Distributed generation: business is ready to build, and banks are not averse to financing
14 February 08:49
Between June 1, 2024, and February 2, 2025, banks received 3,685 applications from businesses for lending to energy infrastructure restoration projects totaling UAH 75 billion and started financing projects worth UAH 13.2 billion. This was reported by the National Bank of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
As it is known, in June last year, 20 banks signed a memorandum of understanding to finance energy recovery.
According to a survey of 20 banks in January alone:
190 applications from businesses worth UAH 2.1 billion were received;
70 applications worth UAH 2.2 billion were approved;
125 loans totaling UAH 2.7 billion were granted.
The NBU also calculated that the total generation capacity financed since June under the loans granted to businesses is more than 530 mW. The largest amounts of funds have been allocated for the purchase and installation of gas-piston cogeneration units (215 mW), construction of solar power plants (151 mW), and purchase of diesel and gasoline generators (122 mW). Projects are being financed in 21 regions of the country.
Banks are also lending to households. In January, 438 loans for energy needs amounting to UAH 74 million were disbursed to individuals, and since June, a total of 5708 loans amounting to UAH 731 million have been disbursed. The gross portfolio of loans to individuals for these purposes, including repayments, amounts to UAH 624 million.
Help yourself and help others
The day before, an online discussion was held on the creation and operation of distributed generation. It was organized by the UN Global Compact in Ukraine together with ExPro Consulting as part of the Ukraine Energy Initiative.
And it was there that Ukrenergo CEO Oleksii Brekht made an interesting proposal addressed to entrepreneurs. According to the official, electricity generation facilities installed by business and industry as backup power sources for their own needs should also operate in the electricity market. According to Oleksiy Brekht, this approach will bring additional economic benefits to the owners of these facilities, and the power system will receive additional sources of covering the power shortage.
According to the Ministry of Energy, which coordinates the process of creating distributed generation, the total capacity of distributed gas generation units connected as of December 31, 2024, amounted to 967 MW. Of these, 835 MW were commissioned in 2024.
