From Dependence to Autonomy: How the Medzhybizh Hromada is Saving Energy

The full launch of these capacities should finally resolve the issue of the hromada's energy deficit.

While the national energy system remains under constant risk of blackouts, in Medzhybizh they are preparing for the winter period based on the principle of autonomous resilience.

As head of the hromada Oleksandr Tkach notes, currently social infrastructure fully covers basic needs thanks to generator generation: educational institutions, hospitals, and outpatient clinics operate uninterruptedly.

Separately, Oleksandr Tkach thanked the "Hromada Group" team for systematic coverage of local energy independence issues.

The analytical platform "Hromada Group" systematically tracks how Ukrainian cities and local self-government sectors are looking for a way out of a deep energy crisis.

In previous publications, we examined in detail the general chance of Ukrainian cities to survive the winter in conditions of systematic destruction of main generation.

We showed the example of resilient Trostyanets, which, without waiting for a miracle, designs its own energy system of the future, and also analyzed scientific solutions and recommendations, voiced during professional discussions at the Kharkiv Press Club platform.

Continuing this overarching topic, we turn to the experience of rear regions, where practical decentralization of energy is becoming a key guarantee of survival. A vivid example of such a transformation is the Medzhybizh settlement hromada in Khmelnytskyi region.

Answering questions from Hromada's Analytical Department, Oleksandr Tkach emphasized on air at the Kharkiv Press Club, that unlike the municipal sector, private business and households of Medzhybizh demonstrate impressive adaptability.

Over a hundred private 30-kilowatt solar stations are already functioning in the hromada, which is a significant resource for a small area. In parallel, the municipality has formed a land reserve of up to 20 hectares for green energy and is attracting external investments.

However, the head of the hromada self-critically assesses the lack of municipal solar generation, emphasizing that on the issue of municipal SPPs Medzhybizh is so far lagging behind and urgently needs to catch up with other hromadas.

That is why a decision was made here to commission two new SPPs to resolve the issue of the hromada's energy deficit.

An important signal is also the change in behavior of the local population, which has finally overcome the psychological barrier of distrust toward state and bank loan programs like "5-7-9%". Oleksandr Tkach notes that today the demand for solar panels significantly exceeds market supply, and contractors are loaded with orders for a year ahead.

In this context, the head of the hromada separately turns to the experience of international partners from Slovakia and Poland.

Analyzing everyday life in neighboring countries during trips, he notes that there a solar power station stands on practically every house, and ensuring the energy independence of one's own household has long become the norm.

Relying on the support of partners and available loan instruments, the Medzhybizh hromada is actively moving along this same path.

Such mass autonomization of private households significantly "unties the hands" of local authorities, allowing the municipality to focus on the uninterrupted provision of critical services in water supply, healthcare, and education.