Renewable energy generation has been maintaining power supply in Ukraine through the ongoing Russian invasion.
With the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on the global energy market well documented, RePower Ukraine has been working to maintain power supply on the ground by installing solar PV and battery storage.
The charitable organisation was founded in 2022 by Ukraine’s largest solar energy companies. In the face of Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, it aimed to provide stable energy solutions to hospitals, stabilisation points, and municipalities.
One such project was the installation of a 30kW solar array, comprising 54 panels and a 43kWh backup power system, at Kharkiv Children’s Hospital. The hospital had been facing power outages due to shelling in the region.
The solar-based power plant will provide uninterrupted power to the palliative care unit, rehabilitation departments, and neurological inpatient unit, even in the absence of external power and at night. RePower Ukraine initiated, managed and implemented the rooftop PV, which is designed for self-consumption.
Chinese company Jinko provided solar panels, inverters and batteries for the project free of charge. Financial support came from several sources, including Scottish group Raasay Community Renewables, which fundraised alongside its local primary school.
UK-based solar installer Photon Energy is now working with distributor Midsummer Wholesale to fundraise for RePower Ukraine. Midsummer has also donated two battery stacks for two other Ukrainian hospitals.
The international ambassador of the RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation in the UK, Nick Arnold, told Solar Power Portal: “Our next project for Slobozhanske Hospital will bring much-needed power to the hospital so that it can continue its vital work in the most difficult of conditions.
“Our partners at Midsummer Wholesale and Photon Energy have generously supported this project with fundraising, materials and design expertise, but we still need funds to complete it.”
Aid from UK companies is being facilitated thanks to a memorandum of understanding RePower signed with solar trade body Solar Energy UK in October 2024. Acknowledging the foundation’s need for donations of money, mobile battery energy storage systems, solar water pumps, portable solar power banks and equipment, the agreement committed to supporting the implementation of photovoltaic and battery storage projects in Ukraine.
When it announced the MoU, Solar Energy UK said: “Solar Energy UK members have already made vital donations to RePower worth tens of thousands of pounds. To name but some, these include major distributors Segen, Midsummer and Waxman.”
Commenting at the time, the chief executive of Solar Energy UK, Chris Hewett, pointed out that as well as a response to the “catastrophic impact of the war on Ukraine’s most vulnerable people”, RePower Ukraine’s work is “about recognising how Putin’s invasion led to the energy price crisis, further underlining the need for rapid decarbonisation”.
Arnold added that, although not a member of Solar Energy UK, Gore Street Capital is a “very generous supporter”, having “recognised how important battery storage is to our projects and that it was a great humanitarian project to support.”
Retraining with greener skills
The charitable foundation’s longer-term aim is to foster Ukraine’s energy independence so that, post-war, it moves away from its historical dependence on Russian natural gas, oil and uranium.
As it does in the UK, this transition requires trained installers and designers, and the relative novelty of the technology opens up a skills gap. To that end, another function RePower Ukraine has taken on has been training and launching an educational programme covering solar energy fundamentals, PV system design and setup, risk management, software proficiency, safety regulations and project management.
It spearheaded the ‘Solar Start’ scheme to provide offline and online courses in solar plant design and installation, tailoring the scheme to be accessible to those with concussions or amputations. Once the course is completed, the charity also provides employment assistance.
More recently, it opened applications for a free training course for veterans, ‘Solar ReStart’, for veterans discharged from service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Not only can this serve to train a new workforce to support Ukraine’s energy independence, but it also provides much-needed support for soldiers re-adjusting to life away from the frontline.
Acknowledging that renewable energy will play a crucial role in ensuring energy security and sustainability for the nation, RePower anticipates a shift in Ukraine towards decentralised (and thus more resilient) energy systems. The nation has strong potential for wind and solar generation.
Head of RePower’s project department, Iryna Zahorodnia, commented: “Hospitals need power to carry out their work and save lives. Understanding this, we strive to provide reliable and sustainable energy solutions for healthcare facilities, ensuring they can continue operating even in the most challenging circumstances.
“Our educational initiatives focus on fostering workforce development in Ukraine, creating long-term opportunities for growth and innovation.”
