Ukraine’s state energy companies plan to install an additional 400 megawatts (MW) of distributed gas generation by the end of 2025, Deputy Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said during a government Q&A session in parliament on Friday.
Distributed energy generation, as opposed to centralized energy generation, makes use of a number of smaller power sources to generate power nearer its intended destination – reducing the need to transmit energy over long distances from a central power station.
“All state-owned energy companies are implementing distributed generation projects, primarily gas-based,” Ukrinform quoted Hrynchuk. “As of today, a significant capacity of such units has already been installed by state companies. By the end of the year, an additional 400 MW will be installed by these state enterprises.”
Russia is intensifying its efforts to disrupt Ukraine’s energy system ahead of the winter season, aiming to weaken the country’s resilience and strain civilian infrastructure as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth year.
By targeting critical energy assets, Moscow hopes to undermine Ukraine’s capacity to sustain both its population and its war effort throughout the colder months.
In response, Ukraine is stepping up efforts to secure energy stability ahead of winter. In particular, state energy companies are diversifying power sources, expanding distributed generation.
So far, over a gigawatt (GW) of distributed generation projects in Ukraine has been financed for construction next year, Hrynchuk said.
In addition to state initiatives, private sector projects are also contributing to Ukraine’s energy diversification.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is financing the Power One project, a distributed generation initiative involving Dragon Capital and N. This project aims to enhance energy security through small-scale generation solutions.
Ukrainian agrifood company MHP has commissioned 18 MW of cogeneration units and 15 MW of solar power plants for its own needs. The company plans to decide on the construction of a 60 MW wind farm by March 2025, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
In September, Ukraine’s energy giant DTEK also launched the country’s largest battery storage project – a 200 megawatt (MW) system to stabilize the grid. The project consists of six battery storage systems. Ranging from 20 to 50 MW each, the systems are connected to the power grid in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.