European solar industry launches donation scheme to revive Ukraine
Europe's solar industry has launched a new donation scheme for photovoltaic equipment for Ukraine. The announcement was made at SolarPower Europe's annual summit in Brussels and is aimed at providing a stable supply of solar materials for Ukraine. Solar industry bodies, including SolarPower Europe, Germany's BSW and Ukraine's ASEU, have joined forces to send large quantities of modules, inverters and batteries to the struggling Ukraine.
Reasons for starting a PV equipment donation scheme
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sparked a solar boom across Europe, so people are seeking to fight rising energy costs with rooftop solar. However, in Ukraine, the energy system has been bombarded, leaving schools and hospitals in desperate need of solar energy and battery storage systems.
These donations are vital for the U. as some hospitals have been without power for weeks, causing surgeons to operate under headlights. However, there are many other hospitals in the same situation. Since the invasion, the Ukrainian government has made it compulsory for hospitals to buy back-up power systems, but there are no rules on whether to use diesel gensets or solar cell systems. Around 4,500 larger hospitals need back-up power.
The co-chairs of the German solar energy association BSW say that in war, it is always the most vulnerable who suffer the most. That is why the German solar industry wants to contribute to this campaign and launch the Solar Aid initiative so that schools can be equipped with an improved electricity supply system.
Rebuilding countries with solar energy
The Director of Global Affairs at Solar Power Europe says that the war has created a huge energy poverty among the population, and that solar energy can really help to alleviate this energy poverty.
Considering that diesel generators take a minute to start up properly and that donated battery systems can provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity, ASEU member companies installed a battery storage system at a hospital in Kharkiv in 2022. Artem Semenyshy, CEO of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, said the doctors at the hospital were pleased with the performance of their solar battery backup system and that if the government could see the regenerative power and practicality of solar energy, it could make a good case for supporting the rebuilding of the country with the help of photovoltaics.
As well as maintaining lighting and helping to provide back-up power, the solar power project could also provide additional jobs as a way of helping injured civilians and soldiers who are too injured to return to the front line, or those who may have lost their jobs, who could be retrained to install solar systems and use solar power to help rebuild the country.
Summary
Ukrainian organisations, including the Ukrainian Energy Bill Foundation and the Ukrainian Repowering Foundation, will facilitate and organise the implementation of the project. These groups understand the needs of hospitals and schools and can carry out initial project assessments. The two organisations look for donors to fund specific projects and tender the implementation to Ukrainian electricity installers. And to ensure transparency, corporate donors can view detailed calculations for the selected projects. However, all of the above goals require a significant investment of human and financial resources and still require the support and assistance of the community to achieve them.