Challenges and Opportunities for Solar Power Plants in water and wastewater sector in Ukraine

Over the past three years of full-scale war, Ukraine has lost an estimated 70% of its electricity generation capacity. Persistent Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure, coupled with rising energy demand during the winter months, have further exacerbated the crisis in the energy sector. In this context, ensuring a stable power supply to critical infrastructure has become a top priority.

The environmental NGO Ecoclub advocates for the development of decentralized renewable energy as a key solution to this challenge. Specifically, the installation of solar power plants (SPPs) at critical infrastructure sites can significantly enhance the energy security of communities.

Since early 2022, Ecoclub, in collaboration with local communities, has installed 34 solar power plants for critical infrastructure, seven of which serve water utilities. These SPPs not only help reduce municipal expenses on electricity but also ensure the uninterrupted operation of vital facilities during emergencies.

However, the implementation of such projects has revealed a number of challenges and barriers that could slow down the deployment of SPPs for water utilities.