Electricity in Ukraine

Electricity production fell from 296 TWh in 1991 to 171 TWh in 1999, then increased slowly to 195 TWh in 2007, before falling again.{{cite web |date=February 2017 |title=Nuclear Power in Ukraine |url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/ukraine.aspx |access-date=21 February 2017 |publisher=World Nuclear Association}} In 2014, consumption was 134 TWh after transmission losses of 20 TWh, with peak demand at about 28 GWe. 8 TWh was exported to Europe. In 2015 electricity production fell to about 146 TWh largely due to a fall in anthracite coal supplies caused by the War in Donbass.{{cite news |date=17 February 2017 |title=Poroshenko: Ukraine increasing nuclear share to 60% |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Poroshenko-Ukraine-to-increase-nuclear-share-to-60-17021701.html |access-date=21 February 2017 |publisher=World Nuclear News}}{{cite news |date=16 February 2017 |title=Poroshenko: Share of nuclear power grows to 60% amid blockade of trade with Donbas |url=https://www.unian.info/economics/1781662-poroshenko-share-of-nuclear-power-grows-to-60-amid-blockade-of-trade-with-donbas.html |access-date=21 February 2017 |newspaper=UNIAN}}

In July 2019, a new wholesale energy market was launched, intended to bring real competition in the generation market and help future integration with Europe. The change was a prerequisite for receiving European Union assistance. It led to in increased price for industrial consumers of between 14% and 28% during July. The bulk of Energoatom output is sold to the government's "guaranteed buyer" to keep prices more stable for domestic customers.

{{See also|Ukrenergo}}

Since 2017 Ukraine sought to divest itself of dependency on the Unified Power System of Russia (UPS) and instead connect westwards to the synchronous grid of Continental Europe, thereby participating in European electricity markets.{{cite journal|url=https://www.swp-berlin.org/10.18449/2021C57 |title=Connecting Ukraine to Europe's Electricity Grid |publisher=Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik |date=24 November 2021 |access-date=17 March 2022|doi=10.18449/2021C57 |last1=Feldhaus |first1=Lukas |last2=Westphal |first2=Kirsten |last3=Zachmann |first3=Georg |journal=SWP Comment }}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/europe-ukraines-plan-link-power-grids-2022-03-01/ |title=Explainer: Europe and Ukraine's plan to link power grids |last1=Abnett |first1=Kate |last2=Strzelecki |first2=Marek |publisher=Reuters |url-access=subscription |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=1 April 2022}} Power lines coupling the country to the grids of neighbouring Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary existed, but were de-energised.

A necessary prerequisite of Ukrainian integration was for the country to successfully demonstrate it was capable of running in a islanded manner, maintaining satisfactory control of its own frequency. To do that would require disconnection from the UPS grid, and a date of 24 February 2022 was set. This proved to be the date Russia invaded Ukraine, but the disconnection nonetheless proceeded to schedule. Ukraine placed an urgent request to synchronise with the European grid to ENTSO-E, the European collective of transmission system operators of which it was a member, and on 16 March 2022 the western circuits were energised, bringing both Ukraine and Moldova, which is coupled to the Ukrainian grid, into the European synchronised grid.{{cite web |url=https://www.entsoe.eu/news/2022/03/16/continental-europe-successful-synchronisation-with-ukraine-and-moldova-power-systems/ |title=Continental Europe successful synchronisation with Ukraine and Moldova power systems |publisher=ENTSO-E |date=16 March 2022 |access-date=17 March 2022}}{{Cite journal|last1=Böttcher |first1=Philipp C. |last2=Gorjão |first2=Leonardo Rydin |last3=Beck |first3=Christian |last4=Jumar |first4=Richard |last5=Maass |first5=Heiko |last6=Hagenmeyer |first6=Veit |last7=Witthaut |first7=Dirk |last8=Schäfer |first8=Benjamin |title=Initial analysis of the impact of the Ukrainian power grid synchronization with Continental Europe |journal=Energy Advances |date=2023|volume=2 |pages=91–97 |doi=10.1039/D2YA00150K |arxiv=2204.07508 }}{{cite news |title=Ukraine joins European power grid, ending its dependence on Russia |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-european-power-grid-russia/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |work=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |issue=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316225624/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-european-power-grid-russia/ |archive-date=16 March 2022}} On 16 March 2022 a trial synchronisation started of the Ukraine and Moldova grid with the European grid.

{{Excerpt|Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure (2022–present)}}

As of 2024 peak demand cannot be met. More flexible demand, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, could help smooth peaks.

{{See also|Renewable energy in Ukraine|Distributed generation}}Ukrenergo has suggested that hundreds of small power plants should be built to enhance energy security.{{Cite web |title=Strengthening Ukraine's Electricity System {{!}} CSIS Events |url=https://www.csis.org/events/strengthening-ukraines-electricity-system |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.csis.org |language=en}}

{{excerpt|Nuclear power in Ukraine}}

{{excerpt|Hydroelectricity in Ukraine}}

Many small gas-turbine generators are used, as these are more difficult to attack than large gas-fired or coal-fired power plants.{{Cite news |title=Russia destroyed Ukraine's energy sector, so it's being rebuilt green |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/05/ukraine-green-power-rebuild-energy/}} Up to 700 MW of gas peakers may be installed before 2030.{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian government approves National Renewable Energy Action Plan, 110 MW RES auction, and contest to construct 700 MW of high maneuverable generation |url=https://www.dentons.com/en/insights/articles/2024/august/20/ukrainian-government-approves-national-renewable-energy-action-plan |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.dentons.com |language=en}}

