ENERGY ACT FOR UKRAINE FOUNDATION
Hybrid solar power plants for schools and hospitals: how they work and what benefits they bring
As part of the 100 Solar Schools and 50 Solar Hospitals campaigns, 9 educational and medical institutions in the communities most affected by Russian aggression have received free hybrid solar power plants since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
These programmes of the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, which are aimed at providing educational and healthcare institutions with modern hybrid solar power plants with electricity storage systems, are intended for five years. This is a free-of-charge assistance aimed at providing educational and healthcare institutions with their own energy supply, including uninterrupted power supply in case of blackouts and emergencies.
Context
The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation was founded in April 2022 to help rebuild schools and hospitals affected by Russian aggression using a sustainable approach that included the installation of solar power plants and storage systems. The Russian attacks on the energy system in October 2022 confirmed the need for massive installation of equipment that not only generates but also accumulates electricity, as in the event of a blackout, such system guarantees several hours of autonomous power supply to critical facilities. In November 2022, the Foundation launched its first solar school, the Mriya Lyceum in Irpin.
In July 2024, Ukraine's power grid continues to face significant challenges. Almost all thermal power plants in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed, and their share in energy production has decreased from 30% to 5%. Emergency shutdowns aimed at balancing consumption and production continue to this day. This year, emergency blackouts were introduced in May and June. The main reason for the restrictions is the impact of eight Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian power system since the beginning of this year. On 22 March, Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine's largest hydroelectric power plant, DniproHES, and completely destroyed Zmiivska TPP in Kharkiv region. Ukrhydroenergo noted that it would take years to restore DniproHES. On 11 April, a massive Russian attack completely destroyed Trypillia TPP in Kyiv region. Centrenergo reported a complete loss of generation. On 16 April, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko said that Ukraine had lost 7 GW of electricity. On 5 May, Russians shelled Sloviansk thermal power plant. On 8 May, DTEK reported shelling of three more TPPs. This brings the total loss to over 9 GW, which is about 50% of the system's generating capacity. We would also like to remind that one of the biggest losses is the occupation of Zaporizhzhya NPP by Russian troops.
Since imports are not enough to cover the electricity shortage, and it is unlikely that all generating capacities will be restored by winter, one solution is to develop decentralised energy sources through the introduction of renewable energy sources. (These are generating capacities that operate autonomously without dependence on the distribution network). After all, these measures can ensure the resilience of the Ukrainian energy system to future attacks and ensure the supply of electricity to the population. By integrating distributed generation systems, Ukraine can strengthen its energy independence, reduce the risk of large-scale blackouts, and contribute to a more resilient and reliable energy infrastructure.
Therefore, realising the benefits of decentralisation and renewable energy, philanthropists have launched new initiatives to provide social and critical infrastructure with solar power plants. Using the example of the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, let's take a closer look at why Ukraine needs solar energy and how it benefits us.
How does a hybrid solar power plant work?
A hybrid solar power plant consists of photovoltaic modules (PV), hybrid inverters, and batteries. PV modules convert solar radiation into direct current (DC), which the inverter converts into alternating current (AC) for use in the grid. Batteries store excess energy for later use when there is not enough sunlight or blackouts.
In fact, if a household has a hybrid solar system installed, then the electricity supply for such a household comes from three sources: traditionally from the grid, from a solar station, and from batteries - energy storage systems. This approach is relevant today to optimise the use of electricity generated by the solar plant, which leads to economic benefits, and to guarantee the availability of electricity during blackouts from the other source.
Hybrid solar power plants are an effective approach to meeting today's energy needs. By seamlessly generating, converting and storing solar energy, these systems offer a sustainable solution for uninterrupted and cost-effective energy supply. As technology advances, hybrid solar plants will become an even more important component of the global energy landscape, providing reliable and efficient renewable energy for a variety of needs.
