Energy from the Sun: journalists finally saw alternative power plant

Almost 19,000 solar panels on ten acres of space – the power plant in the village of Rativtsi in Uzhgorod district is the first in Transcarpathian region and the largest in western Ukraine.

The electricity produced here is enough to provide 2.5 thousand houses. Annual capacity of the plant is 5.4 MW. The principle is as follows: interconnected polycrystalline modules (solar panels) accumulate solar energy; through four inverter substations, direct current is converted into alternate current and then, through the transformer station is delivered to the common network. 

   – One solar cell costs 200 euros. Their lifetime is about 25 years. In addition, all modules have special protection, so neither hail, nor snow, nor any mechanical damage threaten such surfaces, – Andriy Bohdan, the project investor, says. – In addition, the batteries are set at 30 degrees angle to the ground and at such a distance that they did not get in a shadow in any weather, season or time of day. Also they are self-cleaning, so we have only security guards at the plant.

   The cost of the project is about 100 million hryvnias. The payback time, according to experts, is about 6 years. One of the stimulating factors, the investor admits, was the so-called "green tariff", which is applied in our country. It aims to support such investment projects – the state guarantees connection to the network, long-term contract for the purchase of the energy produced, and an increase in its value.

   Such conditions created by the state, stimulate investors, allowing them not only to make profit but also to invest in the latest technology:

   – In fact, thanks to the "green tariff", businessmen can spend more on advanced equipment and research work. In addition, the energy that is produced at this plant is fully integrated in the network of the regional power company, is immediately supplied to the energy market, and is sold all over the country under specially regulated tariffs – the CTO of "Zakarpattyaoblenergo" Oleksandr Bilak said.

In the nearest future they plan to open another solar power plant in the region – twice as powerful as in Rativtsi.   

Note: Solar power plant "CE-1" is located at Uzhgorod district, the village of Rativtsi, Dobo Istvan str., 1a. The capacity of the plant is 5.4 MW. It was put into operation in July 2012.