Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Schneider Electric has launched line of 10–40 kVA UPS systems for businesses

Schneider Electric has introduced a new generation of Easy UPS 3S Pro three-phase uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) with capacities ranging from 10 to 40 kVA, designed for small and medium-sized businesses, small data centers, medical facilities, manufacturing plants, commercial buildings, and telecommunications and transportation infrastructure.

The company announced the launch of the solution in markets that adhere to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, specifically in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Schneider Electric Ukraine has not yet issued a separate announcement regarding the start of sales for the new product line directly in Ukraine.

The Easy UPS 3S Pro is available in versions with internal and external battery packs. The equipment’s efficiency exceeds 96% in double-conversion mode and reaches 99% in ECO mode, which helps reduce the system’s own energy consumption.
For facilities with increasing loads, parallel operation of multiple UPS units is supported—both to increase power capacity and to provide redundancy according to the N+1 configuration. The systems can also share a common battery bank, which helps reduce capital expenditures on battery infrastructure.

The equipment is designed to operate under various operating conditions. It features a wide temperature range, dust filters, and a protective coating on the electronic circuit boards. The Easy Loop function allows certain system tests to be performed without connecting a separate load bank.
Schneider Electric has placed special emphasis on remote monitoring. The built-in Network Management Card enables monitoring via the EcoStruxure IT platform, and BACnet support allows the UPS to be integrated into building management systems.

The network management module is certified to the IEC 62443-4-2 cybersecurity standard, which is becoming increasingly important as power supply, automation, and IT infrastructure systems converge.

For the Ukrainian market, the new product line is of particular interest given the need to improve the energy resilience of facilities where even a brief power outage or degradation in power quality can lead to operational shutdowns. This includes server rooms and data centers, telecommunications equipment, manufacturing facilities, medical institutions, retail, and other critical infrastructure.

At the same time, a UPS does not replace power generation or long-term battery energy storage. Its primary function is to ensure the continuity and quality of the power supply, as well as to support the load until a generator starts up, a switchover to another line occurs, or another backup source is connected.
Schneider Electric has been operating in Ukraine since 1994. The company is present in more than 100 countries worldwide and employs approximately 160,000 people.

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“Nibulon” Has Installed Solar Power Plants at Three More Grain Elevator Complexes

In the summer of 2026, Nibulon Joint Venture LLC installed ground-mounted solar power plants (SPPs) at its Bessarabsk, Zolotonosha, and Denykhiv branches, the company’s press service reported.

As a result, five grain elevator complexes are now equipped with solar power plants, accounting for over 20% of the company’s total capacity. Depending on the elevator’s operating mode, each SPP covers between 25% and 50% of its electricity needs, the statement noted.

The solar power plants at the three branches have a total capacity of up to 350 kW each and are equipped with 546–566 double-sided solar panels with a capacity of up to 620 W. The plants can operate either from the external power grid or in conjunction with diesel generators in the event of a power outage.
The company noted that the development of its own solar power generation is part of its decarbonization strategy. By 2030, Nibulon plans to equip 30% of its grain elevator complexes with solar power plants.

Installing solar power plants reduces the need to purchase electricity on the market and allows surplus electricity to be fed into regional power grids. Additionally, operating solar power plants alongside diesel generators reduces diesel fuel consumption during scheduled or emergency power outages.

Before the war, Nibulon Joint Venture LLC cultivated 82,000 hectares of land across 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries worldwide. In 2021, the grain trader exported 5.64 million metric tons of agricultural products—the highest volume in its history. After the war began, the company was forced to relocate its headquarters from Mykolaiv to Kyiv. Currently, “Nibulon” cultivates 52,000 hectares of land across four clusters. In addition to 23 grain elevator complexes, Nibulon has its own trucking and rail capabilities, as well as a fleet built at its own shipyard. Even during wartime, this fleet continues to provide river transportation services.

The company is also actively developing its own humanitarian demining unit to restore safety on leased lands and assist Ukraine’s agricultural sector. It is a certified mine action operator.

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Oil Refining Capacity in Europe and U.S. Will Decline — Experts

Oil refining capacity in Europe and the U.S. will decline over the next decade, while it will continue to grow in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, according to forecasts by S&P Global Energy experts.

Western governments are urging companies to expand refinery capacity to ensure uninterrupted supplies of critical resources during future crises, but investors are reluctant to fund new projects, which will create problems in the future—both in Europe and North America, the Financial Times reports.
This year, refineries in the U.S. and Europe are operating near full capacity as the industry struggles to cope with shortages caused by the war in the Middle East, and they are generating high profits.

