How big is Ukraine's energy infrastructure?

First, the researchers created a detailed map of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before 2022 with more than 1,600 sites and information on plants and their locations, output, production and consumption. With 59 gigawatts of installed capacity, Ukraine was one of Europe’s biggest electricity producers. The country itself required 22 gigawatts.

How much energy can Ukraine generate?

This technical potential is enormous. The researchers estimate that the potential for wind energy is around 180 gigawatts, while for solar energy it’s around 39 gigawatts. A total capacity of 219 gigawatts would vastly exceed the generation capacity of 59 gigawatts that Ukraine had at the start of the war.

What can Russia's research results tell us about Ukraine's energy infrastructure?

The research results can serve as a scientific basis for selecting specific energy projects and rebuilding the country’s energy infrastructure. One of the main targets of Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine is the energy infrastructure.

Is Ukraine's electricity system mapped before 2022?

A research team with Florian Egli, Professor of Public Policy for the Green Transition, and Iryna Doronina, visiting professor at the Chair of Energy Systems, has therefore produced the first comprehensive mapping of Ukraine's electricity system before the 2022 attack and of the subsequent destruction during the war.

Could solar power be the backbone of Ukraine's energy system?

The war against Ukraine has led to massive destruction of the energy infrastructure. One consequence of this is blackouts in cities. In the future, renewables such as wind and solar power could form the backbone of Ukraine’s electricity system. (Image: Oleksii Maznychenko / Adobe Stock)

Is Russia destroying Ukraine's energy infrastructure?

One of the main targets of Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine is the energy infrastructure. The extent of the destruction is enormous. “One year after the start of the war in February 2022, 76 percent of thermal power plants had been destroyed; now the figure is 95 percent,” says Ukrainian scientist Iryna Doronina.