The precarious balance and the shutdown of nuclear power plants: what is the state of Ukraine’s energy system?
Фото: facebook Хмельницька АЕС
Ukraine is facing a shortage of capacity during peak hours due to the start of scheduled repairs at nuclear power plants. System stability is currently maintained through the use of backup lines and redundant power supply schemes.
This was reported on the air of “Pryamoy” by energy expert Gennady Ryabtsev.
According to him, the situation is complicated by the beginning of the off-season, when two nuclear power units have already been taken out of operation for necessary work, which forces the system to rely on backup lines.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a critical regime, but we still have a fairly large deficit in the system during peak hours. If, for example, all restrictions are completely lifted, the balance will be very unstable,” the specialist noted.
At the same time, Ryabtsev explained the reasons for sudden emergency shutdowns in the capital region. Due to damage to the main networks, energy companies are forced to convert former reserve lines into main ones, which often cannot withstand the load. Despite successful repairs, the constant threat of enemy ballistic strikes on thermal power plants forces specialists to constantly look for unique configurations for network operation, the studio guest explains.
At the same time, he urged citizens not to turn on powerful appliances at the same time in the morning and evening. Such restrictions will be in effect at least until the completion of preventive work at the nuclear power plant. The weather remains a favorable factor, because the heating season is over, and the time for mass use of air conditioners has not yet come, – added Gennady Ryabtsev.,
As is known, after a series of Russian attacks, Ukraine’s power system lost more than two-thirds of its capacity , leaving less than 10 GW of the pre-war 32 GW in operation. At the same time, bureaucratic chaos hinders the resilience of cities to the upcoming challenges of the heating season.
At the same time, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the need for restoration and modernization of the energy sector for the next ten years is $90.6 billion. Compared to the previous estimate, this amount has increased by 34%. For the rapid restoration of the energy sector in 2026, $4.9 billion is needed .
Meanwhile, the leader of the “European Solidarity” Petro Poroshenko called on the authorities to urgently organize financing for the preparation of the energy sector for the next winter. According to the fifth President, the government should issue targeted government bonds and use these funds to ensure the modernization and protection of the energy system by the fall.
Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , X , Telegram , and Instagram.