MND, a Czech-Ukrainian joint venture, has completed the construction of its first wind power plant in Ukraine, WF Oriv.
The 59MW joint project (pictured), between KKCG’s Czech subsidiary and Ukrainian company Eco-optima, was completed amidst major difficulties related to the war, with an investment of more than €60m.
WF Oriv consists of 10 turbines installed at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the west of the country.
Construction of the wind farm began in September 2021, and though Russian aggression delayed the project, it did not stop it.
The original completion date was set for August 2022, but with a full-scale war, the ambitious plan could not be achieved.
Logistics were very challenging, as the technology and components were being delivered via several European countries. In total, there were hundreds of oversized loads, with the longest part measuring 72 metres and the heaviest component 80 tonnes.
Czech governmental envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine Tomas Kopecny said: “Yesterday in Ukraine, we ceremonially opened the largest Czech investment since the start of Russian aggression, and one of the largest foreign investments in Ukraine since then.
“This demonstrates not only the Czech Republic’s dedication to Ukraine but also the success of Czech companies here. MND is a prime example, having operated in Ukraine for over 10 years, involving local businesses and expanding investments.
“Despite Ukraine’s challenging business environment, MND shows it’s possible to work here successfully.
“This embodies Czech practicality – while the western world deliberates on how to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter, Czech companies are already supplying what’s most urgently needed.”
“After Russia invaded Ukraine, we considered whether to postpone the project. In the end, together with our Ukrainian partner, we decided to complete the wind farm, despite the risks of war.
“Diversification of energy sources is now very important for Ukraine,” said director of energy at MND Jana Hamrsmidova adding: “For MND, this delivers on our priority of strengthening our role in the renewable energy sector, where we are investing in photovoltaic projects and would like to participate in more wind power projects in Ukraine in the future.”
WF Oriv had a planned capacity of 55MW, but thanks to a subsequent software modification in the turbine control system, an additional 4.4MW was added.
With MND’s increasing focus on renewables in recent years, the company has a plan to achieve 100% energy self-sufficiency from green sources by 2025.
These proposals include continued development in Ukraine.
The Carpathian Mountains and the coast of the Black Sea, in particular, present ideal conditions for wind power expansion.
In addition to good wind conditions, Ukraine also has relatively low population density.
The preparation of such projects, however, requires considerably more time than their construction.
The measurement of wind characteristics for WF Oriv, for example, was completed in 2013.