According to a forecast by S&P Global Energy, European refinery capacity will decline by 20% over the next ten years through 2035, to a level slightly above 9 million barrels per day (bpd). Last year, facilities with a combined refining capacity of about 500,000 b/d were shut down in Europe, and the United Kingdom, for example, lost two of its six refineries.
S&P Global Energy also expects U.S. capacity to decline by 7% over this period, to 16.7 million bpd.

The energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East has not altered the industry’s trajectory, notes Daniel Evans, who is responsible for the oil refining market at S&P Global.
“Recent supply disruptions have forced a reassessment of the strategic importance of the refining industry in the West. But does this change the long-term fundamentals? I would say most likely not,” he noted.

Unlike in North America and Europe, companies in China, the Middle East, India, and Africa have built large, new, and highly competitive refineries.

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Ukraine plans to increase its available electrical capacity to 21.4 GW by end of year

Ukraine currently has 15 GW of electrical capacity available, including cogeneration and imports, and by the end of the year, this figure is expected to rise to 21.4 GW, provided there is no significant damage resulting from Russian attacks, First Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Denys Shmyhal said during Question Time with the government in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.

According to him, nuclear power accounts for over 40%, thermal power plants for 25%, and hydropower for 15%.
“Six of the nine nuclear power plant units are generating electricity; three units are undergoing scheduled maintenance, and scheduled maintenance has already been completed on five units,” Shmyhal said.

The Minister of Energy noted that Ukraine continues to increase its power generation capacity, which is expected to reach 19.6 GW by November 1 and 21.4 GW by the end of the year, provided that the already restored capacity is not damaged by Russia.
“The power grid is operating stably, but everything can change depending on the intensity of Russian air attacks during the evening peak period,” Shmyhal emphasized.

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Finland to Allocate EUR28.5 Million for the Reconstruction of Ukraine’s Energy Sector

Finland is supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine’s war-torn energy sector by allocating 28.5 million euros from its development cooperation funds.

According to a press release from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the total cost of the power plant technology is 46.5 million euros, with Ukraine financing the remainder of the project on its own.
Wärtsilä Finland Oy was selected as the supplier. The power plants will be manufactured in Vaasa, which will also contribute to job creation, the development of expertise, and exports in Finland.

The Ukrainian state-owned energy company Ukrnafta is purchasing these power plants to ensure energy production in the country. Reliable energy production is of vital importance, especially during the winter months, when Russian attacks on energy infrastructure complicate daily life in Ukraine.
According to Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio, this project combines Finland’s support for Ukraine with the advantages of Finnish technology.

“Finland possesses world-class expertise in the energy sector, which can be of great help to Ukraine in its recovery efforts. I am pleased that Finnish technology and Finnish workers are contributing to strengthening the security of Ukraine’s energy supply. At the same time, this project promotes Finnish exports and employment,” Minister Tavio noted.

Finland’s funding for the project is provided through the Finnish-Ukrainian Investment Fund (FUIF). The FUIF’s goal is to support public investments in Ukraine using Finnish technology, expertise, and services. Finland’s financial resources will be used to cover the interest expenses and principal amount of the investment loan that Ukraine will receive. Finvera is providing a 100% export guarantee for this loan.

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Azerbaijan Intends to Enter European Electricity Market

Azerbaijan intends to increase electricity exports to neighboring countries and enter the European energy market, said the country’s president, Ilham Aliyev.

“By expanding our export capabilities to neighboring countries, we will also enter the European market. After all, we have already entered the European market with our oil and gas, but we want to enter it with electricity as well,” Aliyev said in an interview with the Azerbaijani state television channel AzTV.

According to him, the only route for supplying electricity to Europe currently runs through Georgia and Turkey, but Azerbaijan intends to expand the number of export routes. In this regard, a feasibility study for the Black Sea Energy project has already been prepared.

In addition, in November 2024, as part of COP29, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to lay an electrical cable along the bottom of the Caspian Sea.

“Azerbaijan will establish itself as a country that generates, receives, transmits, and exports electricity,” Aliyev said.

He also noted that the capacity of solar power plants in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) could reach 500 MW, and up to 1 GW in the future.

“The main issue here is export capacity. To achieve this, of course, negotiations must be held with the relevant authorities in the respective countries, and these are already underway,” the president said.

At the same time, Aliyev noted that the existing power transmission lines from the NAR to Iran and Turkey have limited capacity, which needs to be increased.

“That is, for exporting 500 megawatts—or even 1,000 megawatts—of electricity, there are currently two routes: one to Turkey and the other to Iran. But in the future, this could also include Europe,” he said.

The head of state added that Azerbaijan’s plans to export electricity are in line with the interests of the countries “surrounding us.”

“It’s just that coordination efforts here must be carried out properly, at the necessary level, and negotiations must be accelerated. I can say that negotiations on this matter are currently underway with both Turkey and Iran. It’s too early to say anything for sure,” the president said.

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