Did Ukraine get a loan to build a battery energy storage complex?

Solar panels of a rooftop in Kyiv, Ukraine. March 2, 2023. (Julia Kochetova/Bloomberg via Getty Images) This audio is created with AI assistance Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK secured a $72-million loan to build one of the largest battery energy storage complexes in Eastern Europe, the company said on June 3.

Who is funding the energy storage project in Ukraine?

Ukraine’s second most profitable bank, state-owned Oschadbank, state-owned Ukrgasbank, and PUMB will provide the funding for the project, which includes six energy storage installations across the country, totaling 200 megawatts to power 600,000 households.

Is DTEK the largest private investment in Ukraine's energy sector?

It marked the largest ever private investment in Ukraine’s energy sector. Unlike other state-owned energy companies in Ukraine, DTEK hasn’t been able to secure funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Could battery energy storage be a path to decentralization and unification?

The company sees battery energy storage facilities as a path to decentralization and unification with the EU. In March, DTEK announced it was building Poland’s first large electricity storage facility as part of its plan to establish a pan-European energy system connected to Ukraine.

What are battery energy storage facilities?

Battery energy storage facilities are like a large power bank connected to energy grids, and are crucial for storing energy created by renewables like solar and wind for later use. The share of renewable energy in Ukraine's grid was about 10% before Russia’s full-scale invasion. Kyiv wants to up this to 27% by 2030.