a project advancing the Energy Transition through the private development of SMRs
DENETEK LLC
in Ukraine and other Eastern European and Central Asian countries
About US
Denetek LLC will revolutionize Ukraine’s power sector, helping the country achieve its climate change goals years ahead of schedule by facilitating the phase out of legacy high emission assets and infrastructure. Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction will be a clean one, and Denetek LLC is well positioned to play a leading and formative role in the process.
Denetek LLC is dedicated to advancing the Energy Transition in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries by phasing out legacy fossil fuel energy infrastructure via replacement with small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
Our success in Ukraine will be repeated in other developing countries struggling to achieve energy security and simultaneously decarbonize.
Denetek’s approach to replacing TPPs with SMRs envisions two models of deployment
Ukrainian SMR Industry
SMR vendors will find Ukraine an attractive country in which to establish manufacturing hubs and supply chains. In addition to the many overall advantages of deploying SMRs in Ukraine, the country also boasts some of the lowest costs of labor and manufacturing in Europe. This, coupled with Ukraine’s longstanding embrace of nuclear power, strong industrial and manufacturing sectors, highly educated population, and domestic and international political support, makes the country unrivalled in its potential to house SMR manufacturing facilities.
SMR Incubation and Development
To become commercially viable, emerging SMR technologies will require “proof of concept” prototypes and regulatory approvals. Ukraine offers SMR vendors a chance to incubate their technologies in a country that has robust and proven nuclear regulation and safety, and further, in which security requirements not necessary for SMRs will not slow down approval and certification processes. Building reference/prototype SMRs in Ukraine will be possible years ahead of those hoped for in the U.S. and U.K., as well as in other western countries. Following implementation of first projects, Ukraine has a large potential in SMR development and operation as the country is decarbonizing and meeting an increased energy demand in the period of recovery.
SMR Procurement
In addition to the development of partial or full SMR manufacturing and supply chains in Ukraine, and to the incubation of emerging SMR technologies, there may be opportunities for commercial engagements of smaller scope — the direct purchase and installation of fully equipped SMRs.
our vision
Denetek’s assumptions are that SMR technology developers want viable physical and regulatory locations to build prototypes and test their technologies, or to expand into new markets. We believe western government will support these efforts with advocacy, insurance and/or investment, and export licenses, in order to advance their commercial interests, climate goals, and foreign policies.
Denetek marshals private sector engagement and financing to develop SMRs on existing privately owned coal generation sites.
Eney LLC invests in decarbonization projects in Ukraine and other Eastern European and Central Asian countries.
These countries are ideal for decarbonization, uniquely able to incubate emerging technologies while achieving sizable emission reductions in carbon-intensive energy sectors.
Equipped with U.S. decarbonization technologies, these “low hanging fruit” will play a key role in Paris Agreement emission reductions, and also energy security.
Ukraine is an ideal country for early SMR deployment for numerous reasons:
Low hanging decarbonization fruit:
Almost 30% of Ukraine’s power generation is from coal, and 70% of its coal powered generation is private and thus more easily replaced
Easy politics:
Ukraine is a strongly pro-nuclear country with established nuclear infrastructure (e.g., for spent fuel), robust regulation, and proven expertise. It also has a population that demands low electricity prices above other competing interests.
Government support:
Meeting Ukraine’s ambitious 65% GHG emission reduction target by 2030 will require embracing transformative energy policies, which Ukraine’s government is doing. Power consumption drops due to the Russian invasion present an opportunity to replace TPPs with SMRs with fewer obstacles and fewer competing factors to be balanced.
Strategic international support:
Even before the war, Ukraine was promised Energy Transition support by the United States and Europe. Now, governments are lining up to provide Ukraine critical foreign assistance, financial aid, and technological support. This already includes the power sector, and will include nuclear technologies.
Practical implementation and siting:
Ukraine has little NIMBYism and lots of available land, and will be seeking to expeditiously rebuild itself both better and cleaner after the war. Regulatory approvals should move relatively quickly.
Commercial opportunities:
Ukraine’s March 2022 integration with Europe’s electricity network, ENTSO-E, has opened up huge potential for the export of clean Ukrainian power to Europe. Demand for clean power can only grow.
