Ukrhydroenergo

The Ministry of Energy and Electrification of Ukraine issued Order No. 288 dated 27 December 1994, “On the Establishment of State Enterprise “Dniprohydroenergo”. The company evolved from structural units, Dniprovska HPP, Dniprodzerzhinska HPP, Cascade of Seredniodniprovska HPPs, Kakhovska HPP, and Kremenchutska HPP, and was their successor. Semen Potashnyk was appointed acting Director of Dniprohydroenergo.

On 7 July 1995, the Ministry of Energy and Electrification of Ukraine issued Order No. 120 “On the Establishment of State Joint-Stock Hydropower Generating Company “Dniprohydroenergo” to approve a valuation statement for the integral property complex of State Enterprise “Dniprohydroenergo”. State Joint-Stock Hydropower Generating Company “Dniprohydroenergo” evolved from State Enterprise “Dniprohydroenergo”. Semen Potashnyk was appointed the Board Chairman of State Joint-Stock Hydropower Generating Company “Dniprohydroenergo”. Under the order, State Joint-Stock Hydropower Generating Company “Dniprohydroenergo” was the successor of State Enterprise “Dniprohydroenergo”, with 100% of the company's shares remaining in state ownership.

In 1997, the Ministry of Energy reorganised Cascade of Seredniodniprovska HPPs into standalone structural units: Cascade of Kyivska HPP and Kyivska PSP, and Kanivska HPP (Order No. 24 dd. 7 October 1997). The headcount and statutory capital remained unchanged. In accordance with its Charter, State Joint-Stock Hydropower Generating Company “Dniprohydroenergo” had the following structure: Cascade of Kyivska HPP and Kyivska PSP, Kanivska HPP, Kremenchutska HPP, Dniprodzerzhynska HPP, Dniprovska HPP, Kakhovska HPP. The company's Board decided to consolidate the management of Dniprohydroenergo and the Cascade of Kyivska HPP and Kyivska PSP.

On 31 December 2003, the Ministry of Fuel and Energy issued Order No. 831 to establish State Joint-Stock Company “Ukrhydroenergo”. On 10 February 2004, the ministry issued Order No. 84 to amend Order No. 881 and merge Dniprohydroenergo and Dnistrohydroenergo into State Joint-Stock Company “Ukrhydroenergo”.

In accordance with President's Decree No. 69 dd. 22 January 2004 “On Measures to Improve the Efficiency of Management of the Electricity Sector” and Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On the Establishment of National Joint-Stock Company “Energy Company of Ukraine” (No. 794 date. 22 June 2004), Ukrhydroenergo transferred its shares and property under the management of National Joint-Stock Company “Energy Company of Ukraine”. On 30 July 2004, Energy Company of Ukraine issued an order (pursuant to the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution No. 794) to rename State Joint-Stock Company “Ukrhydroenergo” in line with applicable laws. As a result, the company was renamed to Open Joint-Stock Company “Ukrhydroenergo”. It consisted of the following branches: Cascade of Kyivska HPP and Kyivska PSP, Kanivska HPP, Kremenchutska HPP, Dniprodzerzhinska HPP, Dniprovska HPP, Kakhovska HPP, and Dnistrovska HPP.

On 23 September 2005, Energy Company of Ukraine issued Order No. 43 “On Approval of Amendments to the Charter of OJSC Ukrhydroenergo” to approve Regulations on the Directorate for the construction of Dnistrovska PSP.

In 2007, Ukrhydroenergo was recognised among Top 100 Best Global Companies for its facility reconstruction efforts at the Global Leaders Forum in New York, United States.

On 18 March 2011, the General Meeting of Shareholders of OJSC Ukrhydroenergo elected Ihor Syrota the chairman of the Board (CEO since July 2011). On 9 June 2011, the General Meeting of Shareholders adopted a decision to rename the company to Public Joint-Stock Company Ukrhydroenergo according to the Law of Ukraine on Joint-Stock Companies and approve relevant changes to the company's Charter.

