The article presents discussion on the state and prospects of bioenergy development in the context of rationalization of energy crops application as resource potential of Ukraine. Along with the development of society and increase of life intensity, the needs of mankind with regard to energy resources are increasing. The reduction rates of traditional types of energy resources are progressively growing, and their shortage is increasing. In addition, Ukraine belongs to import-dependent countries in the energy sector. At the expense of its own sources, our country provides only about half of the energy needs, while domestic national economy is one of the most energy-intensive industries in the world. In this regard, there is an urgent need to search for new, alternative sources of energy. Taking into account the potential present in Ukraine, the biomass use for energy production is the most attractive option. However, along with this, there is a problem of purposeful use of the agricultural land and a competitive struggle between agricultural products for nutrition and energy purposes. At the same time, many problems arise, which concerdevelopment of an appropriate legislative framework, methodological approaches to the economic, environmental and social efficiency of production and use of biological types of energy.

The paper summarises and analyzes the methodological bases of marketing research of the bioenergy market. One of the key elements of such research is the study of the environment in which the biofuel manufacturer operates. The article examines SWOT and PEST analyses as marketing research methods and tools of Ukraine’s bioenergy market. The process of implementing marketing research in the biofuels market is investigated, and the impact of macro factors on the results of current and future activities of the industry is considered and evaluated. environment in which the biofuel manufacturer operates. The article examines SWOT and PEST analyses as marketing research methods and tools of Ukraine’s bioenergy market. The process of implementing marketing research in the biofuels market is investigated, and the impact of macro factors on the results of current and future activities of the industry is considered and evaluated.

Over the past decade, we have observed an increased use of renewable energy sources based on agricultural commodities. It is stimulated by a wide range of political tools in developed countries and leads to the linkage of agricultural markets with energy markets even in the countries which do not have own peculiar policies regarding renewable energy. In this context, the purpose of the paper is to assess the linkage between corn and wheat prices in Ukraine and Brent crude oil prices. The price analysis was carried out on the basis of monthly data covering the period between January 2001 and December 2018 with the use of ARDL-ECM models and bound tests approach. The obtained results indicate time varying relationships between the Ukrainian grain prices and the world crude oil prices. The strongest price linkage was observed between 2008 and 2013, a period characterised by a substantial increase in bioethanol production, low grains inventory levels and high crude oil prices. It should be noted that reaching planned mandatory blending levels in most countries promoting biofuel policy and relatively low crude oil prices does not constitute a motivation to increase the use of cereals for biofuel production. The increase of stocks in the world grain markets also contributes to reducing the strength of price connections.

Development of the world economy requires energy supply, which under stable growth must be based on alternative energy resources. Bioenergy is an integral part of energy security supply in volatile countries. It can satisfy a considerable part of energy demand of agribusinesses and other companies as well as facilitate problem-shooting in energy, ecological and social sectors in some regions. Enhancing bioenergy in Ukraine is one of the strategic ways in the development of the alternative energy sector, taking into account high volatility of the country and significant potential of biomass available for energy production. This research intends to determine conditions and mechanisms of development and functioning of bioenergy clusters based on preliminary specification of the bioenergy potential of the territories, taking into account modern marketing approaches. This article contains evaluation of the bioenergy production growth in countries such as China, Germany, France, the USA, Canada, Brazil and Ukraine. The feasibility of the cluster approach for Ukrainian bioenergy development has been proved. In order to combine Ukrainian regions according to all types of energy resources the authors applied the method of clustering analysis. The key point of the method implies that, based on the given set of indicators which are defined as the main characteristics of the object, every object of the population belongs to a similar class. Therefore, in order to study the efficiency of usage of bioenergy resources in a particular region, it is necessary to classify a set of indicators to identify standard forms. To systemize Ukrainian regions, the Isodata algorithm Isodata, based on the types of the economic and energy potential of biomass, is taken into account. To implement the analysis, the following indicators are considered: the biomass energy potential of primary cell waste, the biomass energy potential of trimming, the biomass energy potential of refining, the energy potential of wooden biomass, the mold biomass potential, the energy potential of bioenergy crops, the corn energy potential (biogas). Market players organize groups with regard to their industries, territories and other factors, namely clusters which are likely to become effective tools in while carrying out scale projects under tough competition. In the minor energy sector cooperation between research and manufacturing enterprises, which satisfies energy needs both of cities and individual customers, is growing. This approach perfectly meets all requirements of the regional development of Ukrainian bioenergy. The main goal of bioenergy clusters is to develop competitive advantages of regions by increasing all types of biomass and biofuel production. This implies the following priorities: creation of a database of agribusiness enterprises, which potentially are members of the cluster and corresponding infrastructure, establishment of marketing communications in order to inform members and potential investors about bioenergy advantages, introduction of regional databases by means of webpages, newsletters, public discussions etc., enhanced vocational training of bioenergy industry employees and investment attraction to finance bioenergy projects. As a result, the authors of the paper propose a classification of Ukrainian regions based on the indicators of the economic energy potential of wastes and energy crops in agribusinesses, which is the basis for cluster formation. Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Khmelnitsky and Chernihiv regions refer to the first type with the biggest bioenergy potential, which makes it possible to create 2 energy clusters by combining central-west and north-east regions. Such a methodology gives an opportunity to satisfy the needs of the regions and districts which need additional energy resources taken from own biomass. Priority tasks of the bioenergy cluster include: development of the database of agribusiness entities which potentially are the cluster members and corresponding infrastructure, informing members and investors about bioenergy benefits, creation of the regional information database identifying the resources, capacity and the transport system, vocational training, investment attraction in order to implement bioenergy projects. Based on clusters, economic relations build up a competitive and sound investment climate to support the economy, which, in turn, provides high living standards. The authors have defined the procedure for exercising the cluster initiative and determined the structure of marketing support for cluster projects.

The paper aims to present and assess the current situation of bioenergy production in Ukraine as well as provide insights into its development in the future. It is argued that the great potential of the Ukrainian agrarian sector could ensure not only food needs, but also could become a main source of production and accumulation of bioenergy in agro ecosystems. Under this perspective it can further the increase of energy safety.