Ukraine Grid Re-Connected To EU In Record Time

Ukraine did a year’s worth of work in 2 weeks to get on Europe’s energy grid in record time, but major challenges are ahead

Tristan Bove, April 2, 2022 (Fortune)

“…[During a February test to confirm whether Ukraine could run on its own power generation without relying on electricity flows from other countries, and a necessary step to complete the country’s longtime goal [begun in 2017] of integrating with the larger grid that powers most of Europe,] Russian forces breached Ukraine’s borders, and a war began, leaving Ukraine’s power grid essentially stranded…A mad scramble ensued…[Ukraine and Moldova weren’t] supposed to synchronize with Europe until next year…Ukrainian operators were able to keep energy systems online despite attacks that often specifically targeted energy infrastructure. The 72-hour test was extended well into March as officials lobbied for immediate entry to Europe’s grid…

click to enlarge

[On March 16, after record work in two weeks, the] European and Ukrainian electricity grids were successfully…The project was slated to cost over €50 million, and its completion date was initially set for 2026. That timeline was later adjusted to early 2023…A synchronous electrical grid refers to a network of interconnected power generation and transmission infrastructure that supplies every person, building, and appliance within a grid’s range with a stable supply of electricity. Grids can sometimes become overloaded, often when electricity supply exceeds demand, but in an interconnected grid, power can be transmitted from a region with a surplus of electricity, to one that doesn’t have enough to meet demand…

click to enlarge

…[Ukraine’s] move to integrate its energy grid with Europe’s is an indicator of its desire to put some distance between itself and Russia… [F]ull integration will require [equipment and market changes], and not all of it can be done while the war is ongoing…But despite the problems, the Ukrainian electrical infrastructure has proven to be surprisingly resilient…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet