Serhiy Kovalenko, CEO of Yasno, has warned of a critical strain on Ukraine’s power grid due to the abnormal heatwave. He urged the public to charge their power banks and gadgets so that they are prepared for various scenarios.
- Serhiy Kovalenko warned of increased strain on the power grid.
- The abnormal heatwave is causing electricity consumption to rise.
- In Kyiv, every +3°C adds around 100 MW to the load.
- Ukrainians have been urged to charge their power banks and keep an eye on the news.
- The power grid is operating at full capacity due to the war.
The heatwave is placing a critical strain on the power grid
Managing Director of Yasno Serhiy Kovalenko warned that in the coming days the Ukrainian power grid would be operating under severe strain due to unusually hot weather. He urged citizens to charge their power banks and gadgets and to be prepared for various scenarios, although he expressed the hope that significant restrictions could be avoided.
The impact of hot weather on electricity consumption
Kovalenko noted that, alongside the spell of abnormal heat in Ukraine, there had been a sharp rise in load on the power system. This applies not only to domestic air-conditioning units, but also to large air-conditioning systems in offices, shopping centres, shops and industrial premises. According to his estimates, in Kyiv, every additional +3°C increases the load on the power grid by approximately 100 MW.
Problems with the power system during wartime
Kovalenko emphasised that the problem lies not only in high consumption. The Ukrainian power grid has been operating under wartime conditions for over four years and has withstood numerous Russian attacks. Following the winter shelling, power engineers managed to restore a significant proportion of the damaged equipment; however, the peak repair season is currently underway. Some power facilities are undergoing repairs, whilst others are operating almost at the limits of their technical capacity.
Recommendations for citizens
The head of Yasno noted that the power grid would be operating under extreme strain in the coming days. At the same time, he expressed the hope that the country would be able to get through this period without any large-scale power cuts. Nevertheless, Ukrainians have been advised to charge their power banks, mobile phones and other essential devices in advance, and to keep a close eye on official announcements from energy companies.
