Communities

Energy Efficiency (Lighting Replacement in Communities)

We support territorial communities in implementing energy efficiency projects. We are working on replacing outdated street lighting with more modern and energy-efficient solutions.

In total, we plan to install 1,232,481 LED luminaires with a power of 100–120 W and 3,697,436 LED luminaires with a power of 65–80 W. The estimated payback period of the project is 2.5 years.

Project Benefits:

• Savings — 48.25 MW of electricity saved annually
• Environmental Impact — annual reduction of CO₂ emissions by 48.9 thousand tons
• Safety — improved lighting quality in areas where the system is being upgraded
• Experience — involvement of communities in the process and hands-on project implementation experience

COLLECTING REQUESTS

Already, 418 communities have submitted their needs to participate in the project. Within the framework of the first stage, we plan to install 223,975 LED luminaires.

We encourage communities to join the project and send their proposals to the following email address: n.kharytonova@nidi.org.ua.

Social Housing

Rapidly restoring the amount of housing destroyed as a result of military actions is a complex challenge for the state. When constructing municipal housing in Ukraine, a comprehensive approach must be applied. A recovery model is needed — one that involves participation from the state, local communities, private businesses, and international financial institutions.

There are plans to build 10,000 housing units for 20 territorial communities. This amount of municipal housing will provide homes for approximately 50,000 people.

The first stage of the social housing program envisages the construction of 50,000 apartments in central and western Ukraine.

Modular Shelters

The safety of Ukrainians comes first. Approximately 160 communities in Ukraine are located near or directly adjacent to the front line (within about 30 km of the impact zone).

Among the residents of these communities, 20% are children. It is vital to equip these settlements with modular shelters where residents can stay during times of danger.

ADVANTAGES OF THE APPROACH:

• Lower cost (construction of a traditional shelter for 100 people costs approximately €1.3 million, whereas a modular shelter with the same capacity costs around €220,000)
• Faster installation (construction of a permanent shelter takes approximately 26 months. Installation of a modular shelter takes just 1 week)

Additional advantages include:

• Low operating and maintenance costs
• Involvement of Ukrainian businesses to support local production

Our goal is to install approximately 3,200 modular shelters, prioritizing frontline communities.

The estimated number is up to 20 shelters per community, depending on the population size.

These shelters will be placed near schools, kindergartens, cultural and medical institutions, and administrative buildings.

Estimated total cost for 3,200 shelters (each designed for 50 people):

Traditional construction method — €1.696 billion

Modular approach — €352 million

Solar Power Plants for Water Utilities

We are developing an action plan for solar energy integration in water utilities to guide investments and ensure the phased implementation of alternative energy sources.

The initiative addresses the acute crisis in the water supply sector caused by energy instability and rising service costs. The key objective is to ensure the uninterrupted operation of water utilities and other critical infrastructure. The total projected power generation upon project implementation is 145 MW.

The project covers 5 regions of Ukraine. Up to 10 solar power plants are planned to be installed at a single facility. This will enable 75 water utilities to be powered by solar energy, providing water access to 17 million people.

Benefits:

The rollout of this solar energy initiative will take place in two stages, with the first stage covering 25 water utilities.

Construction of CHP Plants

We are developing cluster-based waste management networks and planning the construction of combined heat and power (CHP) plants that will operate on RDF and CRF fuels in communities. These projects represent an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient investment in the future.

The initiative envisions the creation of a national network of waste processing facilities that will meet both environmental and energy resilience needs. Additionally, the projects will foster the development of infrastructure, encourage communities to build waste processing plants, promote partnerships with international companies, and help local communities gain practical experience.

Project goals:

• Reduce dependence on natural gas
• Address the issue of municipal solid waste disposal
• Reduce landfill areas
• Produce sustainable energy
• Apply the public-private partnership (PPP) model (leveraging private sector investment and expertise to enhance efficiency, innovation, and economic viability)

Seven pilot projects are proposed in the following cities: Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, Khmelnytskyi, and Poltava.

Specifically, the plan includes the construction of 5 CHP plants, each with a capacity of 30 GWh/year, capable of processing 100,000 tons of waste annually. The projected long-term need is 30 RDF-fueled CHP plants.

Reusable Project Designs

The Agency for Restoration is developing standard project designs that can be used by all communities.

Advantages:

• Comprehensive approach — tailored projects for different types of communities, based on population size and specific needs
• Cost savings — communities do not need to spend funds on expensive project development
• Speed — by using standard designs, communities significantly reduce project implementation time

Currently, the Agency for Restoration is working on the development and implementation of the following projects:

• Adaptive school facility project (comprehensive: school building, sports areas, recreation zones). Designed by the Italian company Scandurra Studio Architettura srl
• Project for the construction of underground shelters in educational institutions (adapted to specific needs: for 50, 100, 150, 200, or 300 people). Already being implemented in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and other communities

In parallel, work is ongoing on the development of standard projects for the construction of municipal housing in communities.