DTEK Grids presented a grids development concept at the forum “Grids of Ukraine 2023”

Thermal power generation29 September 2023

DTEK Grids COO Alina Bondarenko presented a Concept of Grids Development for Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk regions and the city of Kyiv at the “Grids of Ukraine 2023” forum. A Grids Development Concept envisages complete upgrade of electrical infrastructure over the course of 10 years and complies with European practices and approaches. As a result, average time of power outages per year for the customers of regional grids will be reduced to 100 minutes (SAIDI), which is seven times less than now, and down to 50 minutes in Kyiv. Technical losses will decrease by an average of 1.7 times – down to 5%, smart meters will be installed for all customers of the company.

“Grids of Ukraine 2023” forum was held in Kyiv on September 27. It was dedicated to restoration and development of distribution grids in Ukraine. Representatives of Ukrainian electricity Distribution System Operators, professional experts and representatives of state regulator took part in the discussion.

A Grids Development Concept of DTEK Grids for Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk regions and the city of Kyiv was presented at the forum. The concept envisages complete upgrade of the grids over the course of 10 years with consideration of European standards and norms. It may become a basis for creating a national plan for modernization of the energy infrastructure of Ukraine.

“DTEK Grids seeks to create a power supply system in Ukraine of a qualitatively different level. It is required for reliable and safe power supply to the citizens and for development of business. A sophisticated “smart” grid will be built with consideration of the best European practices. We must think about tomorrow today and do a lot now to have a better future,” – noted DTEK Grids COO Alina Bondarenko.

In particular, she noted that at the first stage of the project DTEK Grids will build a digital model that will be the first in Ukraine Digital Twin of a real distribution grid. It will allow to test efficiency of applied technical solutions and innovations as early as at the stage of planning. Such approach will allow to clearly forecast effects from all technical solutions, investments and will show bottlenecks of the energy joints, like replacement of all overhead power lines with the cable ones that are more resistant to weather and other adverse factors, for example.

The next stage will be implementation of the “Smart Grids” pilot project in Irpin-Bucha-Hostomel and nearby settlements and scaling of this experience throughout the Kyiv region.

Large-scale upgrade of the infrastructure requires diversified and gradual financing from various sources, which should be envisaged at the state level by relevant regulatory documents. These sources may include the following: donor aid from EU, long-term crediting with preferential rates, financing from the sale of confiscated rf’s assets and partial financing from the tariff with the 10-year plan. Such diversified approach will allow to reduce financial load on the country and conduct a long-term modernization of the grids.