Agro-Region Saves Electricity Thanks to Solar Panels

A year ago, Agro-Region Group of Companies launched its first solar station with a capacity of 100 kW. Today, three stations are already in operation with a total capacity of 142 kW, significantly reducing the consumption of electricity from the grid.

This was reported by the company’s Chief Power Engineer, Maksym Rudniev.

According to him, the installation of solar panels was a necessary step to increase the company’s energy efficiency and save costs. “The project will pay for itself in a few years, and after that, we will observe a significant reduction in electricity costs,” he comments.

The company is also working on implementing battery storage systems, which will allow the stations to operate autonomously even during complete power outages. This system not only provides real-time power to equipment but also stores excess energy.

“This will help reduce generator operating time and make us less dependent on the power grid,” notes the Chief Power Engineer.

It is worth mentioning that Agro-Region invested in solar energy development even before government loan programs were available, making this project a fully independent investment by the company.

“Despite a payback period of 4 to 5 years, we are already seeing a reduction in electricity consumption compared to previous periods, which, given the constant increase in electricity prices, is having a significant economic impact,” Rudniev adds.

The initial results speak for themselves: the station launched in September 2023 has already generated 61,515 kWh of electricity, and the second station, which began operating at the Borispol elevator in March 2024, has saved 20,446 kWh.

At the same time, Maksym Rudniev shares his experience in optimizing the process of implementing solar stations. He advises carefully analyzing energy consumption to properly calculate capacity and choosing the location for the station, taking into account lighting and possible shadows throughout the day.

“It is also important to immediately decide whether it will be a grid-tied station, which operates only when connected to the power grid, or a hybrid one, capable of functioning autonomously thanks to battery storage,” emphasizes the expert.

As of today, Agro-Region uses the stations to meet its own energy needs but is exploring the possibility of connecting one of them to the general grid to sell electricity.

“This could significantly shorten the project’s payback period and also help ease the load on Ukraine’s energy system. If there are more such stations and suppliers, it will be a substantial contribution to the country’s energy stability,” concludes Maksym Rudniev.