Only 15% of Zelensky’s Gigawatt has been launched
31 December 08:09
The state failed to launch 1 GW of electricity generation in 2024, as planned by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is stated in the material of Forbes, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
At the end of 2023, the President of Ukraine announced an ambitious plan to create shunting power plants with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt. However, as of the end of 2024, only about 30% of the planned volume has been realized.
Moreover, according to Andriy Gerus, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada’s Energy Committee, although approximately 300 megawatts of new capacity has been installed, only half of it – about 150 MW – is actually in operation. These capacities are distributed as follows:
- The GTS operator has launched 50 MW of gas plants.
- “Energoatom installed a 28 MW American gas turbine.
- Private businesses installed small units (up to 1 MW each) with a total capacity of 22 MW.
Olena Zerkal, UNDP Critical Infrastructure Recovery Project Manager, explains the reasons for the incomplete implementation of the project. According to her, the process of introducing new capacities will take at least a year due to the need for
- harmonization of documentation
- finding suitable turbines;
- development of project documentation;
- connecting equipment;
- staff training.
Despite the incompleteness of the plans, Andriy Zhupanin, Deputy Chairman of the BP Energy Committee, estimates 2024 as an important stage in the industry’s development. At least 500 MW of additional gas capacity is planned to be connected in 2025.
An important financial aspect is the opening of credit lines by banks in the amount of UAH 8 billion (for the period June-November) to support generation projects. These funds should ensure the creation of an additional 400 MW of capacity.
Experts note that although distributed gas generation will not be able to fully ensure energy stability in the winter of 2024-2025, it creates the foundation for reliable energy supply in the following winter periods, especially in 2025-2026.
As reported by , on June 11, at a conference on Ukraine’s recovery in Berlin, President Zelensky said that Ukraine has a clear plan to build 1 gigawatt of capacity by the end of the year. However, the situation is further complicated by the fact that Russians sometimes deliberately target Zelensky’s gigawatt.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in a nutshell
The situation in the Ukrainian energy sector
on March 22, 2024, Russia resumed its attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector, carrying out one of the most massive shelling attacks in the entire period of the full-scale war. In particular, DniproHES and other Ukrainian energy facilities were hit. Since then, Russia has been regularly shelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
For example, the Russians destroyed the Trypillia and Zmiiv thermal power plants, causing Centrenergo to lose 100% of its generation. Also, 5 of DTEK’s 6 thermal power plants were severely damaged.
After that, power outages began again in Ukraine, Ukrenergo introduced blackout schedules, and the government raised electricity tariffs by 60% at once.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to build two new units at the Khmelnytsky N PP and has already received approval from the relevant parliamentary committee. The Razumkov Center has criticized these plans, but some experts believe that only traitors or scoundrels are against the construction of nuclear power plants today.
Russia launched another massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector on August 26. This time, they hit distribution and power generation systems, and the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant was also attacked.
Russia carried out the most massive shelling of Ukraine on November 17, 2024, firing 127 cruise, ballistic, and supersonic missiles and 109 attack drones. DTEK reported serious damage to its thermal power plants.
Some experts believe that the blackouts could last until spring. And the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine recently voiced the worst-case scenario, which envisages blackouts of up to 20 hours a day.
