On the roof of School 17 in Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv, Ukraine, a new PV installation with battery storage went into operation. 

The pioneering solar array is the first project of the fundraising campaign 'Solar hilft' (Solar Helps), which was launched by the German Solar Association (BSW Solar) to support Ukraine in its burgeoning thirst for energy independence and security.

Association members involved in this flagship project include a number of German-based companies, including HOPPECKE Batterien, SMA Solar Technology, BayWa r.e., IBC SOLAR and Qcells. All worked together to make this pilot project possible, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Solar Association and Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation. 

The School 17 project is intended to support Ukraine, which has made it a priority to rebuild damaged schools so that Ukrainian children can resume their education. 

The school's power supply is now supported by a 20 kWp solar system, consisting of 52 Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G9 385W solar modules, donated by Qcells under the BSW-led Solar hilft scheme. Installation conditions were challenging. Nevertheless, the system was completed in just seven days.

Furthermore, a 55.3 kWh battery, donated by HOPPECKE, will help to secure the power supply in case of any blackouts. This storage system is bi-directional, which means it can also draw power from the grid during times of low levels of solar radiation, storing that power for future use. Children at School 17 can now hopefully enjoy a small piece of security and normality thanks to the donated solar array and battery.

This installation marks the start of the BSW's Solar hilft campaign, which aims to support the rebuild of Ukrainian energy infrastructure with renewable energy – helping the nation to embrace independent, decentralized and clean power while reducing its reliance on third parties.

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