In the future, the energy map of Ukraine will be changed. Instead of 20 large power plants, there will be a network of 100-200 smaller power shunting units distributed throughout the country. This transformation will be carried out with the help of gas plants, biofuel thermal plants and energy storage systems.
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chairman of the board of PJSC NEC Ukrenergo, spoke about this transition. According to him, new distributed generation projects are already actively developing. The main focus is on projects to install energy storage systems, which are standard for developed countries such as Europe, the USA and Japan. These changes involve the complete or almost complete replacement of existing thermal generating capacities.
However, the transition does not involve a simple replacement of one type of energy for another. Instead, the plan is to create a network that will include a variety of energy sources, such as industrial wind turbines, solar panels and gas stations. For example, instead of one large thermal power plant with a capacity of 1000 MW, 100 small plants of 10 MW each will be deployed. This will change the structure of the energy market and the architecture of the energy system.
As for nuclear energy, it will remain the basis of Ukrainian generation, but at the same time renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power plants, will be actively developed. According to Kudrytskyi, these sources are economically more profitable compared to other sources.
The transition to decentralized generation has another important aspect - improving the country's energy security. According to Kudrytsky, the increase in the number of small power plants of various types makes the system less vulnerable to possible threats.
Already in the last two years, Ukrenergo has approved the technical conditions for the connection of 1.2 GW storage facilities, which indicates the great interest of private investors in this sector. Kudrytskyi is sure that we will see the first system already this year, since putting storage systems into operation takes much less time compared to other energy sources.
In the meantime, Ukrenergo specialists focus on ensuring the reliability of power supply to nuclear plants, as confirmed by the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Despite temporary difficulties, the energy system is working at the maximum level, and specialists are doing everything possible to restore normal power.
