Unbalanced Energy System of Ukraine as an Issue of Energy Security

Abstract

The military conflict on the territory of Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014. Russia annexed Crimea and seized the territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The analysis of state development strategies and plans for the development of the energy system (2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020)(2021) showed that the pessimistic scenario of a full-scale military aggression by Russia and, accordingly, an attack on critical infrastructure facilities to ensure the energy security of the country was not foreseen.The issue of balancing the energy system was one of the urgent measures to ensure energy security, but it was not implemented on time [1; 2].As of February 2022, the Ukrainian energy system was one of the most powerful in Europe: among the top 10 countries in Europe in terms of installed power generation capacity; among the top 3 gas producers; owner of the largest underground gas storage facilities in Europe and one of the highest shares of carbonneutral generation in Europe (about 70% of electricity is produced by nuclear, hydro and renewable generation). The volume of investments in 2021 increased by 93%. In accordance with the European energy vector of development, in 2021 the unified energy system of Ukraine was prepared for the requirements necessary for synchronization with ENTSO-E. The transmission system operator has passed the international certification and all necessary measures have been taken to ensure that in 2022 the unified energy system of Ukraine will be tested in isolated mode.While the unified energy system of Ukraine began operating as an 'energy island', Russia launched a full-scale invasion.According to the report of the Governmental Working Group, specially created by the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 266/2022 of 21 April 2022 "Issues of the National Council for Overcoming the Consequences of the War" and presented in Lugano (Switzerland) in 2022, the total installed capacity of power plants of the IPS of Ukraine (excluding the generating capacities of the Crimean energy system and the temporarily uncontrolled territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions) is 56 247 MW, of which 49.7% are thermal power plants (in particular, TPPs, CHPs, block stations), 24.6% nuclear power plants, 11.2% hydroelectric power plants and pumped storage power plants, 14.5% power plants operating on renewable energy sources, namely wind power plants, solar power plants, bioenergy plants.The unified energy system of Ukraine (UES) is the backbone of the country's power industry, which provides centralized electricity supply to domestic consumers, interacts with the power systems of neighboring countries, and ensures export and