Assessing the potential for increasing the use of alternative fuels in aviation and waterborne transport. REA joined EU4Climate

The Renewable Energy Agency (NGO “REA”) joined the implementation of the EU4Climate project, which is financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The objective of the project is to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries. The project started in May 2022 and will last 7 months.

Project Background:

EU4Climate project helps governments in the six EU Eastern Partner countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – to take action against climate change. It supports countries in improving climate policies and legislation that contribute to their low emission and climate resilient development and their commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Its ambition is to limit climate change impact on citizens’ lives and make them more resilient to it.

Within the framework of the EU4Climate project, the NGO “REA” performs a Feasibility study on the use of alternative fuels in aviation and waterborne transport.

The objective of the task is to conduct a study for assessing the potential for shifting to/increasing the use of alternative fuels in aviation and waterborne transport and to elaborate political recommendations for such use.

Activities to implement within the framework of the EU4Climate project:

1. Provide overview of aviation and waterborne transport sectors in Ukraine describing current fuel demand and supply, fuel standards and specifications, emissions-related issues, and current legislation for aviation and waterborne transport.
2. Describe the current production/supply chain and infrastructure needed to deliver the fuels to the vehicles or vessels, using the different fuels, and the costs related to infrastructure and vehicles.
3. Analyze different alternative fuels that may be used in aviation and waterborne transport, including but not limited to low sulphur grate diesels, biofuels, methanol, LNG, Bio-LNG, LPG, FT-diesel, electricity, pyrolysis oil, hydrogen in combination with fuel cells, solar power and wind energy. For each type of fuel provide analysis against the fuel compatibility with current legislation, the sustainability and safety issues, efficiency, availability of resources and infrastructure for production and supply, cost (production, transportation and storing), and LCAs (life cycle analysis). Generalize the key aspects in extraction with pros and cons for each fuel type.
4. Identify main policies and measures feasible from the economic, social and environmental points of view for the shifting to/increasing the use of alternative fuels in aviation and waterborne transport.
5. For most promising alternative fuels, develop initial recommendations on how to mainstream relevant programs and strategic plans with presentation of expected socio-economic benefits and trade-offs.
6. Provide a comparison of the final energy use in aviation and waterborne transport under current trends and adopted policies by the end of 2021 and under a scenario achieving 65% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 in line with the goal set in Ukraine’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.
7. Deliver a technical workshop for representatives of the line ministries, agencies, and business associations to improve their understanding and increase their awareness and knowledge on the use of alternative fuels for aviation and waterborne transport and share the initial recommendations.
8. Taking into account comments and recommendations received from the stakeholders, develop and provide final package of recommendations, as well as a guidance on the development of policy framework for the shifting to/increasing the use of alternative fuels in aviation and waterborne transport into existing decision-making and policy processes, suggesting tools for policymakers to support the various stages of the mainstreaming process.

The material was prepared with the support of the European Union and the United Nations Development Program as part of the EU4Climate project.

The material reflects the position of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).