³ of solid radioactive waste and 35 m3 of liquid radioactive waste per 1 billion kWh of electricity generated, depending on the type of reactor.

In general, there is a high degree of filling of storage facilities with solid (from 30 to 70%) and liquid (from 21 to 76%) radioactive waste.

Radioactive waste is divided into classes in order to ensure compliance with waste disposal requirements in four different types of storage:

• surface storage facilities (objects, which by their type correspond to landfills with limited regulatory control),
• near-surface storage facilities with a system of engineering barriers,
• underground storage facilities located at medium depth,
• storage facilities in deep geological formations

Solid and liquid radioactive wastes are located at: NPP, “Shelter” Facility, Exclusion Zone, Decontamination Waste Disposal Sites, Chornobyl NPP, Repositories of separate divisions of the old specialized enterprise “Radon Association”, Research nuclear reactors.

The existence of the Chornobyl exclusion zone determines Ukraine’s strategy in the field of radioactive waste management. Since the exclusion zone has no local population and contains most of the country’s nuclear waste, it appears to be the most suitable location for a repository for the final disposal of the waste in the soil, followed by burial in deep geological formations.

In Ukraine, the process of finding a place for the disposal of radioactive waste in deep geological formations began in 1993. From 1996 to 2003, the territory of Ukraine was investigated in order to evaluate potentially acceptable places. During the years 2000–2006, work was carried out on the comprehensive study of two promising areas for potential radioactive waste storage in geological formations, as well as radioactive waste isolation technologies. Researchers assume that it will be used to store spent nuclear fuel as well as classified radioactive waste. It is also assumed that Ukraine will build new nuclear power plants in accordance with the Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2035.

Based on the results of preliminary studies, several sites were selected for burial in deep geological formations of high- and medium-level radioactive waste, including waste generated as a result of the decommissioning of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and the decontamination of the station’s territory. It is assumed that about 59 000 m³ of long-lasting waste will be buried on the territory of the geological repository. Taking into account the fact that 95% of all long-lived waste with long decay periods is stored in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, a special study on the use of this area for the purpose of final disposal was initiated. Most of the research on this issue is carried out in Ukraine within the framework of international technical assistance projects, which are implemented with the aim of obtaining a scientific justification for future decisions. According to the results of geological and geophysical studies, two sites located within the Ukrainian shield were selected for drilling: Veresnianska and Tovstolisova.

Research in the framework of the creation of a storage area for the disposal of nuclear waste in deep geological formations is ongoing.

The most comprehensive overview of nuclear waste stored and handled in Ukraine can be found in the National Report On Compliance with Obligations under the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management  

Link: https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/national_report_of_ukraine_for_the_6th_review_meeting_-_english.pdf

GEOTHERMAL PROSPECTS: in Ukraine, geothermal energy can replace 10 billion cubic meters of gas

In Ukraine, it is possible to extract about 90 billion kWh of geothermal energy annually and replace 10 billion cubic meters of gas.

According to the Institute of Renewable Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 7 central and western regions of the country have a geothermal energy potential of 6-7 billion kWh per year each.

Hot underground water can be used for heating and electricity production, depending on the temperature regime of underground sources.

At a temperature of 50°C, limited areas can be heated; for large-scale heating, it is necessary to reach the water with a temperature of more than 70°C. Electricity can be produced at a water temperature of at least 120-170°C using an intermediate substance that is heated; with water at 170-220 °C, the steam-water mixture can be heated directly, and above 220 °C, electricity generation using dry steam is possible.

There are not many hot springs in Ukraine: some are located in Crimea and Donbas, and the most accessible ones are in Zakarpattia. High mineralization of the coolant requires the use of special anti-corrosion materials and equipment for the removal and disposal of gases. As a result, about half of the plant’s total capacity goes to process maintenance, and the high cost of drilling and arranging wells makes these projects quite expensive at the start.

