WSJ: Ukraine deploys US-made battery network to shield power grid

Ukraine has installed a network of large, US-designed battery systems to strengthen its power grid ahead of what is expected to be another winter of Russian missile and drone attacks, The Wall Street Journal writes.

After enduring three consecutive winters of bombardment, during which energy workers repaired damaged infrastructure under fire and millions of civilians faced long blackouts, the country’s energy companies are now turning to advanced battery storage technology to maintain electricity supply.

According to the artcile, Ukrainian authorities have classified both the locations and the protective measures of the new facilities to prevent them from becoming targets. The system, described as the largest battery network in Ukraine, includes six so-called battery parks in Kyiv and the Dnipropetrovsk region. Each park comprises a series of white blocks about 2.5 meters high.

With a combined capacity of 200 megawatts, the network can provide power to roughly 600,000 homes for up to two hours — a capability that allows operators to stabilise the grid after strikes and avert widespread outages, WSJ noted.

The batteries, supplied by US company Fluence, are designed with modularity in mind, enabling damaged units to be quickly replaced without interrupting the system’s operation.

Fluence CEO Julian Nebreda said the units are easy to maintain and equipped with essential fire safety systems, which he emphasised are particularly critical under wartime conditions in Ukraine.

By Sabina Mammadli