What to do with backup power when there are no shutdowns

Thanks to our energy, air defense, and the partners who transferred energy equipment, we managed not only to stabilize the state of the power system at the level of last year, but also to significantly improve it. At least, this is directly indicated by the amount of electricity shutdowns this winter.

Businesses and residents also came to this by installing backup power systems on the basis of gas and diesel generators, cogeneration units, hybrid solar power plants and accumulation systems: from charging stations to full -fledged reservation systems for a house or apartment.

Many now have the question of what to do with all this, if the shutdowns are no longer. To answer it, let’s look at the work of our energy system, its interaction with the European Union, to which we connect.

The peculiarity of the power supply system is the need to consume as much energy per unit of time as it is produced. This has a great impact on its cost. If the electricity is produced too much, the price is reduced. If there is a shortage, installations with high cost of electricity (coal and gas generators) should be included and the cost is increasing. A large number of solar power plants leads to a low cost of electricity in light of the day on sunny days.

Below are the cost and volume of electricity purchase during the day for several days of March 2025. As we can see, the cost of electricity ranges from 10 kopecks. for a kWh on a sunny day up to 8-9 UAH in the evening (and whether it is a working day or a day off). At night, electricity costs 2-3 UAH. for kWh. It should be noted that these prices are indicated without value added tax and do not include the cost of supply and distribution of electricity (about 2.5 UAH per kWh).

Sales volumes and electricity price on the « a day in advance »

Source oree.com.ua

A similar trend is observed in the analysis of the volume of electricity in the EU market: in the evening we import from Hungary, Poland and Slovakia about as much electricity as produces a block of a nuclear power plant.

Electricity purchase volumes from EU countries

Source: Newtransparency.entsoe.eu

Therefore, the main area of ​​use of accumulation and reservation systems that has been installed is the accumulation of electricity in sunny hours or at night and its use or sale in the evening, when demand, and therefore the price is the highest.

Currently, only companies can operate in this market. For household consumers there is an option « Night tariff », and in the future, I think, it will be possible to receive electricity at prices in the market. The weighted average prices, taking into account the supply and distribution for commercial consumers, are currently 2-2.5 times higher than for household, therefore, UAH 4.32 per kWh is not forever.

Realizing what is happening in the electricity market and how we can influence it, let us try to form the most effective options for using equipment for reservation in the uninterrupted operation of the power system.

Gasoline and diesel generators will only remain as a backup source. The cost of electricity from them does not allow to compete with electricity from the electrical network, but while fighting is going, it is a very good Donat for military and civilians near the collision line, where there is no power supply.

Natural gas generators at the cost of gas 16-20 UAH per cubic meter. m give electricity at a cost of 5-6 UAH per kWh. They are competitive in the evening, especially for enterprises, where the cost of electricity, taking into account the distribution and delivery at this time, can exceed 10 UAH. Such generators can become a source of electricity in peak hours and reduce the need for its import.

Inverters and battery -based accumulation systems, as well as powerful charging stations, stationaryly connected to the house or apartment network, probably were the most rational choice of their time. These include installations of more than 3 kW with drives more than 2 kWh.

These systems can be used to accumulate electricity in hours when it is cheap and used in periods when it is expensive. This will save the company budget or company budget, help the energy system and reduce imports. If possible, they can be supplemented with solar panels, which have become significantly cheaper, even more reducing the cost of electricity for their own needs.

Solar generation in the current environment is interesting for your own needs. The « green » tariff is coming to an end and selling electricity on the market of 10-50 kopecks. Not very interesting. Although the option to accumulate and sell it is more expensive in the evening.

Small charging stations (up to 2 kW of capacity with a storage of up to 2 kWh) have a significant impact on energy efficiency, but as a good source of uninterrupted power for important equipment-completely. They can also be used as a quiet source of electricity away from home, which was created for. I hope that the time to relax in nature soon will come.

Currently, this is a necessary thing for fighters at the front who need recharging for drones and rays and nourishment for old men, so it can be a great donate.

Roofing solar stations will provide, at least in the summer, full autonomy and minimizing the cost of electricity purchased from the electrical network.

Among the options for improving the efficiency of these systems is the adjustment of batteries and discharge of batteries in such a way that it is as complete as possible to use solar generation, and if there is still excess, then use it to heat water or other needs, replacing not only electricity but also natural gas.

In the future, such facilities can be combined into « virtual power plants » that will fit flexibly to the needs of the power system, based on a single center. Their placement will greatly complicate the task of switching off electricity to all.

Therefore, in spite of all, Ukraine and Ukrainians have become more stable and energy independent, have learned to survive and provide themselves with comfort during the massacre of Russians on the power system, and in the future most of our reservation systems will help to build a stable power system and become a simple consumer into an « active ».

Technologies in the world have reached the level when it became possible and affordable. Ukraine can become one of the first countries where every house or enterprise is a full -fledged participant in the electricity market.

In the end, I thank everyone involved in operation and restoration of power systems: electric, gas and thermal networks. They have made a miracle that will have long been studying at lectures to ensure the stability of power systems around the world.