Kyiv, 13 December 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine has delivered six gas-piston cogeneration units to the city of Kharkiv as part of the Green Energy Recovery Programme. This initiative is designed to address the city’s critical energy needs and was made possible through the support of the governments of Norway, Sweden, and the European Union.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, over 60% of Ukraine's energy generation facilities have been damaged or occupied, according to UNDP estimates. Kharkiv, one of the hardest-hit cities, faces significant challenges in restoring its energy infrastructure. As of November 2024, war-related damage in Kharkiv includes the destruction of more than 10,000 buildings and the city`s electricity supply is currently operating at only 30% of its pre-war levels. These figures underscore the urgent need for targeted support to rebuild and decentralize Kharkiv’s energy systems.

During the handover ceremony, representatives of these countries were shown how the delivered equipment will contribute to the development of sustainable decentralized microgrids, thereby enhancing the city’s energy independence. One of the key advantages of these cogeneration units is that they can be installed at existing boiler stations, which eliminates energy transmission losses and allows for the more efficient use of energy resources.

The six delivered cogeneration units, along with additional units expected, will enhance Kharkiv's reliable access to critical services such as water supply, heating, and wastewater management for approximately 800,000 residents and 47 hospitals in the city.

Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, emphasised the EU’s continued commitment to Ukraine, especially during the challenging winter months: “The delivery of this equipment to Kharkiv demonstrates the EU’s support to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure throughout this cold season,” Mr. Schleuning said. “The EU remains a trusted partner to Ukraine and will continue to stand by its people.”

Erik Pettersson, First Secretary and Program Officer at the Reform Cooperation Section of the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, emphasized the importance of continued support for Ukraine: “The energy sector is vital for sustaining the economy and the well-being of people during these challenging times,” said Pettersson. “Together with our partners and UNDP, our mission is to deliver backup equipment to Ukrainian cities to ensure residents have access to critical (utility) services, especially during the winter.” 

Ellen Stie, Head of Recovery and Energy Affairs Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ukraine, expressed gratitude to the specialists working tirelessly to ensure that Kharkiv’s residents have access to light and heat during the winter: “Norway stands firmly with Ukraine, helping its cities to enhance their energy resilience,” Stie said. “We clearly understand that the equipment provided to Kharkiv is, above all, support for its residents to help them feel safer and more comfortable during these difficult times. It is also essential aid for hospitals, enabling them to continue their life-saving missions.”

Olha Ponomarchuk, Head of the International Relations Department at the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine thanked UNDP and the governments of Norway, Sweden, and the European Union for their support: “Such assistance from international partners is extremely important today, as it accelerates the development of distributed generation, which we are actively implementing across the country. The deployment of this equipment will allow us to meet the needs of consumers comprehensively, both during this heating season and in the future. We deeply appreciate our partners' contributions to advancing distributed generation projects in all regions of Ukraine.”

Dmytro Isaev, Deputy Mayor of Kharkiv, noted that since 2022, Kharkiv has been constantly subjected to infrastructure shelling. On March 22, the city's energy system was destroyed, leaving it without the ability to generate electricity: “Unfortunately, Kharkiv lacks its own power generation, which has led to prolonged outages, sometimes lasting several days,” Isaev said. “This is why the provided equipment is crucial for establishing a decentralized energy system, an ‘energy island,’ to reduce our dependency on other regions. We are deeply grateful to each partner and UNDP for actively supporting our ambitious goals.”

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, underscored UNDP’s unwavering support for the government and people of Ukraine in ensuring timely and effective assistance for the recovery of its energy sector: “With several winter months ahead, every hour of light and heat for Kharkiv’s residents is critically important,” said Cilliers. “We understand that one of the best solutions currently is to support this resilient city in establishing a decentralized energy system. Thanks to our steadfast and reliable partners – Norway, Sweden, and the European Union – the vision of resilient decentralized microgrids is becoming a reality. We’re pleased that the first units, having already travelled thousands of kilometres, will be ready to assist during outages. Through the Green Energy Recovery Programme, UNDP will continue to work with its partners to enhance the resilience of Ukraine’s energy systems and promote sustainable energy solutions for its cities.”

Background:

The UNDP Green Energy Recovery Programme in Ukraine, supported by international partners, addresses Ukraine’s urgent energy needs during the ongoing attacks on critical energy infrastructure. It focuses on two main priorities: ensuring the continuous operation of critical energy infrastructure and production capacities, and implementing strategic actions to accelerate the transition to green energy, particularly through a decentralized energy generation system. The activities of the Green Energy Recovery Programme in Ukraine are funded by the governments of Japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Republic of Korea, Belgium, Germany, and Iceland.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, UNDP helps nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications. Email: yuliia.samus@undp.org