Ukraine, 3 years after the start of the war: how decentralized solar solutions help resist Russian attacks

Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, almost two-thirds of the country’s electricity production capacity has been destroyed, plunging the Ukrainian population into an unprecedented energy crisis. Faced with this situation, Electriciens sans frontières has deployed decentralized solar solutions to ensure a reliable, renewable energy supply to essential infrastructures such as hospitals, schools and pumping stations.

This article explores how, in three years of war, Electriciens sans frontières has helped to strengthen Ukraine’s energy resilience and maintain access to vital services for the population. (➡️ Full press kit available here.)

The Russian invasion has not only disrupted the daily lives of Ukrainians, but has also made their critical infrastructures extremely vulnerable. Attacks mainly target power plants, plunging regions into continuous blackouts, especially in winter. Each power cut not only disrupts health and education services, but also compromises access to drinking water. It is in this difficult context that decentralized solar solutions come into play.

Shortly after the start of the war, Electriciens sans frontières deployed hybrid solutions to ensure a reliable power supply in critical areas. These installations are made up of solar panels coupled with energy storage systems (batteries), guaranteeing a stable supply even in the absence of a centralized power grid. The project is aimed at vital infrastructures such as hospitals, schools and water pumping stations.

Hybrid solutions offer a strategic response to the challenges of war. Unlike large power plants vulnerable to air attack, small decentralized solar units are much harder to target, making them far more resilient in the face of Russian strikes.

The project is supported by the Crisis and Support Center of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The main aim of the project is to guarantee an autonomous energy supply for essential structures, thus ensuring their smooth operation in the short, medium and long term. The infrastructures selected by Electriciens sans frontières include :

Hospitals:

to ensure the operation of vital medical equipment, such as oxygen generators and intensive care machines.

Schools:

to give children access to education even during prolonged power cuts.

Pumping stations:

to ensure the supply of drinking water, particularly in areas affected by attacks.

Electriciens sans frontières ‘ expertise in energy management and critical infrastructures makes our NGO a key player in providing appropriate and resilient solutions to the crisis.

Electriciens sans frontières volunteers play a central role in the success of this project. Caroline Simon, a retired EDF engineer and experienced volunteer, is one of the many people involved in the Ukraine mission.

She recounts her experience:

Experienced volunteers, such as Caroline, take delivery of the installations, ensuring their conformity and guaranteeing their smooth operation. This crucial step is essential to ensure that the hybrid installations perfectly meet the needs of the local population.

Thanks to the mobilization of our volunteers, financial and operational partners, more than 90 structures have been equipped with hybrid solar solutions, representing an installed capacity of around 2 MWp. These installations have not only strengthened the energy resilience of hospitals, schools and pumping stations, but have also offered a long-term, sustainable solution.

After three years of war, Electriciens sans frontières remains more committed than ever to supporting Ukraine on its road to reconstruction.

Continuing its efforts to strengthen energy self-sufficiency in Ukraine, Electriciens sans frontières is delighted with the start-up of the Phénix project, supported by the French Development Agency (AFD). This ambitious project aims to support the country’s energy reconstruction, while focusing on sustainable, low-carbon solutions.

In concrete terms, the Phénix project will result in :

➡️ Equipping 10 essential structures, such as health centers, schools and small farms, spread across several oblasts in western Ukraine, with low-carbon decentralized solar solutions, to improve their operation and guarantee the necessary services for the inhabitants.
➡️ Capacity-building for local players (beneficiaries, authorities, partner civil society organizations (CSOs)) to ensure ownership of this theme and encourage more environmentally-friendly reconstruction in the long term.

In this way, Electriciens sans frontières continues to play a key role in Ukraine’s energy transition, ensuring that the solutions implemented are not only efficient, but also sustainable and adapted to local needs.