Yuliana Onishchuk, Founder and CEO of the Foundation, says the following about the importance of solar power plants: ‘In the context of the severe energy crisis caused by the war, the approach to building generating capacities in the country should be localised. TPPs and CHPs, as well as nuclear power plants, are large facilities on which entire cities depend and are easy targets for Russian attacks. As long as the war is on, the development of decentralised generating capacities, such as solar or solar hybrid plants, is a solution that can partially solve the problem of electricity supply to the population. This approach is primarily a local solution that makes the electricity supply to your household independent of external conditions. This is about security and guaranteeing electricity supply during the war, but a huge advantage of such systems is also their sustainable approach and long-term viability, unlike generators.’
How does the charitable foundation choose the facilities for the construction of power plants?
Currently, the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is building solar power plants for various social and critical infrastructure facilities, including schools, hospitals, water utilities, administrative buildings, etc. These institutions are chosen because their uninterrupted operation plays a vital role for society.
When selecting specific communities, the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation's benefactors primarily give preference to schools and hospitals located in the regions most affected by Russian aggression in Ukraine or directly affected by the actions of the Russian invaders. Thus, the latest SPPs were built in Irpin Lyceum No. 1 and Mykolaiv Regional Children's Clinical Hospital. At the same time, the philanthropist builds hybrid solar stations at a distance of at least 70 km from the border with Russia or the frontline to minimise the risks associated with military operations. Although this distance does not guarantee complete security, it significantly reduces the likelihood of damage to the SPP.
Therefore, the search for suitable sites for hybrid solar plants begins with a thorough analysis of the community's needs.
When selecting facilities for the installation of solar power plants, the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is guided by applications submitted by communities on their website. Ideally, communities conduct a preliminary analysis and determine their energy supply needs on their own. However, if communities need assistance, the Foundation provides support at all stages, helping to identify the most appropriate solution. Close cooperation between the Foundation and the communities is an important part of this process. The Foundation's community engagement specialists conduct detailed analyses to find the best solution to ensure a stable and environmentally friendly energy supply. For example, Yuliana Onishchuk, the Founder and CEO of the Foundation and a specialist in WTO international trade law, recalled how she arranged a visit to a school by contacting the mayor of Irpin just two hours before the visit. Community members were quick to get in touch and facilitated the fast and high-quality construction. This underlines the importance of cooperation with local authorities and community involvement in the process.
The specifics of the Foundation's activities involve the selection of objects according to certain criteria, in order of priority. For example, in hospitals, the Foundation primarily provides uninterrupted power supply to such facilities as surgery rooms, intensive care units, reanimation rooms, maternity wards, and bomb shelters. Therefore, when calculating the required power, the benefactor first of all connects the critical infrastructure of the hospital to the guaranteed power supply from the station, as any power outage can be dangerous for the lives of hospital patients. An equally important factor in starting the construction of solar power plants is the condition of the roof of the facility.
For schools, the main goal is to ensure that children continue to study offline, which contributes to their social development and healthy psychological state. Therefore, a reliable power supply ensures that students can attend classes, communicate with friends and continue their studies, and the lack of electricity should not be a reason to stop the learning process. Currently, the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is paying more attention to schools with at least 350 students studying offline or in a hybrid format, with an available shelter.
The result of hybrid solar plants in communities supported by the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation
In a time of war and unstable energy supply, hybrid solar plants have become a guiding light of hope and energy independence for many communities in Ukraine. Philanthropists such as the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation have been at the forefront of the solar initiative, installing hybrid solar plants on critical infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted energy supply. Since 2022, they have installed 9 solar stations with battery systems in 5 schools: Irpin Academic Lyceum ‘Mriya’, Chernihiv School No. 3, Chernihiv School No. 19, Bucha Lyceum No. 3 and Irpin Lyceum No. 1; and 4 hospitals: Chernihiv Regional Children's Hospital, Ivankiv Central District Hospital, Chernihiv Regional Hospital and Mykolaiv Regional Children's Clinical Hospital.
