With the support of international partners, a new 2 MW solar power plant has been commissioned at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP). It will provide power to critical infrastructure facilities at the plant, including the New Safe Confinement, radioactive waste management facilities and spent nuclear fuel storage facilities. First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal announced this.

“This own generation capacity makes the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant more resilient and less dependent on external electricity supply and is one of the necessary conditions for nuclear and radiation safety. Across Ukraine, the installed capacity of solar power plants has already reached 7.6 GW. This is an important component of our resilience,” the Minister of Energy emphasized.

According to him, the total budget of the project to construct the solar power plant at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exceeds USD 825,000. The project was implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the governments of Lithuania and Japan. In particular, Lithuania provided 7,296 solar panels and 17 grid-tied inverters as humanitarian assistance. UNDP, with funding from Japan, provided additional equipment, installation and commissioning of the plant.

“The plant will generate more than 2 million kWh of clean electricity annually. This accounts for 5% of the annual electricity consumption of the industrial site and will enable savings of approximately USD 365,000 per year. The savings will be allocated to the modernization, replacement and renewal of critical equipment required for the safe decommissioning of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant,” the Minister noted.

“Chornobyl reminds us that nuclear safety is a shared responsibility that extends across countries and generations,” said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator and UN Coordinator for International Cooperation on Chornobyl, during the official ceremony marking the commissioning of the solar power plant. “Across Ukraine, UNDP supports the development of renewable energy to strengthen energy resilience and accelerate the country’s green transition. The new solar power plant — currently our largest solar generation project in Ukraine — extends this support to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, whose safe and uninterrupted operation matters not only for Ukraine, but far beyond its borders.”

Yo Osumi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, also addressed the ceremony and emphasized Japan’s continued cooperation with Ukraine.

“This solar energy project reflects the development of our bilateral cooperation: from addressing the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster and sharing the experience of Fukushima, to ensuring nuclear safety in wartime and investing in a more resilient future. May today’s achievement serve as a new starting point, and may we continue working together towards a safer, more sustainable and more resilient energy future for Ukraine and the world,” Osumi said.

Denys Shmyhal thanked international partners for their support for Ukraine and joint efforts to strengthen nuclear and energy security in Ukraine and throughout the region.