07.04.2025
Illia Prytula is the Head of Green Generation at JSC “Energy Company of Ukraine” (ECU). ECU offers producers of electricity from renewable sources (solar power plants, wind power plants, biomass, and biogas) the purchase of 100% of their electricity and the optimization of imbalances within the largest balancing group by size in the energy market.
Illia is one of the key lecturers for the Energy Club course “Distributed Generation: A Step Towards Ukraine’s Energy Independence”. His presentation will focus on practical solutions and market instruments that green electricity producers, including municipal enterprises, can use to enhance the economic efficiency of their energy facilities.
His expertise and significant experience collaborating with the largest Ukrainian and foreign investors in the green energy sector make this lecture particularly valuable for the course participants:
– After the legislative changes that allowed green energy producers to leave the balancing group of the state enterprise “Guaranteed Buyer”, ECU was one of the first companies on the market to offer a range of market instruments and services. We came forward with a comprehensive proposal that included electricity purchase and joining our balancing group. Essentially, we started providing turnkey commercial operations for such generating companies, increasing their income through our experience, expertise, and IT tools. The proof of this collaboration’s effectiveness is that some of the largest companies in the sector became our clients in a short period.
– How quickly can a “green” producer start operating in the free market, and what difficulties might arise?
– Difficulties can arise if the producer wants to operate independently in the energy market. This requires them to create their own trading division, manage it, and bear all the risks. This is challenging even for large companies, let alone small producers or new distributed generation facilities.
It is much simpler if an experienced trader manages the market operations. Then the producer doesn’t have to worry about anything; the partner takes on all the risks. In this format, starting work in the market can be very quick – preparing the contract takes about a week, and operations can begin from the first day of the month.
In the course, we discuss exactly how “green” companies can operate in the market with minimal risks and maximum earnings.
– Among the course attendees are representatives of Ukrainian territorial communities, state enterprises, and businesses, including investors who may not have extensive experience in the energy market. Can you explain simply for them what imbalances and a balancing group are?
– Electricity imbalances are the difference between the forecasted and actual volumes of electricity production or consumption. They are unavoidable and lead to significant financial losses for market participants. Participation in a balancing group helps minimize these losses through effective management of imbalances, which arise because enterprises cannot forecast consumption or production with 100% accuracy.
It is important to choose the right balancing group, of which there are currently about 20 in the energy market. Several indicators should be considered: the size and composition of the group’s participants, pricing parameters, etc.
The larger the size of the balancing group and the more diverse its participants, the higher the level of imbalance optimization within it, which increases as new participants join. Consequently, the greater the additional income or savings for the group member.
– Considering the situation in the country, what other areas of training would be interesting and useful for participants in the Ukrainian energy market?
One of the most pressing issues for Ukraine’s energy sector today is the development of distributed generation. Communities and enterprises that plan to have or already have their own energy capacities must know about the tools that can increase their economic efficiency – including aggregated groups and active consumers.
In this context, the training provided by Energy Club is very relevant. Many new participants are entering the energy market now. However, not all of them understand how to operate safely and effectively in the market. Practical knowledge is needed to help them adapt to the new conditions and make the most of the opportunities available. Your course helps bridge this gap.
You can also contact our company regarding these issues; we are always ready to consult. ECU has a separate department for distributed generation and has developed market solutions that enable territorial communities, green generation producers, and enterprises to earn additional income from their own generation, as well as save on electricity transmission and distribution. Case studies already show the potential to achieve savings/additional income of UAH 5-8 million per megawatt.
Energy Club Dossier
Illia Prytula – Head of Green Energy at JSC “Energy Company of Ukraine” (ECU)
JSC “Energy Company of Ukraine” (ECU) – a national energy supply company offering comprehensive solutions for the purchase, sale, and management of energy resources. ECU is among the TOP-3 traders in Ukraine by electricity sales volume, a leader in cross-border energy resource trading, and among the TOP-2 offtakers of green electricity. ECU founded the first state balancing group for electricity market participants, which is now the largest in Ukraine by size, as well as one of the first aggregated groups on the market. The company’s clients generate 10% of Ukraine’s GDP. ECU is 100% state-owned, managed by the State Property Fund of Ukraine.
