The development of green hydrogen production technologies has become increasingly significant within the context of global decarbonisation and the ongoing digital transformation of the economy. The use of renewable energy sources for hydrogen generation significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It also enhances energy security by decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. Moreover, green hydrogen contributes to the formation of a new model of sustainable development in the energy sector, supporting long-term environmental and economic resilience of Europe.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has become a critical catalyst for change in both national and European energy security. Ukraine’s synchronization with the European power system and the initiation of electricity exports to the EU in 2022 demonstrated the country’s strategic role as an integral part of the European energy space. According to the International Energy Agency, following the intensified attacks of 2024, nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s dispatchable power generation capacity was occupied, damaged or destroyed, underlining the urgency of energy system modernisation and decentralisation. It is considered that energy systems are increasingly required to become decentralised in order to enhance energy security. For Ukraine, the development of green hydrogen technologies represents a promising direction for post-war reconstruction and integration into the European energy system. Ukraine possesses significant renewable energy potential, particularly in solar and wind generation. This creates favourable conditions for the formation of a competitive green hydrogen market.
Ukraine has a unique combination of factors that shape its competitive advantages in the field of green hydrogen production for the European market. These factors include:
Howevre, hydrogen energy projects are characterized by a high level of capital intensity, long investment horizons, and substantial uncertainty associated with the external environment, including technological maturity, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics. These factors significantly increase project risks and require advanced approaches to project planning, risk management, and investment decision-making.
Ukraine’s potential for green hydrogen production is about 44.96 million tons. Despite this, currently Ukraine produces approximately 360 thousand tons of hydrogen annually, mainly for the needs of the chemical industry (ammonia production), which is only 0.5% of global demand.
Ukrainian projects involve the development of specialized hydrogen transport infrastructure, including the construction of hydrogen pipelines and integration with regional logistics routes. Their strategic importance is determined by the possibility of accessing international markets through the southern ports of Ukraine and cross-border hydrogen corridors with EU countries, which creates the prerequisites for Ukraine’s inclusion in the European hydrogen network.
Furthermore, the “Central European Hydrogen Corridor” project envisages the development of a large-scale infrastructure route for hydrogen transportation from Ukraine to Central Europe, constituting a key element in the country’s integration into the European Union energy market. In parallel, the government has approved the National Renewable Energy Action Plan up to 2030, along with a comprehensive implementation roadmap.At the same time, a significant part of green hydrogen projects in Ukraine is currently on hold.
It should be noted that the experience of Germany, which is one of the leaders in the development of the hydrogen economy in Europe, is of particular interest. Germany’s experience can be adapted in Ukraine to form a modern digital hydrogen ecosystem.
Ukraine, due to its resource potential, geographical location and integration into the European energy market, has objective prerequisites for fulfilling the role of one of the key suppliers of green hydrogen for Europe. The realization of this potential is possible subject to the active implementation of digital technologies, including AI tools, and coordination with the European hydrogen policy. The development of AI-based solutions should become a key priority for enhancing the resilience of the energy system to physical damage in the context of armed aggression. The application of risk prediction algorithms for potential damage to energy infrastructure, intelligent vulnerability analysis, as well as automated load redistribution and post-failure recovery systems, contributes to reducing the scale of outages and shortening response times to emergency situations.
The effective implementation of hydrogen projects requires the adoption of digital and AI-driven management tools, which enhance the transparency of investment decision-making, optimize costs, and reduce technological and financial risks.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement IT tools to optimize green hydrogen production processes, including electrolysis, storage and distribution.It is necessary to increase the institutional capacity of communities to implement pilot projects of hydrogen valleys through grants, educational programs and international technical partnerships and integrate the hydrogen economy into the Ukrainoan post-war recovery strategy, with an emphasis on decentralized energy, industrial parks and exports. The integration of IT technologies is not only a technological need, but also a strategic advantage for Ukraine in becoming a regional leader in the field of hydrogen energy.
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