Energy decentralization is one of the priority tasks for transforming Ukraine’s energy system, with the aim of strengthening energy sustainability and the security of electricity supply to consumers. This is foreseen at the level of strategic planning both for the near future, in particular for preparing for the heating season, and for the further development of the energy industry in the long term.
In general, community energy efficiency and renewable energy sources (RES) development vary greatly depending on the region and the level of organization in the communities themselves. However, a steady trend towards increasing energy efficiency and RES development over the previous five years can be noted. The decentralization reform, the creation of communities as administrative-territorial units, and, accordingly, the decentralization of funding significantly impacted this.
Developing and implementing microgrid projects at the municipal level is only possible with cooperation with local System Service Operators (SSOs). Local electric networks (both within one community and regionally) are technologically interconnected to solve the main common task – providing a reliable electricity supply to consumers under any conditions (modes of operation). At the same time, it is necessary to observe the balance of electricity generation and consumption in the power system using appropriate accounting and dispatching (management). With the increase in the number of generating units in the unified energy system and its decentralization, there is a need for dispatching at the regional level and when microgrids are operating in the island mode – at the local level. These tasks make it possible to solve modern solutions due to the implementation of “smart” networks.
This means that effective microgrid models in Ukraine can be spread only when the concept of “smart grids” is simultaneously implemented. Renewable energies and local microgrids also offer benefits, such as economic opportunities and job creation for communities in rural areas, by opening up new sources of income.
In our new report, “Challenges and opportunities for the development of distributed generation and microgrids in communities”, you can read about the technical aspects of the introduction of microgrids, recommendations for communities planning the development of microgrids at the municipal level, and issues that should be considered when developing the concept of creating a microgrid.
