Specialists of the DTEK Renewables company have restored the Niko Solar solar power plant (SPP) in the Mykolaiv region. This is DTEK Renewables’ first such external project.
DTEK Renewables has acquired unique expertise in restoring RES facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by military operations. The new service has been developed using the experience of fixing its own SPPs. In October 2022, following the liberation of part of the southern territories from the russian* occupiers, the partially damaged Trifonivska SPP was returned to Ukrainian hands. The DTEK Renewables specialists restored its operation in a few weeks and later repaired it to 100% capacity.
Oleksandr Selishchev, the CEO of DTEK Renewables, said, "Green energy is the key to Ukraine's energy security. Therefore, we did not hesitate to join the restoration of our colleagues' solar plant so that the region would once again have such important megawatts of distributed generation. We are also ready to help other companies so that people are sure of a reliable source of energy supply next winter.”
90% of the generating equipment of the Niko Solar SPP, which has capacity of 5.7 MW, was damaged by russian shelling.
Vasyl Kushniriov, manager of technical supervision and facility commissioning of the company, said, "When we arrived at the facility, the enemy had almost destroyed the station. Solar panels were scattered, and tables with panels were broken. The picture was not pleasant, but we were motivated to breathe new life into the station."
DTEK Renewables moved its construction site to the station, where employees lived and worked while rebuilding and repairing the SPP. The task was to examine, repair and replace energy equipment, calibrate solar panels, reassemble them, perform connection and adjustment, and install an automated control system to achieve the highest possible level of SPP generation.
Kostyantyn Styopin, manager of technical supervision and facility commissioning, said, "The damage to the station was significant, augmented by fires due to short circuits. About 20 people worked on the project every day. All power equipment had to be handled manually, making it a difficult and time-consming job."
As a result, the DTEK Renewables team restored 60% of the generating capacity of the SPP (3 MW) in a record 40 days, and it is already generating electricity for the region again.
DTEK Renewables is always open to help restore other green generation facilities in Ukraine, helping strengthen Ukraine’s energy security and independence.
