Ukraine Must "Leapfrog" Two Generations of Technology: Energy Club Hosted a Discussion on Smart Grid and Private Communication Networks Featuring Czech Elvian Technologies

22.05.2026

On May 21, 2026, the largest community of Ukrainian energy companies, Energy Club, hosted an online discussion dedicated to the modernization, digitalization, and resilience enhancement of the Ukrainian power grid amid wartime risks. The main highlight of the meeting was a presentation by the Czech technology and engineering company Elvian Technologies s.r.o. (a Nokia Certified Partner), which specializes in solutions for critical infrastructure, private communication networks, and smart grids (Smart Grid).

The event was moderated by the renowned journalist, TV and radio host, and media expert Andriy Kulyков, while the keynote presentation was delivered by Jiří Stibůrek, Sales Manager at Elvian Technologies.

Key Presentation Takeaways: Transition to Two-Way Communication

Jiří Stibůrek emphasized that modern energetics is fundamentally changing its design. While power systems over the past 100 years were built on the principle of one-way traffic (from a large power plant to the consumer), the world is now shifting toward an architecture where thousands of renewable and distributed generation sources (including microgrids, energy storage systems, and even electric vehicles) interact in real time.

Every such point requires a reliable communication channel, making a secure and dedicated communication network critical for protecting the system against cyberattacks and physical threats. The speaker noted that Nokia solutions are already utilized by 17 out of 35 major European system operators, and Ukraine, as it integrates into the European space, must implement compatible and proven technologies.

Special emphasis was placed on substation virtualization—the transition from bulky physical devices of past generations to modern virtualized software blocks managed via compact servers. This simplifies maintenance, accelerates incident response times, and reduces hardware costs.

Practical Challenges for Ukraine: Investment Scale and Legislation

Ukrainian experts and energy company representatives actively joined the discussion, outlining the current challenges within the industry:

• Scale of Required Investments: Energy Club Vice President Maksym Nimchynov raised questions regarding the cost of implementing such systems and their impact on tariffs. Expert Sergiy Yermilov (former Minister of Energy) shared rough estimates, noting that the full deployment of Smart Grid technologies for a large distribution system operator (serving around 1.5 million consumers) could cost approximately 1 billion euros. Jiří Stibůrek agreed that it is an expensive evolution, though pilot phases for smaller regional power companies (oblenergos) could start at tens of millions of euros. He added that Ukraine would be able to attract European funds and US financial assistance for these projects.
• Legislative Constraints: Discussion participants stated that Ukraine’s current regulatory framework and tariff-setting system do not favor active investment in grid digitalization and Smart Grids, which slows down the integration of distributed generation.
• A Unique Technological Leap: Due to severe infrastructure damage, Ukraine is forced not just to patch up old holes but to build a new system from scratch. In fact, Ukrainian operators will have to “leapfrog” two generations of technology at once, creating a network ready for artificial intelligence integration.

Step-by-Step Action Plan and Proposal for Ukrainian Business

Elvian Technologies offered Ukrainian distribution system operators (in particular, representatives of PJSC “Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo” expressed interest during the meeting) a clear cooperation roadmap that does not require an immediate abandonment of legacy hardware:

1. Technical Audit (3-4 weeks): Analysis of the company’s current infrastructure to identify gaps with European standards. For serious operators, the company is ready to conduct this stage free of charge.
2. Pilot Project (3-6 months): Modernization of a specific group of substations or creation of a single backup communication link with clear, measurable goals. Prior to launch, the architecture can be tested in a specialized multi-vendor laboratory in Berlin.
3. Full-Scale Implementation (2-3 years): Phased expansion of the system in partnership with Ukrainian engineering bureaus and construction companies to ensure that all knowledge and competencies remain within Ukraine.

The speaker concluded that Elvian Technologies aims for long-term strategic partnership and is ready to assist Ukrainian companies not only technologically but also in securing European investors and grant funding sources.

Reference: The event broadcast and full video recording of the discussion are available on the official Energy Club YouTube channel.