Ukrainian homeowners are plugging themselves into the photovoltaics grid to harvest the sun's rays and ward off Russian-triggered power blackouts.
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Ukraine is preparing for a harsh winter.
Over 50 % of the country’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed by Russian missile and drone attacks since its 2022 full-scale invasion.
Instead of surrendering to the dark, some Ukrainians have turned towards the sun to save themselves from potential power outages.
In apartments connected to rooftop solar systems, residents use power converters and batteries to store electricity for up to 24 hours.
One resident hooked up to this system is Ihor Kondenko, who lives in an apartment complex in the capital Kyiv. He said he uses solar energy “daily.”
“Although it is already mid-autumn, today is a sunny day, so today we only use solar energy,” he said.
“We also managed to charge the batteries and after sunset, our house gets electricity only from the storage batteries.’’
Ukraine's Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF) — which helped Kondenko connect to the clean energy grid — was created five years ago with the aim of supporting the country’s green transition.
According to the agency’s website, EEF provides homeowners grants to improve their energy efficiency and pays up to 70% of the costs associated with financing equipment.
But the war has changed those plans.
“Right now, this program is about helping people get through a tough winter in their homes,” said EEF's Technical Director, Dmytro Syrykh.
“That’s the number one goal. Another goal is to support the green revolution and the production of energy from a clean source. In part, the program also contributes to this goal.’’