Estonia unveils energy shield to safeguard Ukrainian cities from blackouts
Illustrative photo: power outage (Getty Images)
Estonia has launched the largest battery park in Europe, with a capacity of 100 MW. Its experience will be key in protecting Ukraine’s energy system from blackouts and attacks, according to ERR.
As Europe rapidly shifts to green energy, Estonia has taken a historic step that could serve as a roadmap for safeguarding Ukraine’s energy system.
In the Estonian town of Kiisa, the largest battery park in continental Europe was officially opened. The facility is designed to strengthen grid stability and reduce fluctuations in electricity prices.
Kiisa park: numbers and capacity
The Evecon battery park consists of 54 massive containers filled with lithium-ion batteries, totaling 100 megawatts. The system can simultaneously supply power to around 90,000 households.
According to Evecon CEO Karl-Joonatan Quell, after desynchronizing from the Russian energy system, Estonia has been independently managing grid balance and frequency since February of last year, with large battery parks playing a key role.
Estonia’s minister of energy and environment, Andres Sutt, noted that such facilities help cut peak electricity prices and make costs more predictable, which is important for both consumers and investors navigating the energy transition.
Investments in energy
The Kiisa project was implemented with French partners and represents the largest private investment in Estonia’s energy sector history.
By the end of the year, Evecon plans to open another similar battery park in Aruküla. The total cost of the two projects is 170 million euros.
Why Estonia's experience is 'must-have' for Ukraine
Ukraine currently has the most extensive, but also the most vulnerable, energy network in Europe. Experts say similar battery parks are the country’s future:
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Decentralization: Instead of a single large power plant, dozens of such parks across the country can create a flexible network that cannot be disabled by a single strike.
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Fast response: Batteries react to frequency drops within milliseconds. They are ideal for stabilizing the grid after missile hits while crews reconnect lines.
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Integration with renewables: Ukraine plans to build numerous wind and solar farms. Without “PowerBanks” like Kiisa, these stations could destabilize the grid.
Strike on Kyiv's thermal plant
On the night of February 3, Russian forces launched more than 70 missiles and over 400 strike drones in a massive attack on Ukraine, hitting energy facilities in Kyiv. Preliminary assessments show that the Darnytska thermal plant, which primarily provided heat to residents, suffered significant damage.
