Wind Energy for Ukraine's Recovery

In Ukraine, whose energy infrastructure is currently heavily bombed by Russia, wind power plants play a key role in stabilizing the energy grid and helping restore life in communities. To support this transformation, the Partnership Foundation held a seminar from November 25–27 in the city of Stryj on the topic The Process of Preparing a Wind Farm: Fair Partnership Between Investor, Local Authorities, and NGOs. The seminar was attended by 30 Ukrainian leaders who completed our internships. The event connected experts, community representatives, and NGOs who discussed how to link renewable energy with local needs.

Wind Energy as a Step Toward Recovery

The seminar in Stryj emphasized the importance of renewables not only in post-war recovery. Using the example of the Oriv village wind farm, participants learned how wind energy can already play a key role in stabilizing the war-damaged power grid. A tour led by Ekooptima representative Yuriy Fedak showed that wind turbines, thanks to flexible operation, maintain grid balance and help ensure energy stability even under crisis conditions. Bombing is much harder when power is stable.

“Recovery is not just about returning things to their original state but building a more resilient future,” said participant Oleh Pylypenko. “The most important thing communities must do now is focus on global changes – renewable energy and what their communities can look like in ten years.”

Model Cooperation: The Key to Fair Development

The seminar combined expert lectures with practical experience and inspiration. “I thought it would be a typical grant project, but this was a different experience. Thanks to the organizers, we took away not only knowledge but also energy that we will carry back to our communities,” commented participant Kostiantyn Orlovsky.

An important part of the seminar was a public hearing simulation where participants discussed from the perspectives of mayors, investors, environmentalists, and local associations. This interactive session showed how crucial communication between sectors and respect for legal and ecological limits are.

Participants could observe how this process works in practice through the Oriv park example. The mayor of nearby spa town Truskavec, a well-known resort in the Carpathians, praised communication with the investor during project preparation.

“Several meetings took place discussing the benefits the wind farm installation would bring to the municipality. The biggest benefit is the reinforcement and maintenance of the access road connecting Truskavec with the village of Oriv, on whose land the turbines were built. Residents now have only five kilometers to school or the doctor instead of the original twenty.”

Partnership Beyond Borders

“I am glad it was you who came to us, not the other way around. This gives us faith that Europe will not abandon us and that we have a chance for victory and development,” said seminar participant Nina Pohorila.

The seminar in Stryj is part of follow-up actions organized by the Partnership Foundation for carefully selected representatives of Ukrainian communities who completed our internships in the Czech Republic. We strive to continue supporting them in Ukraine’s sustainable recovery by providing the tools they need. We believe that at the end of our efforts awaits not only a sustainable country but also a network of strong leaders who will be the building blocks of a better tomorrow for Ukraine.

This project Workshop and Experience Sharing on Wind Farms – Ridnya /Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation, is implemented under an agreement between the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic and Helvetas Ukraine, titled ‘Support for the Economic Development of Internally Displaced Persons and War-Affected Populations in Ukraine,’ in cooperation with the Czech Development Agency.