War in Ukraine endangers RE plants

Within the last 10 years, Ukraine has made great strides in renewable energy development: The installed capacity at the beginning of 2022 was 9.5 GW, and the total investment in the sector was more than $12 billion. As a result of the Russian military invasion, more than $5.6 billion worth of assets are currently located in regions with active combat operations. More than $3.6 billion in capital investments are located in regions adjacent to areas where active hostilities are being fought.

Accordingly, more than 3,970 MW of RE capacity is located in areas under imminent threat of total or partial destruction, the Ukrainian Renewable Energy Association said in a press release. In addition, more than 2,400 MW are located in areas bordering active hostilities where there is already a high risk of destruction or some plants have already been destroyed.

Image: Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy

In recent days, energy infrastructure facilities have repeatedly been the scene of hostilities, such as the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plants, while thermal power plants, power lines, gas pipelines, fuel storage facilities and other energy infrastructure objects have also already been attacked and, in some cases, destroyed, the association said.

More than half of the wind farms in Ukraine, located mainly in the south near the Black Sea, have already been shut down, the association said. More plants, including those from other RE sectors, are threatened with this step.

The information cannot be independently verified.