No longer Soviet — Ukraine’s energy system completes synchronization with European grid

“The Ukrainian energy system fully complies with the technical requirements of ENTSO-E,” CEO of national power operator Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, said on Nov. 29.

The official confirmation came during a meeting in Brussels, where system operators from continental Europe recognized Ukrenergo’s implementation of crucial technical measures for seamless synchronization.

ENTSO-E, acknowledging the accomplishment, has not only affirmed the synchronization but also increased the technical capacity for electricity imports from Europe to Ukraine and Moldova by 500 MW, reaching a total of 1700 MW. This decision follows extensive studies ensuring the secure and stable synchronous operation of the Ukrainian and European energy systems.

“This is a significant contribution to the resilience of our energy system during cold spells and potential enemy attacks on energy facilities,” added Kudrytskyi.

The synchronization process began in March 2022, as Ukraine urgently joined the European energy system in response to Russian aggression.

“Today’s decision by ENTSO-E is the best response to the question about the Soviet technical background of the Ukrainian power system, which supposedly distinguishes it from the European one,” said Kudrytskyi.

“It also definitively puts an end to the question of whether our country’s energy system complies with European energy standards. But today is not the end, rather a significant acceleration in further cooperation between Ukrenergo and ENTSO-E.”

“Ahead is the development of a joint energy security system and the creation of a unified electricity market with Europe,” said Kudrytskyi.