It is important to note that these SPPs are currently operating mainly in the mode of electricity generation and supply, using the energy generated by solar panels. And in the event of outages, which came into effect in May and June 2024, the battery is used to maintain a continuous flow of energy stored in the energy storage system. These stations are part of the internal power grids of the facilities, which guarantee uninterrupted power supply to critical consumers in the event of unstable operation of the external grid (outages). Although facilities supported by hybrid solar power plants are critical infrastructure and are less likely to experience outages, they are not completely immune to power outages or urgent emergency shutdowns, for example, when an enemy missile hits a nearby thermal or hydroelectric power plant. For example, during the power outages in May and June 2024 across Ukraine, this also affected the blackouts at social and critical infrastructure facilities. But at such moments, the energy storage system kicks in and provides these facilities with uninterrupted power supply. This is evidenced by representatives of the Mykolaiv Regional Clinical Children's Hospital, Bucha Lyceum No. 3, and Chernihiv School No. 19.
This is a unique case, as no other philanthropist in Ukraine provides all the facilities under its care with energy storage systems as a comprehensive approach. ‘The installation of energy storage systems along with solar stations is a long-term and strategic decision of the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation. Currently, it is a decision to cover critical needs, and in the future it will allow facilities to use the system to save costs and supply the excess to the grid,’ says Yuliana Onishchuk.
The total capacity of the Foundation's installed stations is 295 kW, and the energy storage systems are 501 kWh. During their operation, these SPPs have already generated 87,559 kWh of electricity, reduced CO2 emissions by 65.61 tonnes, and saved €11,965 on electricity bills. Let's take a closer look at how the plants operate during outages on the example of some of the nine SPPs launched by the Foundation.
Mykolaiv Regional Children's Clinical Hospital
The Mykolaiv Regional Children's Clinical Hospital is a key medical facility for children in the region and the main hospital for the Kherson region, so it is in urgent need of reliable power supply. It is the location of the largest hybrid solar power plant installed by the Foundation. The hospital has 15 specialised departments with modern equipment that requires a constant supply of electricity. The hostilities and rocket attacks caused significant damage to the hospital's buildings, which highlighted the need to strengthen the power supply to ensure uninterrupted patient treatment and autonomous operation of the institution. Therefore, in April 2024, the benefactors launched a solar power plant consisting of 128 photovoltaic modules with a capacity of 58.24 kW and an energy storage system with a capacity of 98.24 kWh.
This solar power plant currently covers up to 10 hours of the hospital's electricity consumption during power outages. This was also noted by the chief physician, Alexander Plitkin: ‘Recently, power outages have become more frequent, and while earlier it caused significant inconvenience to the hospital, now, thanks to the solar station, these interruptions have become invisible. There have been several such cases during surgeries, but neither doctors nor patients felt it because the station worked instantly and flawlessly. Thanks to this equipment, we are able to provide quality and continuous care to our patients.’
Currently, the station meets the power supply needs of the critical departments of the main building: the operating theatre, the surgical department, the intensive care unit, the newborn and premature baby unit, and the maternity ward. The hospital is expected to save around €5672 annually in energy costs, while CO2 emissions will be reduced by 1625 tonnes over the 25 years of the system's operation.
Chernihiv school 19
Now let's look at the work of SPPs on the example of schools. The first of them is Chernihiv School No. 19, where the station was launched in early 2024. A hybrid solar power plant was installed there, which includes 57 solar modules with a capacity of 20 kW, energy storage systems with a capacity of 39.2 kWh and a 20 kW hybrid inverter. So in March 2024, about 1,800 children attending Chernihiv School No. 19 were given the opportunity to study in a comfortable environment, close to their friends, without fear of being in the dark during possible blackouts, as the station will cover up to 4 hours of autonomous operation during outages. And such cases have already happened. For example, the last blackout occurred in May 2024, and the station was 100% operational. So now, the school staff notes that in addition to normal operation during blackouts, they can even save 50% of electricity consumption.
