Study visit as part of the Energy Transition 2022: Change Lab – Repower a Green Ukraine project
From June 3 to 6, 2022, 15 participants from Ukraine took part in the Change Lab: Repower a Green Ukraine study visit to Berlin. The workshop participants included faculty members from engineering and architecture programs, Ukrainian students studying at foreign universities, as well as representatives from the business community and civil society.
These were three amazing and informative days, filled with engaging discussions and inspiring presentations by speakers representing civil society in Germany, all taking place simultaneously during various workshops and networking sessions. In addition, a special topic of discussion was the “green” reconstruction of Ukraine and the search for sustainable solutions in response to the challenges posed by Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
Main themes of the study visit:
Solar energy systems – together with Astrid Schneider, a photovoltaic plant architect from Eurosolar, the participants of the study tour visited large government buildings in central Berlin that were constructed as part of the “Solar Government Berlin” project.
Government buildings are powered by a decentralized system that relies 100% on renewable energy and consists of: combined-cycle power plants running on biodiesel made from rapeseed oil, photovoltaic systems, chillers, dehumidifiers, and evaporative coolers, as well as compression chillers.
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Wind-powered thermal storage – an educational field trip to the “Nekhlin Energy Village” in northern Berlin. In Nekhlin (Germany), an entire village (35 houses) is heated using a wind-powered thermal storage system.
For this purpose, excess wind energy that cannot be fed into the power grid is utilized. The wind turbines in the nearby Nechlin wind farm generate approximately 70 million kWh of electricity per year. A small portion of this output (about 5%) is produced on particularly windy days. The idea is to use the excess energy to heat water in a reservoir, which is then used to supply heat to the village.
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Cooperative and solidarity-based forms of construction: participants learned about the history of successful crowdfunded and privately funded projects in the field of social entrepreneurship in Germany and Ukraine, specifically in the design and construction of off-grid (autonomous) and eco-friendly residential buildings. The SoBaWi Association (Solidarity Construction)—a network of like-minded individuals specializing in the design and construction of such eco-homes—and the NGO “COMMUNITY. Social Projects Lab,” which already has pilot projects in Ukraine, presented their developments and experiences.
Solar TinyHouses: In discussions among participants and regarding the project’s future direction, the focus remains on developing sustainable solutions for internally displaced persons in Ukraine. How can we build small, affordable, eco-friendly, and energy-independent temporary housing for IDPs, with the long-term prospect of transitioning these projects into eco-tourism initiatives?
