Ukraine has joined the European power grid, ending its dependency on Russia

2nd unit of Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant Ukraine. Image Credit.

Ukraine Officials announced Wednesday that engineers have connected Ukraine to a European electricity grid that covers much of continental Europe, allowing the country to detach its power system from unfriendly Russia.

Ukraine's and Moldova's electrical grids were successfully synced with the Continental European Power System on a trial basis, according to Belgium-based ENTSO-E, which represents dozens of transmission system operators across Europe.

The group stated, "This is a huge milestone."

Grid operators had been planning such a move since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, but last month's large-scale Russian military assault on Ukraine spurred Kyiv to make an emergency request to speed up a procedure that was meant to take years longer.

The action will allow ENTSO-E, whose 39 members operate the world's largest linked electrical grid, to assist in maintaining the integrity of the Ukrainian and Moldovan power systems, according to the organization.

Previously, the two countries were members of the Integrated Power System, which included Russia and Belarus. Despite the fact that the two nations had not traded power in years, Ukraine became reliant on Russia's grid operator.

"This action will allow Ukraine to receive electricity if (Russia) continues to ruin our power infrastructure, thereby saving our power system," said Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chair of Ukraine's grid operator Ukrenergo's management board. "During these trying times, we are deeply grateful to our European partners for their incredible support and assistance."

The move, according to Georg Zachmann of the Brussels thinks tank Bruegel, will allow energy suppliers on the continental system, which spans from Portugal to Poland, to deliver electricity to Ukraine if needed.

It might allow Ukraine to shut down some of the coal-fired power units it presently operates to maintain system stability, conserving valuable fuel during a war, he said.

Ukraine may be able to export surplus electricity generated by its nuclear power facilities to the rest of Europe in the long run.

"It's a win-win situation," Zachmann remarked. "It could even be beneficial to the environment."

Source: CBS News