Ukrainians are banned from air conditioning: why and whether it will help the energy sector
13 June 2024 12:45
The electricity situation in Ukraine remains difficult. Government officials are looking for ways to overcome the energy crisis provoked by large-scale missile attacks by the Russian Armed Forces on critical infrastructure. In this regard, private consumers and organisations have been asked to stop using air conditioners. How this will help the power industry and whether there are alternative ways, the [Kommersant].
What is the situation in Ukraine’s energy sector?
According [0]=AZX2Xc6M833NNLYIKHfBrzQCBCaUvPf3fCviBaLDHYLB2h0-X92xnQFnfa9nn9W0tyOq4_ND6ubN-947zPts7U0omhjA2Jgy5DSX_wJW5IbXqKDqAZ3QwT1dLus6-ZPTMjBQcv2iG1zdlKjIiVjq1JmhhgYMfx45AAMcHZPT05qCkKs01n4lKZdE7YvPY5ol4djTHwgUg4nb_H_4Fm4SKliV&__tn__=,O,P-R”>named three factors that are currently causing deterioration in the Ukrainian power system. These are:
- scheduled repairs of two nuclear power plant units;
- the consequences of Russian shelling of energy facilities;
- a projected increase in consumption due to the heatwave, as Ukrainians have started switching on air conditioners.
Who banned air conditioning for Ukrainians and why
The first call to switch off the air conditioners was made by YASNO director Serhiy Kovalenko.
“I understand that it is hot outside. But the history is such that even supplies to critical infrastructure facilities can be interrupted during emergencies. Ukrenergo is talking about this. Think about it the next time you switch on the air conditioner,” Kovalenko wrote on his Facebook page.
A few days later, Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk made a similar request to Ukrainians during a national telethon.
“Air conditioners are one of the most energy-intensive household appliances. In particular, like boilers and others. We urge the population, households and businesses to minimise their use or not use them at all,” Kolisnyk said.
The official urged Ukrainians to use other options for cooling the premises, but did not name specific ones.
And on Friday, 7 June, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during a national telethon that air conditioning would be banned in Ukraine for the entire summer in government agencies and businesses.
How much energy is needed to run air conditioners
Home temperature control devices, such as air conditioners and heaters, are the leading consumers of electricity in the home.
In addition, the list of electrical appliances that consume the most energy includes
- air conditioner – 2-3 kW;
- electric kettle – 1.5-2 kW;
- washing machine – 2-2.5 kW;
- vacuum cleaner – 0.5-1.5 kW;
- boiler – 2-3 kW;
- iron – 0.5-1.5 kW;
- refrigerator – 0.3-0.6 kW;
- microwave oven – 1.5-2 kW;
- tV – 0.1-0.4 kW;
- computer – 0.4-0.8 kW.
Air conditioning ban: are there any alternative opinions?
It should be noted that not everyone shares the position of the Cabinet of Ministers and Ukrenergo regarding the ban on air conditioning.
For example, Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Energy Research Centre, believes that the growth in energy consumption is more affected by large air conditioners used by businesses than by individual ones.
“Individual air conditioners also add their weight, but there are a large number of businesses that actively use cooling during the heatwave, and some of them cannot refuse this cooling,” Kharchenko said.
The director of the Energy Research Centre explained that despite the fact that air conditioners consume more energy, businesses cannot refuse to use them for a number of technical reasons.
“If you produce food or medicines, you can’t have 30 degrees in the meat production shop. There are technological things that have to be done,” he said.
Georgiy Tuka, former Deputy Minister for TOT and IDPs, disagrees with the idea that a ban on air conditioning will help to improve the difficult situation in the energy sector.
“Okay, you ban officials from switching on air conditioning, but how are you going to control it? How are you going to punish violations of your resolution?” said Tuka.
According to him, the ban on air conditioning for state institutions “resembles China’s war with sparrows”.
