DTEK has announced plans to transform its war-shattered electricity network in areas surrounding Kyiv by building a smart grid capable of withstanding military assault and able to accelerate Ukraine’s energy transition.
After Ukrainian forces liberated areas near the capital in the first months of the war, DTEK crews from around the country immediately moved in to reconnect homes and businesses.
Although they restored power in just 45 days, the network remains in need of extensive repairs and major upgrades to raise it to modern European standards.
DTEK Grids, the grid operating business, is, therefore, seeking €2.4bn of funding in a 10-year project to transform the region’s power infrastructure.
The plans, which need to be approved by Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy, envisage building a smart grid with 20,000km of new overhead and underground cables, 250 substations, 6000 transformers and nearly a million smart meters.
Announcing the plans at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, DTEK chief executive Maxim Timchenko said: “DTEK does not seek to only rebuild what was destroyed but to build a new power sector for Ukraine that is cleaner, innovative and more resilient.
“This investment will give the Kyiv region a world-class Smart Grid infrastructure that enables Ukraine’s energy transition: integrating renewable generation and preparing Ukraine to become a major clean energy hub for the European Union.”
A resilient smart grid infrastructure that will continue to operate even when individual segments are damaged or destroyed, increase usage of power produced from renewable sources.
Associated digital twin technology allows engineers to model how the upgraded network will function.
A flexible system enabling consumers to become contributors through “home-grown” energy from household solar panels or by de-charging car batteries.
DTEK Grids is planning to test the new grid concept in a three-year pilot phase across Irpin-Bucha-Borodyanka and is seeking to attract initial funding of €145m for the pilot.