The International Energy Cluster actively participated in the “ReBuild Ukraine” reconstruction exhibition and conference, held on November 13–14, 2024, in Warsaw. During the event, Cluster Coordinator Mantas Našlėnas, along with the Energy Attaché of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine, Laura Pušinskaitė, the representative of Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy, Artiom Pasko, and the Acting General Director of Mykolaivoblenergo, Andrii Kozan, presented the project “Renovation of the Energy Infrastructure of Mykolaivoblenergo with the Transfer to the 20 kV Voltage Class and Implementation of EU’s Standards,” which is being implemented in the Mykolaiv region in cooperation with Mykolaivoblenergo.

In his address, Andrii Kozan emphasized that Mykolaivoblenergo plans to restore the energy infrastructure of Mykolaiv in line with European standards, adhering to the “build back better” principle. Due to the war, around 60% of the substations and power lines in the region were damaged, resulting in an increase in the SAIDI index and the need for emergency power cut schedules. Kozan highlighted that the restoration is focused on long-term development and resilience, aligning with Ukraine’s goal of European integration.

A significant milestone for the project was the cooperation agreement with the International Energy Cluster, funded by a grant from the Government of Lithuania for preparatory work. Kozan also expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy and the Lithuanian Embassy for coordinating and supporting the project.

The scope of the project includes:

1. Replacement of primary and secondary equipment, part of which has already been supplied through donor support.
2. Implementation of deep network automation to increase network efficiency and resilience.
3. Modernization of dispatching systems to effectively manage energy flows and increase network reliability.
4. Enabling balanced island-mode (microgrid) operation, which ensures energy supply even when disconnected from the main grid, an essential feature for stability and security in extreme situations.

Project Benefits:

• Enables consumers to receive power autonomously during large-scale outages.
• Increases potential for renewable energy sources connection.
• Reduces downtime and associated financial losses.
• Lowers SAIDI, SAIFI, and MAIFI indices, providing consumers with better access to quality electricity.
• Reduces the carbon footprint by delivering power closer to the consumer and in the most cost-effective way.
• Enhances regional energy security and decreases technological losses in the grid.
• Creates a positive social impact and offers future project scale-up possibilities.

The project’s estimated funding requirement for complete infrastructure restoration of Mykolaivoblenergo is approximately €450 million. The International Energy Cluster, in collaboration with the energy ministries of Ukraine and Lithuania, is committed to implementing this project according to the long-term development plan until 2034.