30.09.2026
The substantial share of nuclear power in Ukraine’s electricity generation creates opportunities to decarbonise industry and strengthen its position in the European market. Making use of this advantage requires evidence of electricity’s low-carbon characteristics and its consumption by individual businesses. The connection between electricity generation, reliable emissions data and the carbon footprint of industrial products was the focus of Oleksandr Nemtsov’s contribution to an Energy Club discussion.
The Head of the Ecology Department within the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Directorate at Energoatom spoke at the online meeting “CBAM, Electricity and the Competitiveness of Ukrainian Industry,” held on 29 September 2026. He stressed that discussions about CBAM’s impact need to take account of the specific characteristics of Ukraine’s electricity system and the role of nuclear generation within it.
According to the estimate he presented, nuclear power accounts for at least 60% of Ukraine’s total electricity generation. He specifically highlighted the low direct greenhouse gas emissions associated with this production. In his view, the ability to supply substantial volumes of electricity with low carbon intensity is an important asset for decarbonising the economy.
“We need to determine how effectively we can use the advantages that Ukraine’s energy sector already has,” Oleksandr Nemtsov said.
At the same time, he raised the question of how to connect this characteristic of the national generation mix with the products of a particular industrial business. In an interconnected electricity system, power comes from different sources, including nuclear and thermal generation. In these circumstances, it is necessary to determine how to substantiate the volume of electricity with particular characteristics consumed by a business and account for it when calculating the carbon footprint of its products.
Oleksandr Nemtsov proposed focusing on “practical confirmation of the extent to which a particular business has consumed a given volume of electricity with verified low-carbon characteristics.” He linked this task to the need to accelerate work on greenhouse gas emissions verification in Ukraine.
“What matters here is moving towards traceability and substantiation of these characteristics,” the Energoatom representative stressed.
Responding to moderator Andrii Kulykov’s question about the availability and verification of data, Oleksandr Nemtsov described the information the company already provides. According to him, Energoatom publishes monthly data on pollutant emissions, including greenhouse gases, on its official website, alongside calculations of greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated.
He also explained that the company operates within Ukraine’s greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, reporting and verification system and undergoes verification annually. The speaker said that positive verification reports accepted by the competent authority provide an evidence base for substantiating the low-carbon characteristics of Energoatom’s electricity generation.
Another part of his contribution concerned nuclear generation’s involvement in developing Ukraine’s emissions trading system. Oleksandr Nemtsov referred to the preparation of relevant legislation and argued that Energoatom should be fully involved in shaping this market and the mechanisms for decarbonisation.
The issues he proposed examining included carbon pricing and economic incentives for decarbonisation that take account of products’ carbon characteristics. In this context, he connected the development of low-carbon energy with opportunities to reduce industry’s carbon footprint. He also stressed the need to take the role of nuclear generation into account when addressing electricity exports to the European Union and the application of CBAM to Ukraine.
In his concluding remarks, Oleksandr Nemtsov said that the company has the resources to demonstrate the environmental characteristics and competitive potential of Ukrainian nuclear generation to European partners. Despite the difficulties of developing the energy sector under Russian attacks, he emphasised the continued operation of its facilities and the importance of using their capabilities to support the country.
“Energoatom continues to operate, Energoatom continues to generate, and Energoatom continues to supply Ukraine with electricity,” he stressed.
