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Europe\u2019s solar industry has launched a new PV equipment donation scheme for Ukraine. The announcement was made during\u00a0SolarPower Europe\u2019s annual summit\u00a0in Brussels and aims to give Ukraine a steady supply solar materials.<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine sparked a solar rush across Europe as people sought to combat rising costs of energy with rooftop solar. In Ukraine, however, the energy system has been bombarded, leaving schools and hospitals in desperate need of solar and battery storage systems.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn war, it is always the most vulnerable who suffer the most,\u201d says German solar associations BSW co-president J\u00f6rg Ebel.\u00a0 \u201cThis is why the German solar industry wanted to contribute to this campaign and kick off our \u2018Solar Aid\u2019 initiative so that we could equip schools with an improved electricity supply system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russian missile strikes frequently target energy infrastructure, ensuring power outages are commonplace nationwide. \u201cWe have seen that the war caused tremendous energy poverty among the population,\u201d said Director of Global Affairs at SolarPower Europe Mat\u00e9 Heisz. \u201cAnd solar can really help to alleviate this energy poverty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The resulting demand for backup power sparked action from SolarPower Europe, the German solar power industry associations (BSW) and Ukrainian counterpart (ASEU) to launch the\u00a0Solar Supports Ukraine\u00a0<\/em>donation campaign.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since the war began,\u00a0numerous European companies have started donating truckloads\u00a0of modules, batteries, inverters, and cables into the area. Meaning a coordinated platform and logistical plan already exists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ukrainian organizations including Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation and the Repower Ukraine Foundation will enable and organize the implementation of the projects. The groups understand the needs of\u00a0hospitals and schools\u00a0and can conduct preliminary project assessments. The two organizations seek donors who fund specific projects and tender the implementation to Ukrainian electric installers.<\/p>\n To ensure transparency, corporate donors can view the detailed calculations of the selected project. \u201cThe donors can take guardianship over an entire project and this allows for an efficient delivery by enabling Ukrainian installers\u201d explains\u00a0Jochen Hauff, director of corporate strategy at BayWa re, among the first corporate donors of the campaign.<\/p>\n Rather than donating some modules or an inverter, a company can implement a complete PV system. Hauff explains that this saves on the coordination of component delivery and compatibility when a single installation can include donations from five or six different donors.<\/p>\nUkrainian cooperation\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n