<
https://kyivindependent.com/you-have-power-or-you-dont-ukraines-energy-crisis-drives-power-decentralization/>
"Decentralizing a power grid is a huge undertaking, even in peace times.
Countries around the globe are nevertheless shifting toward “decentralization”
– or generating smaller amounts of energy closer to where it is used, rather
than in large, centralized hubs. For most, the goal is producing greener energy
or building grid resiliency in the face of climate disasters.
For Ukraine, however, Russian missile strikes that have crippled Ukraine’s grid
have created an existential need to move energy production away from large
facilities that have become targets for Russian attacks.
With Ukraine facing up to 20 hours of daily blackouts this winter, the country
is looking to replace coal-powered thermal plants destroyed by Russian forces
with new gas-powered turbines, solar panels, and “mini thermal plants,” among
other efforts to decentralize as quickly as possible.
One consequence of the strikes on coal-fired plants is a forced reduction in
carbon-based fossil fuel use: “Russia helped us to decarbonize much more
quickly than we thought could work,” former lawmaker and political consultant
on energy and climate Oleksii Riabchyn ironically noted, adding that this
involuntary decarbonization can not be called sustainable.
Although the war has generated the willpower for a radical overhaul, it has
also created serious obstacles to decentralization, including worker shortages,
supply chain difficulties, struggles to find financing – and a fast-ticking
clock before energy demand jumps in the winter.
This hasn’t stopped Ukraine from deploying new energy projects, but many are
emergency solutions rather than part of a broader green strategy.
“Because we have to rush, we might end up with some mid-term problems after we
do this decentralization. But we just have no choice,” said Olena Pavlenko,
president and co-founder of DiXi Group, a Ukrainian energy think tank. “Ukraine
should be allowed to make mistakes, because we are under huge pressure.”"
Via Mark Lansbury and Diane A.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
