The key facts

  • Klitschko named Kyiv's demand of 2 GW and three reasons why generators will not replace centralized power supply
  • Hospitals, schools, social institutions and wastewater facilities are already equipped with generators; additional equipment for water supply is planned by December
  • Emergency power outages are in effect in Kyiv and four regions

Why generators do not solve the problem

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in an interview with the Suspilne TV channel that the city cannot supply itself with electricity using generators alone. According to him, Kyiv needs about 2 GW of capacity, and it is impossible to fully cover such demand with backup units, although many see generators as a panacea capable of replacing central power supply. This was reported by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru.

Three named reasons

Klitschko listed several limitations of the backup scheme. First, there is the scale of the city's energy needs. Second, the cost: due to unprecedentedly high fuel prices in Ukraine, electricity produced by generators is extremely expensive. Third, the units cannot operate continuously: they require regular and fairly lengthy technical breaks for maintenance. The mayor emphasized that backup sources are designed primarily for temporary operation in emergencies, not for round-the-clock use.

What has already been done and what is planned

According to Klitschko, the city has already equipped hospitals, schools, key social institutions and wastewater facilities with generators; backup power is also provided for the water intake. By December, the authorities intend to install additional equipment to reduce the risk of water supply disruptions. This is reported by Life.ru.

Context of the power system

Earlier, Life.ru reported the introduction of emergency power outages in Kyiv and four more regions of Ukraine: regular electricity supply schedules ceased to apply during the emergency measures, and energy companies did not name exact dates for returning to them. It was also reported that in Kyiv electricity was supplied for only 1.5 hours a day. On November 6, the Russian Defense Ministry statedthat the Russian Armed Forces carried out drone strikes on facilities of Ukraine's energy sector and on sea vessels used in the interests of the Ukrainian army — Gazeta.Ru cites this information with reference to the ministry.