Bucha lyceum №3
Bucha Lyceum No. 3 is the fourth school to be supported by philanthropists under the 100 Solar Schools project. This lyceum is located on Vokzalna Street, whose photos of charred Russian military equipment have gone viral. So in March 2024, 47 solar panels capable of producing 20 kW of energy were installed on the school's roof, along with a 40 kWh energy storage system that covers up to 4 hours of the lyceum's electricity consumption during power outages, reducing its energy costs and saving approximately 2,100 euros annually. In this case, the backup system is connected to a bomb shelter, computer labs, and both street and interior lighting. Everything is designed so that in the spring, summer and autumn, on sunny days, the lyceum's electricity needs are almost completely met by this hybrid station. The school has also experienced power outages, and according to the school staff, the station has worked perfectly. In conclusion, the station has already reduced CO2 emissions by 1.08 tonnes in just three months of operation.
Economic, environmental and educational benefits
Economic benefits
The installation of all 9 solar stations by the charity resulted in an economic benefit of €11,935 in savings on electricity bills. In this context, it is important to note that 5 of these solar facilities were launched only in 2024, so the economic impact is expected to be much greater in the near future. In particular, hospitals equipped with hybrid solar stations can save an average of UAH 160,000 annually on electricity, which is equivalent to the cost of 32 cardiographs. These savings allow hospitals to allocate more resources to treating patients and providing other essential services.
As for schools, on average, they can save UAH 100,000 per year each, which is equivalent to, for example, 5 interactive whiteboards. The financial relief provided by hybrid solar plants therefore ensures that hospitals and schools can maintain their operations more efficiently. Reducing their dependence on traditional energy sources also means that institutions can better manage their budgets and reinvest the savings into further improvements to infrastructure and services.
Environmental benefits
By reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the facilities commissioned by the Foundation are already reducing CO2 emissions by 65.61 tonnes, which is equivalent to 270,000 km driven by an average passenger car with a petrol engine. Over the 25 years of operation, these nine facilities alone will save 3,316 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This reduction in greenhouse gas emissions contributes to improving the environment and is in line with global efforts to combat climate change. Hybrid solar power plants demonstrate the potential of renewable energy to promote sustainable development and reduce the carbon footprint of critical infrastructure. Solar-powered schools and hospitals not only become more environmentally friendly, but also set a precedent for other institutions, as the transition to renewable energy sources helps to conserve natural resources and foster a culture of environmental responsibility in communities.
Social benefits
The installation of hybrid solar plants also brings educational benefits and contributes to the development of community expertise in renewable energy. Communities are involved in grant programmes and training, which helps them understand how to apply for such projects and what it means to build a solar station on social infrastructure. At all facilities, technical staff are also trained in the operation and maintenance of solar stations. This training helps to develop renewable energy expertise in the community, creating a skilled workforce that is knowledgeable about green technologies. In addition, in all schools where the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation installs solar stations, it also conducts an educational course on Sustainable Development and Green Energy for children to develop a culture of conscious consumption of natural resources in Ukraine and bring Ukraine's green transition closer. To date, 500 children in five schools have been trained, and the initiative is planned to be expanded to at least seven communities by the end of the year. These programmes aim to raise awareness and understanding of renewable energy among the younger generation, inspiring future leaders to advocate for and implement sustainable practices.
Conclusion
Thus, the hybrid solar plants installed by philanthropists offer many benefits that go beyond simple financial savings. They provide social and critical infrastructure with reliable and uninterrupted power, contribute to Ukraine's green transition and environmental improvements, and offer valuable educational opportunities for children and communities alike. Not only do these plants increase the efficiency and sustainability of schools and hospitals, but they also serve as a model for other institutions to follow.
As Ukraine continues to develop its renewable energy sector, the work of philanthropists like the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is a testament to the positive changes that sustainable development can bring to communities. By combining cost-effectiveness, environmental stewardship, and educational empowerment, these hybrid solar plants are paving the way for a greener, more sustainable, and most importantly, energy-independent future for our country.