In 2016, Ukrhydroenergo gained ₴2.210 billion in net profit and paid ₴1.757 billion to meet different budget commitments, three times as much as in 2015. In addition, the Company paid ₴0.327 billion in dividends to the national budget.

During 2017, the Company continued the measures envisaged by Hydropower Development Programme 2026 approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Order No. 552-r dd. 13 July 2016). In 2017, Ukrhydroenergo proceeded with the construction of Kanivska PSP, one of the company's short-term top-priority projects. Kanivska PSP would become the third pumped-storage plant of Ukrhydroenergo, after Kyivska PSP and Dnistrovska PSP. Design works are underway to build Kakhovska HPP No. 2. The Company carries out installation works as part of the second stage of the Dnistrovska PSP construction (power unit No. 4).

A specialist of Ukrhydroenergo received a young scientist award from the President of Ukraine. According to the Star of Quality, a national ranking of quality of goods and services, Private Joint-Stock Company Ukrhydroenergo was recognized the best enterprise of Ukraine in 2017. An international financial auditor provided an opinion on financial statements. Ihor Syrota was awarded the National Prize of Ukraine in the field of science and technology in 2017 for the work “Development of reverse hydropower units at Dnistrovska PSP to increase the efficiency of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine”. Kyiv Administrative Court of Appeals confirmed the compliance of the hydropower development programme with the Constitution of Ukraine.Ukrhydroenergo launched a voluntary health insurance program. The company began a large-scale reconstruction of Dniprovska HPP. Ukrhydroenergo introduces a Code of Corporate Ethics. Lands with energy-generating facilities were brought under the ownership and management of Cascade of Kyivska HPP and Kyivska PSP. Ukrhydroenergo continued comprehensive cardiovascular diagnostics of employees. Representatives of Ukrhydroenergo joined councils for the Dnieper and Dniester rivers. Ukrhydroenergo presented its Corporate Governance Code. Dnistrovska PSP started installation of a turbine stator at power unit No. 4.

Company have upgraded 71 out of 103 operating power units, using borrowings and own funds. These efforts have significantly enhanced their capacity and raised environmental standards of electricity generation. Ukrhydroenergo's plans are to complete the ongoing renovation by 2026 by fully upgrading fixed assets at all plants. In 2019 were made some important steps towards achieving this goal. One of them was the commissioning of power unit No. 2 at Kyivska PSP after reconstruction that increased its operating capacity by 5.8 MW. Moreover, the plant started works on power unit No. 6 and is preparing for the reconstruction of power unit No. 4. The equipment at Dniprovska HPP, Kanivska HPP, Kakhovska HPP, and Seredniodniprovska HPP is reconstructing.

Ukrhydroenergo is directing its utmost efforts to implement the construction of Dnistrovska PSP. Stage 1 of the plant consisting of three power units is in operation. The construction of power unit No. 4 is underway. With the launch of the last power unit (No. 7) and the achievement of the 2268 MW installed capacity in generator mode, Dnistrovska PSP will become the largest pumped storage plant in Europe and the sixth largest in the world by installed capacity.

Ukrhydroenergo continues to work on the implementation of its prospective plans - the construction of Kanivska PSP and Kakhovska HPP No. 2. In this context, the year of 2019 was marked by productive negotiations with potential investors and the resolution of certain technical issues.

2019 was a year of change for the company. One of the key transformations was a corporate governance reform. An effective independent supervisory board has been in place at Ukrhydroenergo, comprising experts with years of professional expertise.

On 1 July 2019, a new model of the electricity market was introduced in accordance with the Law On the Electricity Market approved back in 2017. Having started to work in the new market, the company has encountered a number of legal, economic, and technical issues that affect its financial performance. These include the need to sell 35% of the electricity generated by HPPs to Guaranteed Buyer state enterprise at a too low price, higher costs of electricity to fill water reservoirs of PSPs, no revenue from the provision of services for automatic and manual loadfrequency control, additional losses during synchronous compensator operation for voltage and reactive power control, etc.

