Ukraine’s Power Grid Get Rid of Russia
Engineers have connected Ukraine to a continental Europe-wide electrical grid, enabling the nation to isolate its power system from adversarial Russia, authorities announced in mid-March.
ENTSO-E, located in Belgium and representing dozens of transmission system operators around Europe, said that Ukraine’s and Moldova’s electrical grids were successfully synced with the Continental European Power System on a trial basis. The organization said that this is a watershed moment.
Grid operators had been considering such a step after Russia’s takeover of Crimea in 2014, but Russia’s massive military attack on Ukraine last month spurred Kyiv to make an emergency request to expedite a process that was anticipated to take years longer.
ENTSO-E, whose 39 members manage the world’s biggest linked electrical grid, said the move would enable them to assist in ensuring the integrity of Ukraine and Moldova’s electricity networks. Previously, the two nations were members of the Integrated Power System, together with Russia and Belarus. This dependency on Russia’s grid operator occurred despite the fact that the two nations had not traded power in years.
This measure will enable Ukraine’s Power Grid to receive energy if Russia continues to demolish their power infrastructure, therefore preserving their power system. Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chairman of Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo’s management board, said that they are profoundly appreciative of their European colleagues’ tremendous support and help during these trying times.
Georg Zachmann, an analyst with the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, said the move would enable energy providers on the continental system that extends from Portugal to Poland to supply Ukraine with power if required. This might enable Ukraine’s Power Grid to shut down some of the coal-fired power reactors it now operates to maintain grid stability, so conserving valuable fuel during a conflict, he added.
Long-term, Ukraine’s Power Grid may be able to export excess energy produced by its nuclear power facilities to the rest of Europe. Zachmann said that it’s a win-win scenario and may even be beneficial to the climate.
Click below to read the magazine