File:Electrical Power Grid - Ukraine.png

About 2 GW can flow with neighbouring countries.{{Cite web |title=Commission welcomes increased electricity export capacity to Ukraine and Moldova |url=https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-welcomes-increased-electricity-export-capacity-ukraine-and-moldova-2024-10-29_en |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=energy.ec.europa.eu |language=en}} There is a 750 kV link with Hungary.{{Cite report |title= Six options to boost power transfers from Continental Europe to Ukraine, for the next two winters|url=https://greendealukraina.org/assets/images/reports/grid-solutions-ukraine-next-winters-final.pdf}}{{Rp|page=6}} It has been suggested that the 220 kV link with Poland be improved and that interconnection with Slovakia be built sooner.{{Rp|page=5}} There are five 110 kV interconnections with Moldova, but they could be better used.{{Rp|page=5}}

Due to the large share of nuclear balancing the grid is particularly difficult during peak demand, which is in the morning and evening due to retail demand.{{Cite news |title=Ukrainians find new energy sources to beat blackouts as winter arrives |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainians-find-new-energy-sources-beat-blackouts-winter-arrives-2024-12-03/}} Peak demand can reach 18 GW in winter, or 19 in cold winters. DTEK is building more storage,{{Cite web |last=Ellichipuram |first=Umesh |date=2024-09-13 |title=DTEK to invest $155m in 200MW energy storage systems |url=https://www.power-technology.com/news/dtek-energy-storage-systems/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Power Technology |language=en-US}} to improve ancillary services such as frequency control.{{Cite web |title=BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FOR UKRAINE |url=https://www.energy-community.org/dam/jcr:52b4dd20-7127-4534-84da-76e16605b40b/E13%20DTEK%20BESS%20225MW%20%202024-04-18_TEN-E_rev2.pdf}} The IEA says that capacity limits on links from neighbouring countries should be increased, and that more decentralised generation and batteries should be installed for energy security.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-17 |title=Empowering Ukraine Through a Decentralised Electricity System – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/empowering-ukraine-through-a-decentralised-electricity-system |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}} They recommend more off-grid and mini-grid. Both transmission and distribution have been attacked,{{Cite report|date=September 2024|title=Ukraine's Energy Security and the Coming Winter – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/ukraines-energy-security-and-the-coming-winter |website=International Energy Agency}} and shelters have been built to protect substations from attack.{{Cite news |title=Ukraine energy chief ousted in 'politically motivated' move |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1902d9ed-d6c6-42d8-b58c-be985dc11ce7 |access-date=2024-09-04 |newspaper=Financial Times|date=3 September 2024 |last1=Koshiw |first1=Isobel }}{{Cite web |last=Kottasová |first=Ivana |date=2024-08-27 |title=How Ukrainians learned to live with wartime blackouts |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/27/world/facing-constant-threat-of-russian-strikes-on-their-energy-grid-ukrainians-have-learned-to-live-with-blackouts/index.html |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=CNN |language=en}} More storage is being installed.{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Kelvin |date=2024-10-01 |title=Yuliana Onishchuk: The gamechanger on a mission for Ukraine |url=https://www.enlit.world/decarbonisation/yuliana-onishchuk-meet-the-gamechanger-on-a-mission-for-ukraine/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Enlit World |language=en-GB}}

The IEA said in 2024:

"As the share of generation on the distribution network increases, distribution utilities will need to play a greater role in the planning, operation and supervision of the power system. This will require capacity building for utilities to be able to fulfil their evolving role in a more decentralised power system. In terms of planning, this would involve Ukrainian energy sector stakeholders shifting from a traditional supply-side approach to one that is more integrated and coordinated, involving actors from across the energy sector as well as across the electricity supply chain. Given the increasingly decentralised nature of the power system, it is essential that the Transmission System Operators (TSO) and the Distribution System Operators (DSOs) work in close collaboration, while policy makers and regulators need to take steps to clearly redefine the roles and responsibilities of DSOs towards a reliable and efficient power system."

The IEA has published a roadmap for Ukraine's increased use of distributed energy resources (DERs) towards 2030 which says:{{Cite web |date=2024-12-17 |title=Empowering Ukraine Through a Decentralised Electricity System – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/empowering-ukraine-through-a-decentralised-electricity-system |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}{{Rp|page=19}}

"Scaling up DERs requires robust financial incentives, while maintaining affordability and equity as core priorities. This involves two key elements: First, market design must enable broader participation of small-scale and distributed resources, such as batteries and small gas turbines, in wholesale electricity and ancillary services markets. Second, consumer tariffs should be structured to incentivise efficient electricity consumption, the deployment of behind-the-meter DERs like rooftop solar and batteries, and the operation of these resources in ways that deliver system-wide benefits."

In 2024 the price to householders was said to be about half the market price, and it has been suggested that to encourage energy saving and energy efficiency the subsidy should only apply to energy poor households and/or a certain minimum consumption.{{Cite web |title=Investors once again asked to buy into Ukrainian renewable energy |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/eet/news/investors-once-again-asked-to-buy-into-ukrainian-renewable-energy/}}

DTEK has started installing smart meters.{{Cite web |title=Why a decentralized grid is central to Ukraine's efforts to rebuild |url=https://www.latitudemedia.com/news/whats-behind-ukraines-strategic-shift-toward-distributed-energy |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Latitude Media |language=en}} Central and city government is subsidizing rooftop solar installation.

• [https://app.electricitymap.org/zone/UA Live electricity import and export] Electricity Map Live built by Tomorrow

{{reflist|2}}

{{Europe topic|Electricity sector in}}