Lessons from Certain Global South Countries in development of decentralized energy systems and increasing end use energy efficiency: What can be implemented in Ukraine?

More than 1.2 billion people worldwide lack access to electricity in their homes. As a result, they are forced to burn expensive and polluting fuels for their basic lighting and cooking needs.

Until Russia began its brutal targeted attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine has never been on the list of countries with electricity shortages. Before the loss of Crimea in 2014, its installed generation capacity was 55 gigawatts. During the full-scale Russian invasion and attacks on energy systems starting in 2022, Ukraine’s power sector suffered significant losses. As of 2024, Ukraine has been left with only 13 gigawatts of operational power generation, less than a quarter of its normal supply.

Clean energy decentralisation is about more than just small solutions for a short-term crisis. Installing individual small distributed generation facilities creates real energy security, and helps provide critical services to people. This area has broad prospects for modernising energy infrastructure, helps align with European Union goals and integration, and contributes to resilient local economies in Ukrainian communities. Each can become a sustainable eco-fortress that develops its own local infrastructure and creates better conditions for people and businesses.

Transitioning to renewable energy sources eliminates the need for importing dirty and expensive fossil fuels, and also stimulates innovation and drives job creation in the renewable energy sector.

So how can such a transition be implemented in Ukraine?

Razom We Stand has explored the pros and cons based on the experiences of Kenya, South Africa, Indonesia, and Brazil, as each of these countries has something in common with Ukrainian reality.

The research has been carried out by NGO Razom We Stand with the support of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Kyiv Office - Ukraine.