16 solar stations were installed on the roofs of high-rise buildings over the year in Mykolaiv, and 4 more are in the process

Solar panels installed on the roof of a multi-storey building in Mykolaiv. Photo: _nikvesti

Over the past year, 16 solar power plants (SPPs) have been installed on the roofs of 20 condominiums in Mykolaiv, two are under installation and two are looking for a contractor.

This is described in the article NikVesti «Solar roofs of Mykolaiv: how residents of high-rise buildings unite and choose energy security and savings».

These changes are the result of HOAs' participation in state energy modernisation programmes with the support of the Housing Development Centre. The organisation has been operating in Mykolaiv since 2020 and helps residents switch to «green» energy and reduce costs.

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In 2024, the Centre supported 29 high-rise buildings under the «Energodom» programme, with a total project value of 90 million hryvnias. It also helped dozens of condominiums join the «Grindim» programme and install solar power plants.

«Older condominiums with outdated systems spend more on current repairs than they would have spent on gradual modernisation. There are examples where a three-room apartment pays 700 hryvnias for everything. Others — up to 2400. This is the result of insulation, modernisation, installation of temperature regulators, and replacement of windows,» says Tetiana Tymoshyna, an expert at the Centre.

Yurii Husakov, an expert from the Housing Development Centre, said that 18 solar power plants with a total capacity of 355 kW have already been installed in the city. The average saving for a house is 50-70%. However, the system needs legislative changes.

«The status of an active consumer needs to be legally regulated so that excess energy can be transferred to the general grid. Currently, there is no such possibility. There is a «green tariff», but it is a separate system,» explains Tetiana Tymoshyna, expert at the Centre.

As you know, there are several government programmes in Ukraine that support the reconstruction, energy efficiency and modernisation of the housing stock. Among them:

• «GRENDIM» — a programme for the transition to renewable energy. It compensates up to 70% of the cost of equipment, energy audits and certification. Mykolaiv has involved 20 condominiums. 16 have already installed SPPs, two more are at the installation stage, and two more are looking for a contractor.
• «Energodom» — modernisation of houses: insulation, IHS, new windows and ventilation. Compensation is up to 10 million hryvnias or 70% of the costs. Can be combined with other programmes.
• «Restore HOME» — financing for the restoration of damaged houses: roofs, windows, pipes. 280 houses in Mykolaiv are already participating. The grant covers 100% of the cost of the work.

These programmes are complemented by a local initiative — the Warm Mykolaiv programme. According to the information provided by the Mykolaiv City Council in response to a request from NikVesti, a new version of the compensation procedure was approved in December 2024. From now on, condominiums participating in «Grindim» or «Energodom» can receive up to 30% compensation from the city budget for equipment, materials and work performed.

Compensation is provided on a non-refundable basis. The selection of applicants is carried out by a special commission established by the mayor's order. It includes representatives of executive bodies and, upon agreement, deputies. The commission is chaired by a specialised deputy mayor. Payments are made by the Department of Energy and Energy Efficiency on the basis of the commission's protocols after signing contracts with the contractor.

In 2023-2025, more than 20 condominiums in Mykolaiv have already received compensation. «Among them are «Pivnichna Zirka 4», «Lazuryt Lait», «Olimpiiska 47», «Dobrovolskoho 17», «Radisna 5», Teremky 2» and others.

In most cases, condominiums combined participation in several programmes — first, they insulated the facades or installed IHS, and then installed solar panels. This made it possible to simultaneously address the issues of renovation, energy efficiency and uninterrupted power supply.