Ukrhydroenergo introduced new formats designed to address environmental issues effectively. Company's professionalі experimentally tested the aeration method on power unit No. 6 at Kakhovska HPP by supplying compressed air in front of the turbine. Tests have shown that aeration is technically possible and gives good results.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the work of Ukraine’s largest hydropower company and was the biggest challenge of the past year. In response, Ukrhydroenergo promptly took measures to protect the health of employees and implemented new HR strategies to organize work remotely. Company avoided staff shortages and preserved all social payments.

In 2020 Ukrhydroenergo established a compliance service, whose work is aimed at ensuring that the company’s procedures comply with corporate governance standards, business ethics, integrity, social responsibility policy, regulatory requirements and current legislation.

In 2020, despite all the objective difficulties caused by the instability of the energy market and low water levels of rivers, Ukrhydroenergo fulfilled commitments and took another step towards the implementation of a crucial project enshrined in the Energy strategy of Ukraine 2035 - carried out commissioning operations on the unit №4 Dniester PSP. The construction, unprecedented in its scale, which involved hundreds of hydroelectric power engineers and contractors, did not stop for a moment during the year, which allowed to start up commissioning operations and test the mechanical part of the hydraulic unit.

Ukrhydroenergo promotes progress in the industry through the integration of leading technologies and solutions into electricity generation, attracting foreign experience for the modernization of hydropower facilities. In 2020, the company continued the previously taken course for the reconstruction of equipment as part of a large-scale rehabilitation program for existing hydropower plants. The ultimate goal is to improve the safety level of the power plants, increase their overall capacity, and extend the service life of HPPs and PSPs for at least another 50 years. In particular, in 2020, after reconstruction, hydroelectric unit No. 6 of the Kyivska PSP was put into industrial operation. After the reconstruction, its total installed capacity increased by 5.8 MW. The active campaign on technical re-equipment of the stations will contribute to the effective economic development of the Company and increase its investment attractiveness.

Stage 3 includes the construction of three power units (no. 5–7) at Dnistrovska Pumped Storage Power Plant. The total capacity of units will make 972 MW in generator mode and 1,263 MW in pumping mode.

• 2021-2026 project implementation period
• ₴35,378 million expected project cost
• 21.2% internal rate of return
• 9.4 years discounted payback period
• ₴6,223.87 million positive value for money
• ₴21,264 million net present value

Objectives: increase the reliability and flexibility of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine and improve the frequency control; ensure that Ukraine meets the frequency and capacity control requirements for the integration of Ukraine's grid into the ENTSO-E; address the overload of base load plants (NPPs and TPPs) during peak hours; create the control reserve for connection of green generation facilities to the grid; create a mobile emergency reserve in the UES of Ukraine.

• 2008-2028 project implementation period
• ₴42,166 million (VAT incl.), including ₴29,409 million in borrowings and ₴12,757 million in own funds – total project cost
• 9.52% internal rate of return
• 1.38 profitability index
• 18 years discounted payback period
• ₴13,617 million net present value
• ₴25,470 million positive value for money

Objectives: increase the total capacity of Kakhovsky Hydropower Hub (Kakhovska HPP No. 1 + Kakhovska HPP No. 2) to 585 MW, which will help: Ukraine meet frequency and power control requirements for the integration of the domestic grid into the ENTSO-E, in particular, in the secondary and tertiary control ranges; ensure the stable operation of both HPPs in peak hours; increase the average long-term output through full utilisation of flood water; streamline the joint operation of Dniprovsky and Kakhovsky Hydropower Hubs; extend the service life of Kakhovska HPP No. 1 and the Hub as a whole.

• 2018-2028 project implementation period
• ₴18,121.4 million (VAT incl.) total project cost
• 7.3% internal rate of return
• 19.5 years discounted payback period
• 1.12 profitability index
• ₴1.617 billion net present value
• ₴9.817 billion positive value for money

The installation of hybrid systems for electricity generation on the basis of joint work of hydroelectric units and energy storage systems will expand the range of additional services that the company provides to the Ukrainian Electricity Market: reserve for fast frequency support; automatic reserve of resuming and maintaining the frequency; reactive power/voltage regulation; restoration of the IPS of Ukraine after a systemic accident; expansion of the power control range from P0 to P min of hydraulic units.

