19.11.2025
russia’s aggression against Ukraine has significantly damaged the energy infrastructure, causing substantial losses in generating capacity and electrical networks. In these conditions, the development of distributed generation—energy storage systems, gas piston units, and other local sources—has become particularly important.
Today, distributed generation is an integral component of national energy security, as it allows for a stable electricity supply even when centralized generation, main transmission lines, or distribution networks are subjected to massive attacks. However, such facilities require not only reliable equipment but also constant professional security, monitoring, and technical supervision.
High-value assets always attract the attention of criminals, creating risks of theft, vandalism, or hostile takeovers (raiding). To minimize these threats, Safe Watt LLC is forming a comprehensive service that covers security, monitoring, technical operation, and a range of additional services.
Recently, the company joined the Energy Club business community. In an interview with the Energy Club media department, Oleksii Komarnytskyi, Director of Safe Watt LLC, spoke about the challenges and threats to distributed generation facilities in Ukraine, which have become especially relevant during wartime. He explained why ordinary security is no longer sufficient and how Safe Watt’s comprehensive approach—combining physical security, technical monitoring, and operations—helps energy asset owners not only protect their investments but also ensure fewer shutdowns and equipment downtimes while optimizing performance. Oleksii also shared his expectations regarding Safe Watt’s membership in the Energy Club, his vision for the future of the distributed generation market, and the company’s role in ensuring the stability and safety of new energy facilities.
– Good afternoon, Mr. Komarnytskyi. Welcome to the Energy Club. Please tell us about your company. What specific problem do you solve in the energy market?
– Good afternoon, and thank you for the welcome. Today, due to Russian aggression, the landscape of the Ukrainian energy sector is changing radically. When large generating capacities are being destroyed, the only solution is the development of distributed generation—wind power plants (WPPs), solar power plants (SPPs), gas piston units, energy storage systems, and their combinations. These new facilities are expensive assets. Consequently, they immediately become attractive to criminals, creating risks of theft, vandalism, or even raiding. Safe Watt offers owners of such assets a comprehensive solution: we not only protect the facilities physically but also take over their operation and monitoring.
– There is currently a lot of talk about distributed generation as a response to military challenges and infrastructure attacks. But, aside from direct military threats, how vulnerable is this sector—SPPs, storage systems, GPUs—to, let’s say, “peaceful” problems? I mean theft, vandalism, or simply losses due to improper maintenance.
– Unfortunately, these problems exist. Military risks are one dimension, but “peaceful” threats haven’t gone anywhere; in some places, they have even intensified. Any solar station or storage unit is an asset often located at a significant distance from central offices. This automatically makes them a target for criminals.
But besides theft, there is an equally serious threat: improper operation. If equipment is not professionally maintained and its status is not monitored—especially during startups and shutdowns, high or low temperatures, or unstable grid parameters—it will not operate stably. As a result, there is a need for longer and more expensive repairs, failure to execute commands, the creation of imbalances, and, accordingly, a lack of expected financial results. That is why we emphasize that such facilities require professional care.
– You offer not just security and maintenance, but a comprehensive approach. Why, in your opinion, are ordinary security agencies or separate service companies no longer sufficient? What is the synergy of your model where both security and operations are in the same hands?
– This is the key point. An ordinary security firm will provide a physical post or patrol, but their employees do not understand the specifics of energy equipment. They don’t know how the inverter equipment of SPPs or storage systems works, or how gas piston units operate, etc. A service company will come, service the equipment, and leave.
Our model combines these functions. Our experienced staff, trained to work with energy facilities, simultaneously controls both the perimeter (via video surveillance, sensors, patrols) and the technical state of the equipment (from physical inspection to monitoring via SCADA or other platforms). We see both an attempted intrusion and a technical failure. The owner gets a single point of contact and total control—over both security and stable operation.
– Speaking of operations, you mentioned monitoring via SCADA and, for example, cleaning solar panels. To what extent do these seemingly routine things really impact the facility’s financial indicators and profitability?
– They have a direct impact. It’s pure economics. Elementary cleaning of solar panels directly affects the volume of generation, and therefore, the owner’s revenue. The same goes for monitoring: if a malfunction in an inverter, storage unit, or cooling system deviation isn’t noticed in time, the facility may suffer damage and downtime, and the owner will lose money.
That is why we offer not only protection but also consulting on system optimization. We help the owner not just preserve the asset, but improve its financial results.
– What security threats do you see most often? Is it banal theft of equipment, or are we talking about more complex risks like raiding or sabotage, especially for objects critical to local communities?
– We prepare clients for the full spectrum of threats. This includes, of course, theft—of panels, cables, components. It includes vandalism. And yes, it includes the risks of corporate raiding. That is why our approach includes both technical means—alarms, video surveillance—and physical presence—patrols and strict access control.
We also offer additional services, such as insurance against theft and damage, to completely cover the client’s financial risks.
– Who is your client? Is it the owner of a large industrial SPP with tens of megawatts, or do you also work with smaller but critically important objects—for example, local Energy Storage for communities or businesses?
– Our client is any owner of a distributed generation facility who values their investments and strives for their stable operation and longevity. This applies to owners of industrial SPPs, companies that have installed gas piston units, and, of course, owners of energy storage systems. We are ready to develop individual control procedures and a flexible monitoring and reporting system for everyone, tailored specifically to their needs.
– You mentioned consulting on system optimization. What exactly does that include? Do you help the client not only protect but also earn more from their asset?
– Absolutely correct. Since we carry out constant monitoring of equipment operation—both physical and online—we see the full picture and analyze the data. Perhaps the operating mode of a storage unit can be changed to be more profitable. Perhaps the generator maintenance schedule needs adjustment. We offer our own individual monitoring protocols and, based on the collected data, provide recommendations on how to improve financial results from the asset’s operation.
– Why did you decide to join the Energy Club? What are your expectations from this membership, and what expertise is Safe Watt ready to offer other market participants?
– Energy Club is a hub of companies building Ukraine’s new, resilient energy system based specifically on distributed generation. They are our direct partners and clients. We joined because we believe our service is critical to the success of any investment project in distributed generation.
We look forward to fruitful cooperation and the exchange of experience. For our part, we are ready to share expertise on how to properly organize comprehensive protection and technical operation of energy facilities to ensure their maximum safety and stable work.
– How do you see the future of the distributed generation market in Ukraine? Will it become the foundation of a new, more resilient energy system, and what will be the role of companies like yours in this?
– I am convinced that distributed generation is no longer just a trend, but a key element of the country’s energy security. The aggression has only accelerated this process. The future belongs to a decentralized system where a multitude of local sources ensure resilience.
But these investments must be protected. The role of companies like Safe Watt is to be a reliable operator of safety and operations. We will ensure the long-term and stable operation of new facilities and their reliable protection. This is our contribution to the longevity of new investments and the stability of the energy system.
