Solar Schools: Ukraine's Path in the Global Energy Transition

Just ten years ago, solar panels were seen as a niche product, far removed from the reality of most countries. They seemed like an experiment for a few enthusiasts or wealthy companies, but certainly not a mass-market solution. Today, the situation has changed radically. Solar energy has become the main driver of the global energy transition. In 2024 alone, the world added nearly 600 GW of new capacity, and more than 90% of this increase came from renewable energy sources. In fact, dozens of new solar and wind power plants were commissioned around the world every day.

The global leaders in this field are China and the European Union. China produces so much solar energy that, in the coming years, its output will exceed the annual electricity consumption of the United States. Europe, meanwhile, has adopted an ambitious plan: by 2030, nearly half of its electricity is to come from “green” sources. This is not a dream or a political declaration, but a clear, approved course of action that is already being implemented.

Ukraine is also integrating into this process. Our National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) is not just a roadmap. For Ukraine, it has dual significance: first, it is a strategy for energy development over the next decade, and second, it is a prerequisite for European integration and access to financing under the Ukraine Facility. The plan stipulates that by 2030:

• at least 27% of energy must come from renewable sources;
• the country will build approximately 10 GW of new capacity;
• “prosumers”—households or institutions that both consume and generate their own energy—will be actively promoted.

We are used to thinking of the energy sector as a complex system of large power plants and powerful grids. But the energy transition begins with small, practical steps that every community can understand. It is municipalities, schools, and hospitals that can become the first real examples of the transition to renewable energy. This is the so-called “localization” of the NECP at the community level, where strategic documents are transformed into concrete solutions—solar panels on the roofs of facilities that serve people every day.

There are over 12,000 schools in Ukraine. Their rooftops represent a vast, as yet largely untapped resource. An average rooftop solar power plant with a capacity of 30–50 kW can provide 30–50% of a school’s annual energy consumption. If even half of the schools implement such projects, we will generate hundreds of megawatts of clean energy. This will not only reduce electricity bills for educational institutions but also help the country meet its climate commitments to the EU.

The benefits of switching to solar energy extend beyond environmental considerations. For schools, this could mean savings of 1,500–2,000 euros per year; for hospitals, up to 3,000 euros. If such systems are combined with batteries, these institutions can continue to operate even during emergency power outages. And the communities can redirect the savings toward the development of education, healthcare, or social programs.

A school is not just a building; it is a place where the worldview and future of the next generations are shaped. When children see solar panels on the roof of their own school, it ceases to be an abstract topic from textbooks. They understand that renewable energy is already part of their lives today. For communities, this is an example of how “green recovery” works in practice. And the scale of the impact is enormous: hundreds of school rooftops are gradually turning the strategic “27% by 2030” target into concrete kilowatts generated every day for the benefit of society.

Let’s imagine a single school that has installed a 40-kW solar power plant. It produces enough electricity to power 15 average-sized apartments. Now imagine that there are thousands of such schools across the country. This is no longer a minor saving but a tangible contribution to Ukraine’s energy independence.

A Future That Begins Today

The world is moving toward renewable energy, and Ukraine has every opportunity to be part of this process. Solar schools are not just a tool for saving money or increasing community resilience. They are a symbol of a new approach to life, in which children grow up in a culture of responsible consumption. These are concrete solutions that allow our communities to contribute to global goals while simultaneously improving daily life.