Ukraine, Germany to conduct 2-mln-euro energy audit in Ukrainian communities

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - Ukraine and Germany are launching the Renewables for a Resilient Ukraine R2U project for Ukrainian territorial communities worth about 2 million euros, Ukrainian media reported with reference to the Energy Ministry on Tuesday.

Up to 20 communities will be selected for the project designed for 18 months, where critical infrastructure facilities will undergo an audit to be equipped with renewable energy sources, it said.

This should mark the first phase in the implementation of agreements signed earlier in Kiev between Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko and German Federal Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck to promote German-Ukrainian energy partnership focused on a green recovery of Ukraine's energy sector, the ministry said.

Deputy Energy Minister Yaroslav Demchenkov, representatives of the R2U project, GIZ Ukraine, and other organizations engaged discussed details of the project during an online presentation, the ministry said.

With support from the European Commission, including European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, Ukraine should receive 5,700 350W solar panels, with a total capacity of nearly 2 MW, from Italian manufacturer Enel during the first phase of the project for equipping critical infrastructure facilities, including hospitals, with solar panels.

As reported, Galushchenko discussed the provision of solar panels for Ukraine's critical infrastructure with Simson and Enel CEO Francesco Starace at an online meeting in early March 2023.