A solar power plant is being built at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to provide backup power for safety systems

A solar power plant is being built at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to provide backup power for safety systems delo.ua
Maria Semenova

Work is already underway on the site to mark out the locations for the utility poles

Equipment for a solar power plant (SPP) with a total capacity of 2 MW is being installed on the grounds of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The plant expects that even in the event of disruptions to the external power supply, the plant will provide energy to keep this strategic facility operational.

This was reported by Delo.ua, citing the Chernobyl NPP press service.

The international tender for the construction of the SPP for the nuclear power plant was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Ukraine.

All necessary equipment has already been delivered to the plant’s industrial site, and the area has been prepared. Specialists are currently conducting a geodetic survey to precisely position the supports for the solar panels.

Due to the specific nature of the facility, the contractor’s employees undergo individual dosimetric monitoring, and the nuclear power plant’s staff coordinates the work.

“The development of alternative generation will make it possible to meet the station’s critical needs during potential blackouts or network damage, reduce dependence on external power supply, and guarantee uninterrupted operation of key systems,” said Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant General Director Serhii Tarakanov.

The Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, as a high-hazard facility, could become a source of danger to personnel and surrounding communities in the event of a power outage. Therefore, installing its own SPP will help ensure the safe operation of the station by creating a backup power source for safety systems.

An additional positive effect of the project is the reduction in Chornobyl NPP’s expenditures for electricity supply services.

EcoPolitic previously reported that during 2025, 1.5 GW of new solar generation equipment was installed in Ukraine. This is twice as much as the previous year.

Related
World Dog Day: what you need to know about protecting your pets
World Dog Day: what you need to know about protecting your pets

Work is currently underway on a draft bill that will introduce stricter penalties for cruelty to animals

Top environmental disasters in Ukraine since the start of 2026
Top environmental disasters in Ukraine since the start of 2026

Ukraine has seen large-scale forest fires, spills of pollutants and low water levels in rivers

Climate change and Ukraine: how global warming has already affected the country
Climate change and Ukraine: how global warming has already affected the country

In Ukraine, water bodies are drying up, and traditional agricultural regions are losing their potential

There is no ideal candidate for NETS: experts’ views on the proposed draft laws
There is no ideal candidate for NETS: experts’ views on the proposed draft laws

Spoiler: the experts do not have a single clear favourite, but their list of necessary improvements turned out to be fairly unanimous