A recent study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) has uncovered the devastating impact of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine on Ukraine’s electricity production. The research, published in the journal “Joule” on 19 September 2024, reveals that the country’s power generation capacity has been reduced by over 70% since the war began in February 2022, swissinfo reports.

Key Findings

1. Widespread Attacks: “Virtually all major power plants have been under attack since February 2022,” according to the research team led by Ukrainian author Iryna Doronina.
2. Significant Capacity Loss: Pre-war, Ukraine’s more than 1,500 power plants could supply 59 gigawatts of electricity, far exceeding the country’s 22-gigawatt demand. The conflict has resulted in a loss of 42 gigawatts, leaving only 17 gigawatts of production capacity.
3. Major Facilities Impacted: The study highlights two critical examples:
   • Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, southern Ukraine, shut down in September 2022 due to Russian attacks.
   • The Kakhovka dam reservoir, 1.5 times the size of the canton of Zurich, was emptied after the dam’s destruction, causing widespread flooding and mass evacuations.

Recommendations for Reconstruction

The researchers propose a shift towards renewable energy sources for rebuilding Ukraine’s power infrastructure:

1. Wind and Solar Potential: The study estimates that wind and solar power could potentially generate 219 gigawatts, significantly surpassing Ukraine’s pre-war production capacity.
2. Rapid Deployment: Renewable energy systems can be built more quickly than traditional power plants.
3. Enhanced Resilience: A decentralized system based on wind and solar power would be more resistant to future attacks.

The research team emphasizes that this study presents “the first comprehensive, geospatial mapping of the Ukrainian power system as it looked in February 2022 and the destruction that followed with the war.”

As Ukraine looks towards reconstruction, this study provides valuable insights into the extent of the damage and offers a potential roadmap for building a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.

Related:

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• EU allocates part of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s humanitarian needs
• New Council of Europe chief says Ukraine support is “number one priority”
• ISW: Ukrainian drone attack on Russian ammo depot in Tver proves value of long-range strikes