Solar Power Plant for “Donets” Municipal Enterprise in Slobozhanska Community
About the Project
The charitable foundation RePower Ukraine has successfully implemented an important energy security project – the installation of a solar power plant with energy storage system for the municipal enterprise “Donets” in Slobozhanska community, Kharkiv region. This project ensures uninterrupted water supply for the village residents under conditions of constant shelling and damage to the energy grid.
Overview
Municipal Enterprise “Donets” – the only centralized water supply enterprise in the village:
- Serves 1,500 residents and 669 households, including 36 apartment buildings
- Provides water supply to critically important social infrastructure facilities:
- School (132 students)
- Kindergarten (32 children)
- Outpatient clinic (280 visits per month)
- Serves vulnerable population categories: 428 women, 257 children, 41 people with disabilities, 396 elderly people, 350 internally displaced persons
- Supports the operation of local businesses and enterprises
Challenges before installing the solar power plant:
- Regular attacks on energy infrastructure in Kharkiv region lead to power outages
- Almost all residents’ water payments went to electricity bills
- Municipal Enterprise “Donets” required annual subsidies from the community budget
- Critical dependence of water supply on stable electricity supply
- Risk of leaving all residents without water if the enterprise stops operating
Project Objectives
To increase energy security and stability of water supply through the implementation of solar energy technologies and backup power systems. To provide Municipal Enterprise “Donets” with autonomous and reliable electricity supply for continuous operation of the water pumping station, regardless of the state of the central power grid.
Results
A modern ground-mounted solar power plant with energy storage system has been installed, which guarantees stable electricity supply to the water pumping station and ensures the enterprise’s energy independence.
Technical parameters of the solar power plant:
- Type: ground-mounted with energy storage system
- Installed electrical capacity: 30.4 kW by PV modules / 32 kW total capacity
- Storage system capacity: 24 kWh
- Expected annual generation: 28,100 kWh/year
- Expected annual CO₂ emissions reduction: 23,900 kg/year
- Expected annual savings: 309,100 UAH/year
Project Impact
For the community:
- Ensuring uninterrupted water supply to all homes and social facilities
- Stabilization of water tariffs for the population due to reduced electricity costs
- Improvement of utility service quality through freed funds for equipment modernization
For business and agriculture:
- Stable water supply for local entrepreneurs and farmers
- Opportunity for agricultural sector development without water shortage risks
For ecology and sustainable development:
- Prevention of environmental degradation through mass drilling of private wells
- Preservation of village infrastructure
- Example of distributed generation for other communities
Project Context
The solar power plant for Municipal Enterprise “Donets” demonstrates how distributed generation can make communities stronger and more independent. Producing electricity as close as possible to the consumer means that even damage to energy infrastructure through shelling cannot deprive a large number of people of electricity and water.
This project is a vivid example of how renewable energy technologies can provide not only economic efficiency but also critically important infrastructure resilience under war conditions.
This project is implemented by RePower Ukraine in partnership with Mercy Corps.
If you have questions, feedback, complaints and suggestions, please contact us through the communication channels listed below. All inquiries are processed confidentially.
Email: fedback.ua@mercycorps.org Free hotline: 0 800 33 25 90 Online form: https://ee.humanitarianresponse.info/x/qu1diOCz Viber/Telegram: @mercycorpscarmbot If you have noticed, experienced or suspect sexual exploitation, violence, harassment, abuse of adults or children by anyone associated with Mercy Corps or NGO “CF “Repower Ukraine Foundation” – please report it by email to the Integrity Hotline – integrityhotline@mercycorps.org or by phone – 0800501134