Microgrids for critical
infrastructure of Ukraine
Since October 2022, Ukraine has experienced an unprecedented series of attacks on energy infrastructure. Hospitals, water utilities, telecom towers and industrial facilities were without electricity for hours, and sometimes for days. A microgrid is not a luxury, but a necessity for any critical infrastructure facility.
What is a microgrid?
A microgrid is a local energy system that can work as connected to the central network, and autonomous (island mode). Unlike a simple generator or UPS, a microgrid is an intelligent system of several energy sources and automatic control.
Microgrid components:
- Generation: Solar panels (PV), wind generators, or micro-CHP
- Accumulation: BESS (LiFePO4) is the heart of the system, providing instant switching and smoothing
- Reserve: Diesel generator (for long outages when BESS+PV is not enough)
- Management: EMS (Energy Management System) is the "brain" of the microgrid, makes decisions about flow distribution
- Chain: Connection to the central network (grid) as the main or auxiliary source
Why Ukraine needs microgrids NOW
Starting from October 2022 years, Russia is systematically attacking the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Consequences for critical objects:
October-December 2022
The first wave of massive strikes. 40% of generating capacity was destroyed. Hospitals switch to diesel generators. Water channels are stopped for 6-12 hours.
Winter 2022-2023
Fan outages for 4-12 hours. Industrial enterprises lose up to 30% of productivity. Telecom operators are massively installing diesel generators on towers.
Autumn-winter 2023-2024
The second wave of attacks. Capacity deficit up to 6 GW. Blackout schedules are becoming the norm. The business buys generators en masse.
2024-2025
The attacks continue. The government announces a course for energy decentralization. Microgrids are recognized as a priority for critical infrastructure.
2025-2026
The first large-scale microgrid projects for hospitals and water utilities. BESS is becoming more affordable ($50-70/kWh at the cell level).
Key use cases
Hospitals and medical centers
Criticality: Patients' lives depend on electricity. Intensive care, operating rooms, ventilators cannot stop even for a second.
Solutions: 100 kW PV + 500 kWh BESS + 100 kVA diesel. Switching time: 20 ms (imperceptible to equipment). Autonomy: 72 hours.
Cost: ~$280,000. Payback Period: 4 years (tariff cost reduction + no downtime).
Water channels and pumping stations
Criticality: Stopping the water supply is a risk of contamination, a sanitary disaster. Sewage pumps cannot stop.
Solutions: 50 kW PV + 200 kWh BESS. The pumping equipment works autonomously for 8-12 hours. Diesel is connected automatically to continue.
Cost: ~$120,000. Savings on the tariff: $25,000/year.
Telecom towers and base stations
Criticality: Mobile communication is the basis of communication during martial law. Each tower serves thousands of subscribers.
Solutions: 5 kW PV + 30 kWh BESS (48V DC native). Completely replaces the diesel generator. Autonomy: 24+ hours.
Cost: ~$18,000. Fuel savings: $8,000/year. Payback Period: 2.5 years.
Military objects
Criticality: Headquarters, command posts, radar stations need uninterrupted power supply. Diesel is noisy and has a heat footprint.
Solutions: Mobile microgrid in a container: PV + BESS. Quiet operation, no heat trace. Compliance with NATO STANAG standards.
Advantages: Reduction of fuel logistics by 70%.
Grid-forming vs Grid-following inverters
This is the key technical difference that determines whether your microgrid will be able to operate autonomously:
- Grid-following (GFL): The inverter "follows" the frequency and voltage of the network. When the network disappears, it turns off. Cannot run in island mode on its own. Most budget inverters are GFL.
- Grid-forming (GFM): The inverter itself creates a reference frequency (50 Hz) and voltage (380V). Can work without an external network. Provides black start — starting the entire system of zero after a complete power outage. Mandatory for microgrids.
Attention: Not all BESS support island mode!
Most cheap systems use grid-following inverters. For a microgrid of critical infrastructure, be sure to request grid-forming inverter of certification on islanding. Manufacturers: SMA Sunny Island, Victron Quattro, Deye SUN-30K-SG04LP3, Sungrow SH-RT (HV series).
Comparison of solutions
| Parameter | Network only | Network + diesel | Network + BESS | Microgrid (PV+BESS+diesel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uptime | 92-95% | 99% | 99.9% | 99.99% |
| Switch time | — | 10-30 sec | 20 ms | 20 ms |
| Fuel costs | $0 | $15-40K/yr | $0 | $2-5K/year (min.) |
| Autonomy | 0 | While there is fuel | 4-12 hours | 72+ hours |
| Service | Min. | High (oil, filters) | Minimal | low |
| Noise / emissions | No | High | No | Minimal |
| CAPEX (500 kW) | $0 | $50-80K | $150-200K | $250-350K |
| Black start | No | yes (slow) | Yes (GFM) | Yes (instant) |
Uptime by solution (%)
On the database for 2024, critical infrastructure of Ukraine
Cost of energy for 10 years ($/kWh)
TCO including CAPEX, fuel, maintenance, downtime losses
* Including cost of downtime and loss of production
Case: Hospital in Kharkiv region
Regional hospital with 400 beds. Critical equipment: resuscitation (50 kW), operating rooms (30 kW), laboratory (20 kW), oxygen concentrators (15 kW). Total critical load: 115 kW.
Solutions: 100 kW PV (rooftop) + 500 kWh BESS (LiFePO4, Deye) + existing 200 kVA diesel (as third level backup). Grid-forming inverter SMA Sunny Island.
- Autonomy from BESS: 500 kWh / 115 kW = 4.3 hours (BESS only)
- Autonomy of PV: In summer, PV covers 80% of the load, BESS discharges to 20% → autonomy 20+ hours
- Autonomy is complete: With a diesel connection as an extension cord — 72+ hours
- Project cost: $285,000 (after VAT and duty benefits)
- Saving: $45,000/year (peak shaving + replacement of part of diesel fuel)
- Payback Period: 4 years (taking into account grant co-financing — 2.5 years)
Stages of microgrid implementation
1. Energy audit (2-4 weeks)
Load analysis, identification of critical consumers, 24/7 consumption profile monitoring, insolation estimation for PV.
2. Design (4-8 weeks)
PV and BESS capacity calculation, equipment selection, power supply project, approval of OSR, RZA project.
3. Optional procedure (2-6 weeks)
Approval of Oblenergo, DSNS (fire safety), construction passport (for systems >30 kW).
4. Installation and commissioning (6-12 weeks)
Installation of PV, BESS, inverters, EMS. Setting up island mode. Switching testing.
5. Commissioning (1-2 weeks)
Final testing, staff training, act of technical readiness, connection of monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a microgrid cost for a small business?
Is it possible to completely disconnect from the central network?
What happens at night or on cloudy days without the network?
Is a diesel generator needed in a microgrid?
What is the minimum BESS power for island mode?
Is there government funding for microgrids?
Conclusions
A microgrid is not just a "generator + battery". It intelligent energy system, which provides uninterrupted power supply, reduces electricity costs and makes the facility independent of the state of the central network. For the critical infrastructure of Ukraine, this question is not "whether it is necessary", but "when to install it".
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