In the context of Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure of Ukraine, the generation is distributed as an important tool for providing cities with electricity and heat. In November 2024, the first cogeneration gas plant with a 1.5 MW capacity was launched in Kyiv, which should become part of the new energy concept of the capital.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko noted that the city plans to buy another 15 such installations and reach a total capacity of about 170 MW during the year. According to him, this will create local sources of combined heat and electricity production, as well as facilitate the transition to alternative sources of fuel.
The distributed generation involves the creation of a network of small energy facilities that can work regardless of the centralized system. They combine various energy sources, such as gas turbines, solar panels, winds, batteries, and cogeneration units that can simultaneously produce heat and electricity. According to experts, this allows you to provide critical infrastructure (water supply, heating, hospitals) even during large -scale accidents in the central power system.
"But it is important to understand that small installations with a capacity of 1.5-20 MW are not entirely distributed generation. They rather play the role of an island or point generation, which works autonomously and is not part of a large power system," explains Yuriy Korolchuk, an expert at the Institute of Energy Strategies.
Ukraine is already gaining support from international partners. For example, USAID transferred a 28 MW gas turbine installation, which was commissioned in 2023 in the summer of 2023. But even in this case, it took a year and a half to install and adjust the station.
Despite the challenges, distributed generation can be an important element of Ukraine's energy strategy. Although such projects are currently being implemented, they play a key role in supporting vital infrastructure.
Distributed generation is an important tool for increasing the stability of Ukraine's grid. However, its efficiency depends on the extent of the implementation, diversification of fuel sources and integration into the national power grid. According to government plans, this system requires significant investment and time, but can be a decisive factor in overcoming energy crises in war.
