10.03.2026
How a business can operate without blackouts and whether it is realistic to build one’s own energy independence — these questions will be key at the forum “Business Without Blackouts: A Practical Model of In-house Generation using the example of RSPC Shuvar,” which will take place on March 27 in Lviv.
Ukrainian business operates in conditions of constant uncertainty. Power outages, capacity limitations, tariff fluctuations, and threats of new attacks on energy infrastructure have become part of the operational reality.
Every hour of downtime means direct financial losses, disrupted contracts, and risks for the team. Therefore, the issue is no longer about comfort, but about the stability of processes and the predictability of costs.
The first in Ukraine and the largest in the Western region, the wholesale agricultural products market “Shuvar,” has built a comprehensive model of distributed generation. It allows covering its own electricity consumption, compensating for part of the load through a solar power plant, producing heat simultaneously with electricity generation, and transferring surplus heat into the city’s thermal networks.
This is a practical example of how an enterprise minimizes dependence on external factors and builds control over energy risks.
Forum participants will gain an understanding of the operating principle of a cogeneration unit (CHP) at a large commercial facility, the model for integrating a CHP with a solar power plant, the approximate investment structure and real payback periods, the algorithm for interaction with the regulator and key regulatory requirements, the mechanics of transferring heat to city thermal networks, and a list of technical and operational risks the enterprise faces during operation.
Ihor Mykolyk, Chief Energy Officer of the “Shuvar” market, will deliver a keynote speech titled “Cogeneration Units in Blackout Conditions: From Decision to Stable Operation.” He will discuss the technical architecture of the units, integration with the solar station, heat transfer to city networks, the investment model, actual performance indicators during outages, payback periods, mistakes, and management decisions. This is the experience of an enterprise that has navigated peak loads and limitations.
Energy Club will act as a partner for the forum. In an exclusive interview with the Energy Club media department, Roman Fedyshyn, founder of the “Shuvar” group of companies and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, spoke about the motivation behind creating an in-house generation system, the economics of such a decision, the social impact on the city, and the expected results of the forum for business and the energy sector.
– Mr. Roman, what is the main goal you set for the “Business Without Blackouts” forum: a demonstration of your own case or starting a broader discussion on business energy independence?
– Energy resilience in wartime is crucial for us because we work with perishable products, and the lack of electricity is critical. Therefore, the primary goal is the availability of electricity as an essential part of our business.
Until now, we ensured constant power with 1.5 MW diesel generators. But this made electricity very expensive—approximately 25 UAH/kWh. Based on this, we had a second goal: to achieve an economic effect both during and after the war.
Our practical experience showed that with a CHP (cogeneration unit), this goal is achievable. We obtained an uninterrupted power supply and an economic effect with a return on investment of up to two years.
We are also a socially responsible company, so we want to share the experience of transferring surplus heat to the city’s central heating network. According to our calculations, if there are 100 such facilities, the city will not freeze even in the most critical wartime situations.
– In your opinion, how will this forum differ from other energy and distributed generation events?
– Most events focus on technology. We will talk about the real experience of an operating large infrastructure facility—about its implementation timeframe, the volume of investments, and their payback in real terms.
This is a demonstration of how cogeneration works at a facility with a large number of consumers, real loads, and actual financial indicators. We will show:
In other words, this is a practical business forum, not just an energy conference.
We have already hosted dozens of our friends and partner companies. We saw a great need and interest in this project, as many business owners and energy specialists inquired about our experience.
– What specific practical benefit should an entrepreneur who comes to Lviv for this forum receive?
An entrepreneur will leave with a clear understanding of:
We will provide specific figures, cost structures, and management conclusions rather than general phrases.
– Who are you primarily inviting to participate—large businesses, medium-sized companies, or municipalities?
– Primarily those who operate with high energy consumption and for whom stability is a matter of survival and development. This includes:
– What do you see as the result of the forum: new partnerships, scaling the “Shuvar” model, or forming a community of businesses with their own generation?
– We are still learning ourselves, so we are interested in hearing wise and professional people in the energy field. I see three results:
We want the question “is it worth investing in in-house generation” to no longer be asked after this forum. Instead, another question should stand — which model to choose and when to start.
Wartime conditions force businesses to quickly rethink approaches to energy supply. In-house generation, cogeneration units, and hybrid energy supply models are gradually moving from the category of innovations to the category of necessity. Today, the question for business is no longer “is in-house generation needed,” but when and which model to choose. It is precisely these questions that the organizers aim to answer during the forum.
The experience of “Shuvar” shows: energy resilience can be not only a defense against blackouts but also an effective economic model. And the more enterprises start moving in this direction, the more resilient not only the business economy but also the country’s energy system will become.
The forum in Lviv is designed to show that such solutions can be not only technologically possible but also economically justified—provided they are based on real experience, accurate calculations, and a strategic approach to business energy resilience.
