Ukraine to introduce green energy in schools, kindergartens, and hospitals with UNDP support
The Ministry of Communities and Territories Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine signed an agreement for EUR 16.5 million, which provides for the installation of solar panels and heat pumps at social infrastructure facilities to ensure sustainable, decentralized energy supply to public buildings.
On October 13, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine signed a financial agreement, officially launching the implementation phase of the Renewable Energy Solutions (RES) program. According to a UNDP statement received by Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday, the agreement provides EUR 16.5 million in funding for UNDP to accelerate the introduction of green energy in Ukraine’s public infrastructure.
The financial agreement was signed in Kyiv by First Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development Aliona Shkrum and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine Christophoros Politis.
It is noted that the signing of the agreement represents the final step in securing dedicated funding for the implementation of UNDP’s two-year initiative, which is supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB) under an investment grant agreement between the EIB and Ukraine, and financed through a grant from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the International Climate Initiative. Overall, the RES program is the result of collaboration between the EIB, the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, UNDP, and the German development agency GIZ.
Under this new agreement, the allocated EUR 16.5 million will be used to install and maintain decentralized renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage systems, in key public buildings. Priority will be given to essential social infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. The main goal is to support these institutions in achieving "prosumer" status, enabling them to generate their own electricity and feed excess energy back into the grid, significantly reducing utility costs and dependence on centralized energy systems.
"By applying modern renewable energy solutions in our schools, hospitals, kindergartens, and even front-line area medical facilities, we not only reduce energy costs but, most importantly, ensure the continuity of services for our most vulnerable citizens, even in the event of grid disruptions. This partnership transforms global support into tangible, sustainable resilience at the community level," said Shkrum at the agreement signing ceremony.
Politis, in turn, emphasized that the partnership aligns with the goals of a green transition. "By supporting the process of enabling public buildings to achieve ‘prosumer’ status, we are creating a modern, decentralized, and climate-resilient energy system. Importantly, solar panels on schools and hospitals will support essential services — education and healthcare — directly linking service delivery to community resilience," he said.
The RES program is an important component of broader efforts to restore, modernize, and integrate Ukraine's energy system into the European Union.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is an agency of the United Nations, established by a resolution of the General Assembly of 22 November 1965, by merging the United Nations Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the Special Fund. The programme's goal is to assist developing countries in their national development.