The challenges of installing gas turbine units (GTUs) in Ukraine include synchronization with the power grid and the modernization of distribution equipment, according to Vadim Litvinenko, the executive director of the scientific and production enterprise "Energo-Plus" (Kremenchug, Poltava region), which commissioned a Mitsubishi GTU in central Ukraine in August 2024.
"Both gas piston and gas turbine stations are viewed worldwide as backup or emergency power sources that operate independently from the power grid (…) Energo-Plus faced a fundamentally different task – the gas turbine station was intended to be used as a permanent power supply. Therefore, the first problem to solve was synchronizing the operation of the unit with the existing grid," Litvinenko said in an interview with the EnergoReforma information portal.
He also pointed out the shortage of specialists in Ukraine capable of performing dynamic stability calculations for the power system, which means synchronizing new generation with the grid. In this context, having an in-house specialist played a crucial role in the rapid (within four months) connection of the GTU.
The second challenge, as identified by Litvinenko, was addressing the urgent modernization of the existing distribution equipment, as most of its components are already worn out and need replacement. This indicates that connecting the latest generating unit without replacing the equipment poses significant difficulties.
As the executive director noted, the "components" of distribution devices are not an issue in themselves, as they are available from several European manufacturers; however, their delivery takes at least six months. Based on the company’s experience, significantly reducing the delivery times was possible due to the ability to prepare the equipment using the resources of manufacturers within the Energo-Plus consortium.