How Zhytomyr Is Preparing for the Energy Future: Lessons for Ukrainian Municipalities
14.09.2026In a new interview on 100GREEN, featuring Serhii Kondratiuk, Deputy Mayor of Zhytomyr, and Olha Kruhliak, Chief Specialist at the Municipal Institution “City Development Agency” of the Zhytomyr City Council, we discuss how Zhytomyr is transforming its energy strategy amid the ongoing war — shifting from a traditional focus on energy conservation and consumption reduction toward developing local generation, energy storage, and enhancing the autonomy of critical infrastructure.In a new interview on 100GREEN, featuring Serhii Kondratiuk, Deputy Mayor of Zhytomyr, and Olha Kruhliak, Chief Specialist at the Municipal Institution “City Development Agency” of the Zhytomyr City Council, we discuss how Zhytomyr is transforming its energy strategy amid the ongoing war — shifting from a traditional focus on energy conservation and consumption reduction toward developing local generation, energy storage, and enhancing the autonomy of critical infrastructure.
The full-scale war has fundamental altered the city’s approach to energy security. While thermal modernization, energy efficiency, and reducing natural gas and electricity consumption were previously among the top priorities, continuous attacks on critical infrastructure have forced a complete overhaul of the core logic behind energy planning.
In this conversation, we cover:
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How the war has reshaped Zhytomyr’s energy strategy;
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How the city plans to replace at least 50% of natural gas by 2035, along with the tariff and regulatory barriers that could constrain this process;
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Why Zhytomyr first builds a portfolio of needed energy projects before seeking targeted funding;
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How, under the ANEW-LIFE project, the city is developing a 3 MW solar PV plant combined with a 9 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) for the local water utility;
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Why Zhytomyr is considering Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other financing mechanisms to execute and scale such solutions;
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Whether Zhytomyr will feature a floating solar power plant, and why the city intends to test this model through a pilot demonstration project first;
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How ANEW-LIFE helps bridge the gap from concept to bankable investment project, creating scalable solutions that can be replicated across other Ukrainian municipalities.
Special emphasis is placed on Zhytomyr’s strategic approach to attracting capital. Rather than designing projects around specific grant availability, the city develops its own pipeline based on community needs and subsequently aligns completed project proposals with the most suitable financial instruments.
As part of the ANEW-LIFE initiative, the practical experiences of Zhytomyr, Nizhyn, and Kalush aim to help shape actionable green transformation models for broader replication throughout Ukrainian municipalities.
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