Today, near Uzhgorod, an underground circulation system is operating in a well 2.3 km deep with a temperature of 124°C, heating greenhouses and a livestock complex.  In Ukraine, there are still no geothermal stations that work according to the principle of a closed loop.

Because of the available underground water reserves in some regions in Ukraine, it is possible to produce energy by geothermal means. This is also facilitated by the legislation of Ukraine in the field of alternative energy (in particular, in the part of the “green” tariff for this little-used source of renewable energy).

The main problem is to regulate the use of the resource itself even before the start of electricity production. Paying two types of rent, obtaining different names, but similar in essence, permits the use of resources in two different departments creating bureaucratic barriers for potential producers of geothermal electricity and adversely affecting the financial model and credit attractiveness of such projects. Link: https://www.facebook.com/vodacpk/posts/2848441365406135/

Ukraine is among the countries with medium-level geothermal gradients. On the territory of the existing areas with anomalously high heat flow values (Carpathian region and the Black Sea basin) and insulating layers that contribute to the conservation of heat deep within the Earth’s interior.

In Ukraine, there are two types of geothermal deposits, deposit formation types, artesian basins intermountain and foothill basins (Carpathian region and Crimea) and deposit formation types in the Great Artesian Basin platform type (the Black Sea and Dnieper-Donetsk artesian basin).

Thermal water horizons first type deposits occur at depths of 900-1500 m or more, for the second – 2000- 2500 m and more. Analysis of evidence indicates that the most favourable conditions for the formation of geothermal resources are characterized by gas, gas condensate and some oil fields. This applies particularly to depleted gas fields that are filled up with water during operation.

For more information, you can read the full Article about geothermal Energy Use in Ukraine

https://europeangeothermalcongress.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CUR-32-Ukraine.pdf

Authors: Anastasia Barylo, Yulia Demchuk

Ukraine is studying the prospects for the production of green hydrogen

The country’s largest hydropower company, Ukrhydroenergo, is exploring the possibilities of producing and using “green” hydrogen using the renewable potential of Ukrainian hydroelectric power plants, taking into account world experience.

The company analyzes and conducts fruitful work on a pilot project for the installation of a 1 MW electrolysis plant for the production of “green” hydrogen.

In this direction, Ukrhydroenergo cooperates with foreign partners. In particular, recently, in April of this year, the company signed a memorandum with the German company “MAN Energy Solutions” and the global supplier of equipment and services for hydroelectric power plants “ANDRYTZ HYDRO” on the development and implementation of projects for the production of “green” hydrogen in Ukraine. The parties are working fruitfully and exploring hydrogen generation technologies.

The joint project considered five cells, each of which can produce up to 100 kg of hydrogen per day. Today the company analyzes and conducts fruitful work on a pilot project for the installation of a 1 MW electrolysis plant for the production of “green” hydrogen.

The company is convinced that against the background of the war unleashed by Russia, the development of hydrogen energy is important not only for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe. According to Ukrhydroenergo, international cooperation in this area will launch global processes that will help create a hydrogen hub in the future.

Link: https://saee.gov.ua/uk/news/4244

European Commission plans import of green hydrogen from Ukraine

The development of hydrogen energy is one of the ways to overcome dependence on Russian energy resources.

The European Commission (EC) intends to create three main hydrogen import corridors, one of which is from Ukraine.

To facilitate green hydrogen imports, the EC plans to establish three main hydrogen import corridors – from the North Sea region (Norway and the United Kingdom), the Southern Mediterranean and Ukraine, as soon as conditions permit. To this end, the EC proposes to establish a partnership with partner countries to ensure open trade and investment relations for renewable and low-carbon fuels. The development of hydrogen energy is one of the ways to overcome dependence on Russian energy resources, as determined by the European Commission in the “REPowerEU” plan.

In particular, the Commission proposed setting a target of 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen domestic production and 10 million tons of green hydrogen imports by 2030. This is expected to help replace natural gas, coal and oil in industries and transportation that are difficult to decarbonise.

Link: https://saee.gov.ua/uk/news/4249