Green energy under occupation: the scale of Ukraine’s losses
6 August 2024 12:54
The Center for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) has conducted a large-scale study of the state of renewable energy facilities in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Its results show Ukraine’s catastrophic losses in the green energy sector, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, due to Russian aggression, the country has lost control of 90% of wind and 45-50% of solar energy. In particular, two of the ten largest solar power plants (SPPs) in Ukraine and Eastern Europe are located in the occupied territories.
In Zaporizhzhia region, 10 large and medium-sized SPPs are under occupation. Among them is the 50 MW Tomak Solar Energy plant, which, according to co-owner Oleksandr Repkin, was partially damaged by shelling and lost about 20% of its capacity. The company’s other plant in the village of Nove suffered significant damage due to its proximity to the frontline.
In Kherson region, 23 solar power plants are occupied. Two of the largest, covering almost 50 hectares each and producing up to 40 MW, are located in the villages of Kostohryzove and Vynohradove in Oleshky district. Both have significant damage from the fighting. The 16 MW Oleshkivska SPP was completely destroyed.
Ukraine’s largest wind farms – DTEK’s Orlivka, Botievo and Prymorska wind farms with a total capacity of 400 MW – have also been seized by the occupiers. The Russian military has set up a training ground on the territory of Botievo wind farm. The Prymorska wind farm with 52 General Electric wind turbines has been operating since August 2023, although two wind turbines have been damaged.
In the Kherson region, Russians seized 200 wind turbines from Swedish businessman Carl Sturen‘s Windcraft group. These wind turbines are located along the coast of Syvash and the Black Sea from Crimea to Skadovsk.
The occupation authorities announced the resumption of two SPPs in Zaporizhzhia region – in Yakymivka and Melitopol, with a total capacity of about 60 MW.
The journalists drew special attention to the fact that the seized green energy facilities are controlled by the Russian company Rosseti, headed by Andrey Ryumin, Viktor Medvedchuk’s son-in-law. All the electricity produced is fed into the Russian unified grid.
Green energy in Ukraine before and after the full-scale invasion
In 2021, renewable energy sources accounted for about 13% of Ukraine’s energy generation, with hydroelectric power plants and solar power plants accounting for 5% each, wind power plants for 2%, and biopower plants for 1%. In total, this amounted to about 10GW. Investments in the sector reached USD 12 billion.
At the same time, “green” energy has traditionally been the most expensive, so to stimulate it, the government introduced a “green tariff” in 2009. This tariff was higher than the market price of electricity, but the state bought green energy at this rate. Gradually, the government reduced this tariff in order to bring it to market value in 2030. According to the plan, in 2030, the share of electricity generation from renewable sources was to reach 25-30%.
According to Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko, after the full-scale Russian invasion and by the end of October 2022, Ukraine had lost (“decommissioned”) about three-quarters of its wind power and half of its solar power.