Solar Photovoltaic Generation Systems will also be installed at these facilities as an alternative source of energy for the HPP's own needs and charging of energy storage systems. The project will support the integration of the IPS of Ukraine into the European Network Of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) by increasing the flexibility of the system during its isolated operation to full synchronization when Ukraine finally joins the European Network and becomes part of it, as well as contribute to the process of integration of the renewed sources into the Ukrainian Energy System.

The project aims to increase the reliability and sustainability of the integrated power system (IPS) for integration into the ENTSO-E system by expanding the provision of ancillary services of PJSC «Ukrhydroenergo» for the electricity market and improving their quality (including speed and range), increased economic efficiency of the IPS of Ukraine by increasing the maneuvering capacity and reducing the cost of regulating the IPS in Ukraine.

Sources of financing: IBRD loan – USD 177 million. The loan of the Clean Technology Fund – USD 34 million, CTF grant – usd 1 million. The company's own funds amounted to US$38 million.

• 2021-2024 project implementation period
• 250,000 million USD total project cost
• 212 MW the total capacity of storage systems for five HPPs - approximately
• 64 MW photoelectric installations

In 2020, the project of II stage reconstruction was financed by more than ₴943 million of credit funds from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank.

In 2020, reconstruction was completed and hydroelectric generating unit No. 6 was put into industrial operation, and a set of measures was taken on hydroelectric generating unit No. 2 to bring it up to the project's characteristics. As a result, the capacity of Kyivska PSP increased by 10.6 MW in total. Reconstruction of hydroelectric unit No. 4 is also in progress, where additional work is expected to replace the stator iron. In addition, at the end of last year, the Automated Safety Monitoring System for the Kyivska PSP dam was put into trial operation. This completes a unique effort to ensure continuous automated state monitoring of dams and hydraulic structures at all operating PSPs.

At Kanivska HPP, a new block transformer with an increased capacity of 90 MBA of unit No. 4 has been put into operation, as the single capacity of each hydroelectric unit of that block increased by 3.5 MW. Overall, an active stage continues at Units 4 and 5 to complete a huge range of work. In parallel, state-of-the-art control and monitoring systems are being installed on this equipment, which will significantly improve the level of operation.

Kremenchutska HPP

At Kremenchutska HPP, in addition to the scheduled repairs that were carried out during the previous year, reconstruction of hydroelectric unit No. 4 began. The plant also installed a new automated firefighting system and commissioned an early detection and warning system for emergencies.

Seredniodniprovska HPP

In 2020, reconstruction of hydroelectric unit No. 2 at Seredniodniprovska HPP continued. Hydroelectric unit No. 1 was also taken out of operation for reconstruction. Besides, at the plant the upper section of gate 8 of the spillway dam was replaced, which increased the reliability of the hydraulic structure as a whole, and corrosion protection of metal structures of the 2 × 200t gantry crane was carried out.

Hydropower unit No. 16 has been reconstructed and put into industrial operation. In addition, a huge amount of unique work has been performed at Dniprovska HPP, in particular, construction work to reinforce the foundation concrete. Moreover, equipment supply and reconstruction works are performed simultaneously on 3 hydroelectric units under the conditions of the operating plant.

In 2020 at Kakhovska HPP 8 own needs switchboards and transformers were completely replaced with new and modern ones and L-68, L-69 154 kV horizontal bushings were reconstructed with the replacement of main and reserve line protections, cable and wire products, secondary switching circuits and a high frequency path of 154 kV. For hydroelectric units No. 1 and No. 2, two 70000 kVA unit power transformers were purchased and delivered. Important projects are also being implemented to improve hydraulic structure safety control systems and install an integrated physical protection system at Kakhovska HPP.

At the Dnistrovska HPP, reinforcement of the upper part of the clay core of the earth-rock dam has been completed through the installation of impervious curtains using the wall-in-soil method. This will make it possible to raise the water level in the upper reservoir of the Dniester reservoir to the level of the forced retaining level, and considering the floods and high waters that are typical for the region where the HPP is located, the operational safety of the hydroelectric complex will be improved as a whole.