Staryi Sambir District Hospital has commissioned its own solar power plant. The new system will help the hospital partially meet its electricity needs with renewable energy while ensuring the uninterrupted operation of critical medical equipment during power outages.
The solar power plant was installed as part of the Svarog Ukraine initiative. Connected to the hospital’s surgical building, the system can provide backup power for critical equipment for up to three hours in the event of a grid outage. It also covers approximately 48% of the building’s electricity demand.
The project was implemented with financial support from a donor. The total cost of the installation amounted to UAH 2,646,416.40.
The site for the solar installation was selected jointly with the donor. Together with Richard Elsner, founder and director of the Svarog Ukraine initiative, several healthcare facilities were assessed before Staryi Sambir District Hospital was chosen. One of the key factors was the community’s proactive approach and readiness to implement solutions that strengthen energy resilience.
“During my visit to Staryi Sambir, what impressed me most were the people I met. The hospital management, representatives of the community, and municipal utilities all understand how renewable energy can support both their work and the community’s development. These meetings left me with a very positive impression and reinforced my belief in the importance of supporting initiatives like this,” says Richard Elsner, Founder and Director of Svarog Ukraine.
“This is an extremely important project for our community. Our hospital must continue operating under any circumstances, and the solar power plant is already making its electricity supply more reliable while reducing operating costs. We are sincerely grateful to all the partners who supported this project. Thanks to initiatives like this, we can allocate more resources to patient care and the further development of our healthcare facility,” says Ihor Trukhym, Mayor of Staryi Sambir.
“For mountain communities, energy resilience is first and foremost about people’s safety. If a hospital cannot operate during power outages, patients may have to travel dozens of kilometres to receive medical care. That is why it is essential for communities not to rely solely on external assistance but to be able to implement energy solutions independently. We work to ensure they have the knowledge, tools, and practical experience needed to develop projects like this—from the initial idea to commissioning. Our goal is not only to help communities install new energy infrastructure but also to equip them with the experience to implement similar projects in the future,” says Dmytro Sakaliuk, expert at Ecoclub.
Staryi Sambir District Hospital is one of the key healthcare facilities in the Sambir region. Every year it provides treatment for thousands of patients, performs hundreds of surgeries, and serves residents of four local communities as well as internally displaced people. The hospital has 176 beds, eight inpatient departments, and delivers services under 15 packages of Ukraine’s Medical Guarantees Programme administered by the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU). In June 2026 alone, the hospital treated 468 inpatients and provided 3,976 outpatient consultations.
Because the hospital is located in a mountainous area, a reliable electricity supply is especially important. Continuous power is essential for the operation of medical equipment and for providing uninterrupted healthcare services under any circumstances.
The solar power plant was commissioned in late May 2026. During its first months of operation, it generated 5,582 kWh of electricity, helping the hospital save approximately UAH 48,675. The savings will be used to purchase medicines and a new stove for the hospital kitchen.
Project Facts
– Solar power plant type: Hybrid
– PV array capacity: 44.16 kW
– Battery storage capacity: 38.4 kWh
– Backup operation: Up to 3 hours
– Share of electricity demand covered: Approximately 48%
– Connection point: Surgical building
– Total project cost: UAH 2,646,416.40
– Commissioned: Late May 2026
– As of July 2026: 5,582 kWh generated and UAH 48,675 saved
SVAROG is a non-profit organisation registered in Germany. It was established to raise funds for the purchase and construction of solar power plants for essential public infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and water supply facilities. Each solar installation helps ensure that premature babies remain in life-saving care, medical procedures continue during power outages, children can learn in warm and well-lit classrooms, and communities continue to receive clean water.
Media Contacts
Dmytro Sakaliuk
Expert, Ecoclub
sakaliyk@ecoclubrivne.org
Iryna Obrazhei
Communications Manager, Ecoclub
i.obrazhei@ecoclubrivne.org