Today, October 25, a conference “City of the Future: A Dialogue Between the Public and Local Government Representatives on Just Recovery” was held, organized by RePower Ukraine, which brought together leading energy sector experts, local government representatives, and civil society organizations to discuss prospects for Ukrainian communities’ recovery.
“Today we laid the foundation for a systematic approach to community recovery. Our task is not just to rebuild, but to create cities of the future where sustainable development and energy security come first,” said Maryna Zamfir, Director of RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation.
During the event, guests and speakers were able to exchange experiences, outline the direction for further development, and consider next steps regarding community recovery.
“We all understand that we are in a critical situation in the energy security sector, and of course we have now mobilized many resources, including assistance from the German Government, to ensure the stability of this sector. And this is not just about critical infrastructure facilities, but also about the so-called ‘green recovery,’ which President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes – and this is not just about the future, it’s about the present. We are implementing ‘green recovery’ right now,” emphasized Torsten Wöllert, Energy Advisor at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
The conference program included three panel discussions focused on key aspects of urban development:
- New approaches to energy supply in communities
- Transformation of municipal development, climate, and energy strategies
- The role of education and science in creating sustainable cities
Conference participants presented practical cases of successful community transformation and shared experiences in implementing energy-efficient solutions. Special attention was paid to energy security issues and the use of renewable energy sources at the municipal level.
To note:
The “Renewable Energy for Resilient Ukraine” (R2U) project is implemented by a consortium of civil society organizations, including RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation, Ecoclub, Ecoaction, and Energy Act For Ukraine Foundation, with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
The project plans to install solar power plants at critical infrastructure facilities in 16 pilot communities across Ukraine. Specifically, RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation is coordinating the installation of:
- 40.6 kW hybrid solar power plant for the Mena city community hospital (already launched on October 17)
- 40.6 kW hybrid solar power plant for the Sosnytsia settlement council water utility
- 40.6 kW hybrid solar power plant for the Konotop city community hospital
- 69.6 kW grid-connected solar power plant for the Kremenchuk city community hospital
The project also includes developing a “Community Transition to RES Concept by 2050” for each partner community and providing training for staff at facilities with installed RES.
