LEGAL REGULATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY: EUROPEAN AND UKRAINIAN APPROACHES

Abstract

Fossil fuel sources are the main source of energy in the energy sector, meanwhile dependence on natural gas and oil is the biggest cause of the environmental crisis. In the future, the demand for energy will grow, and this problem cannot be solved only through non-renewable sources. In recent decades, positive changes have been observed around the world towards expanding renewable energy capacities as an alternative way to meet the growing energy problems of humankind and prevent further consequences of climate change on our planet. It was noted that at the moment there has not been adopted a unified international document that would regulate the sphere of using alternative energy sources and would be mandatory for execution, despite the growing interest in alternative energy sources. The European vector of Ukraine’s development contributes to the interest in the legal regulation of renewable energy in the European Union. The development of renewable energy industry sources is an important element of the sustainable development strategy, in particular: at the global level – the Sustainable Development Goals for the period up to 2030, adopted in September 2015 by the UN General Assembly; at the regional level – the EU Sustainable Development Strategy; at the national level – Basic principles (strategy) of the state environmental policy of Ukraine for the period up to 2030. There were considered the provisions of the EU directives, the EU Sustainable Development Strategy, the EU Strategy in the field of energy and the fight against climate change until 2030, which are related to renewable energy industry. It were drawing attention to the broad interpretation of alternative energy sources in the legislation of Ukraine in comparison with the European approach, as well as to the ambiguous understanding of this term. It has been proven that the introduction of renewable energy industry sources in Ukraine is going on rather slow, which is primarily due to the imperfection of domestic legislation in this area, as well as low investment indicators in this promising branch of the national economy. The harmonization of the national regulatory framework with European legislation on this issue is attributed as the positive features of the legal regulation in the sphere of development of renewable energy industry.