Rebuilding Ukraine: Sumy region high-rise damaged by Russian shelling to receive renewable energy for heating

Over the next few months, a significant apartment complex in Trostianets, located in the Sumy region, will receive its heat from renewable energy sources. This pioneering project will use geothermal and solar energy to power the building.

Greenpeace reported that.

What is the problem?

The apartment building was severely damaged at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

What is the solution?

It is currently being rebuilt, taking into account environmental requirements, and is equipped with:

• two large heat pumps,
• solar panels.

After the renovation work is completed, 60 apartments, which house about 150 people, will be supplied with renewable energy.

How does it work?

The heating concept for the residential building has been developed over the past months through various feasibility studies. Installation will take place by spring 2025.

Two large heat pumps (a 38 kW air-to-water pump and an 80 kW groundwater pump) and a 10 kW/h solar photovoltaic system will be used.

The German private green energy cooperative Green Planet Energy, the Greenpeace Environmental Fund, and Greenpeace e.V fund the project.

"This project demonstrates the unstoppable will of the city of Trostianets to emerge from Russia's aggressive war stronger than ever before. The project is a real inspiration for Ukraine in these difficult times and another signal to Europe that many Ukrainians are ready to rely on future technologies," Andre Böhling, Greenpeace Project Manager, says.

"We want our citizens to have a better city after the reconstruction, where they can live comfortably. The money for reconstruction from Europe should be invested in the future, not in past technologies," Yuriy Bova, mayor of Trostianets, says.

Niels Müller from the German energy cooperative Green Planet Energy notes:

"Ukraine is experiencing a serious energy crisis. With their share of financing, our clients allow us to contribute to a safe and environmentally friendly energy supply for the residents of Trostianets."

Since the beginning of the year, Greenpeace has been supporting Trostianets in becoming a model city in terms of ecological reconstruction and green energy supply. This project aims to help develop ways and financing models to convert all 113 apartment buildings in the city and, in the future, in the country to future technologies, such as heat pumps and solar energy.

This will restore the electricity and heat supply destroyed by the aggressive Russian invasion, and the buildings will be provided with green energy.

For reference:

As of 2024, 71 residential high-rise buildings had been renovated in Kharkiv, and restoration work on 88 additional buildings is currently underway.