The Swedish Institute (SI) offers funding programs to academic cooperation projects in the Baltic region. This program provides support to Swedish universities to strengthen their cooperation with relevant institutions in the Baltic Sea region and the EU Eastern Partnership countries in the field of higher education and research. The project is an example of this kind of cooperation.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Rebuilding and strengthening Ukraine will require the creation and operation of a modern, stable energy system capable of achieving multiple objectives. Foremost, it is the preservation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and security against external aggression and fulfilling its aspiration to become a member of the European Union. Our current centralized energy systems, particularly thermal and nuclear power plants, are more vulnerable to military strikes compared to decentralized systems like solar and wind energy. Decentralized renewable energy systems also align with Ukraine’s need to meet environmental protection and climate change goals necessary for EU accession. Prior to the full-scale invasion, the share of renewable energy in Ukraine’s total consumption was 8% (excluding large hydropower plants) and was expected to increase to 32% by 2030 to meet the targets of the European Green Deal.
The Swedish Institute (SI) offers funding to Swedish universities and research institutes for bilateral and multilateral projects supporting academic institutions and target groups in Ukraine under the “Academic Collaboration in the Baltic Sea Region” program (EU Eastern Partnership). This includes joint participation in the research project “Ukrainian Sustainable Energy Systems” funded by SI.
Ukrainian institutions implementing “Sustainable Energy Systems of Ukraine” project are the Institute of Renewable Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IRE) and the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI). Both institutions are renowned for their research and educational programs. Engaging both institutions provides an opportunity to reach and shape both the current and future generations of energy professionals.
Achieving the above goal requires integrating best practices in designing and implementing sustainable energy systems and continuous advancement of technological and educational potential, alongside strengthening international research and educational networks, which have been severely disrupted by the war. To this end, IRE and KPI must adopt a flexible approach to capacity-building and educational initiatives, focusing on training specialists in renewable and unconventional energy generation and distribution systems. Leveraging international research and educational networks that facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices among international experts will be instrumental in developing more sustainable and resilient energy systems. Sweden’s energy system serves as a particularly relevant model for us, having achieved 54% renewable energy share in total consumption by 2018.
Specifically, IRE and KPI should ensure strengthening professional capacity-building by exchanging best practices with international experts in the design and implementation of renewable and unconventional energy systems. Given the urgency of Ukraine’s reconstruction, it is crucial to focus collaboration on practical, real-world solutions to facilitate the swift adoption of sustainable energy technologies. Access to advanced tools and models, as well as hands-on experience in designing, planning, and teaching sustainable energy systems, is also essential. For instance, access to specialized simulation software will facilitate knowledge exchange with international experts and enable the implementation of collaborative research and projects. By addressing these critical needs, the project will enhance teaching methodologies and tools, develop effective educational resources, and strengthen training programs for both current and future generations of energy professionals.
In addition to focusing on energy systems, ensuring Ukraine’s “green” reconstruction will require more robust and holistic approaches to energy design. The Project provides IRE and KPI professionals the opportunities to learn state-of-the-art design strategies. Moreover, the project offers a chance to expand and strengthen academic and professional networks ensuring alignment with contemporary standards and requirements for the design and implementation of energy systems.
By applying a “train-the-trainer” approach, the long-term objective of the “Sustainable Energy Systems of Ukraine” project is to build expertise and capacity of current and future generations of Ukrainian energy sector professionals enabling them to restore, rebuild, enhance and improve Ukraine’s energy systems.