Ukrainian energy behemoth DTEK has hired Fluence Energy to supply and install six large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) with 200 MW and 400 MWh capacity for €140 million. The project, spread across locations at strategic points around the country, is Ukraine’s first national roll-out of dispatchable, grid-forming battery storage, able to supply short-term power for around 600,000 homes.
Under the agreement, Fluence will install six BESS plants—each sized between 20 MW to 50 MW in capacity—by October 2025. In operation, the systems will provide crucial frequency and power-balancing services to the Ukrainian transmission system operator, Ukrenergo, stabilizing the grid, preventing outages, and enabling rapid local recovery during disturbances.
“Battery storage is a critical element in Ukraine’s vision to build a decentralized energy system that reduces emissions and enhances our energy security,” said DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko. “By partnering with Fluence, we’re leapfrogging to next-generation grid-forming technology that will underpin our transition to renewables and fortify the network before next winter.”
Fluence’s advanced BESS technology leverages its proven grid-forming inverters, allowing each site to independently regulate voltage and frequency—even when operating in “islanded” mode during broader grid outages. This capability not only smooths out the variability of renewable generation but also delivers rapid-response stability services that traditional power plants cannot match.
In addition to grid services, the battery plants will be dispatched to meet peak demand, shifting energy from periods of surplus to times of high load—and anchoring the system against intermittent supply challenges. DTEK and Fluence aim to complete construction and grid-connection by late October 2025, ensuring the assets are operational well ahead of the 2025–26 winter season.
This landmark deployment underscores Ukraine’s drive toward energy independence and decarbonization amid ongoing geopolitical pressures. By integrating large-scale, dispatchable battery storage, DTEK is laying the groundwork for a more resilient, flexible, and low-carbon power system.
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