On 13–14 May, the team of the Ukrainian think tank DiXi Group, within the framework of the ANEW-LIFE project “Addressing the Needs of Ukrainian Cities in Their Readiness for the Clean Energy Transition through the Use of Innovative Financing Examples and Mechanisms”, held a series of individual working workshops for the communities of Zhytomyr, Kalush, and Nizhyn focused on the development and implementation of municipal energy projects. Following the previous nearly two-year phase of work, two priority energy initiatives were selected for each community.
“Key project objectives are directly aimed at supporting communities and fostering the practical transformation of the energy sector at the local level. Our primary focus is on implementing pilot initiatives in Zhytomyr, Kalush, and Nizhyn, which will allow us to test and adapt solutions to the real needs of communities. Another important focus area is the development of financial mechanisms that will support the implementation of selected energy interventions and ensure their financial viability. At the same time, stakeholder engagement remains a crucial component of the project, bringing together local authorities, the expert community, businesses, and international partners”, noted Viktoriia Kovalenko, General Manager for Sustainable Development at DiXi Group.
During the workshops, participants discussed:
· technical parameters of the selected energy interventions;
· preparation of feasibility studies and project documentation;
· financial implementation mechanisms;
· legal aspects of implementation;
· monitoring and evaluation systems;
· potential challenges and further implementation stages.
Project activities are being implemented in phases through dedicated work packages — from identifying community needs and selecting priority interventions to technical modelling, development of financing mechanisms, and further replication of successful solutions.
DiXi Group is responsible for the demonstration, monitoring, and implementation support components of the project. The think tank team supports communities in developing sustainable financial models for energy projects and ensuring the possibility of replicating such solutions in other cities across Ukraine and the European Union.
At the initial stage, experts reviewed 30 applications and conducted more than 20 consultations. In particular, the Kalush community submitted 10 proposals, two of which were selected for support under the ANEW-LIFE project.
“For our community, participation in the project is not only an opportunity to implement key strategic energy solutions, but also to gain practical experience in modern planning and financing approaches. We face today’s challenges with a clear understanding of our responsibility for project implementation, as we see this as a long-term investment in the resilience of our community”, emphasized Bohdan Biletskyi, Deputy Mayor of Kalush.
During the workshop with the Zhytomyr community, participants discussed the selected interventions for the following projects:
- an electricity storage system for the existing solar power plant at the municipal wastewater treatment facilities of ME “Zhytomyrvodokanal”;
- a solar power plant for MI “Municipal Hospital No. 1”.
“We understand that during blackouts we must ensure uninterrupted power supply for the city’s critical social infrastructure facilities. Therefore, it is important for us to finalise the technical assessments regarding site readiness and agree on the next implementation steps”, said Olha Kruhliak, Project Coordinator in Zhytomyr and Chief Specialist at the Municipal Institution “City Development Agency” of Zhytomyr City Council.
The Nizhyn community, which already has prior experience cooperating with DiXi Group, also focused its efforts on strengthening the energy sustainability of two social infrastructure facilities: a solar power plant with battery storage for the municipal water utility and a solar power plant with a heat pump for the city dental clinic.
“We already have experience working with European partners. Together with experts, we now aim to identify the most effective financing mechanism that will help address the defined challenges and make a significant contribution to the community’s energy sustainability”, said Fedir Vovchenko, First Deputy Mayor of Nizhyn.
Participants also emphasised that the ANEW-LIFE project is intended not only to support individual communities, but also to create practical models that can later be scaled up.
“The pilot projects in Zhytomyr, Kalush, and Nizhyn should become examples of how innovative financing mechanisms and international cooperation can support cities in their green transition. We are committed to developing solutions that will have a long-term positive impact on communities. Our shared vision is to strengthen energy independence by identifying the best technologies and financing mechanisms and implementing them in line with the specific context of each community”, said Francesco Roncato, ANEW-LIFE Project Coordinator.
DiXi Group will continue cooperating with the communities of Zhytomyr, Kalush, and Nizhyn to finalise technical and expert aspects related to the selected initiatives.
At the same time, the ANEW-LIFE project is designed to scale up its results beyond the selected pilot communities by disseminating project outcomes among Ukrainian and European cities. This will be achieved through the development of the ANEW-LIFE catalogue and a series of dedicated stakeholder engagement activities, including trainings, seminars, and other interaction formats, particularly in cooperation with relevant EU initiatives.
The project’s activities are therefore not limited solely to supporting the selected communities and interventions.
It should be recalled that the main mission of the EU-funded ANEW-LIFE project is to support the recovery and development of sustainable energy systems in Ukraine through the implementation of green energy initiatives at the community level.
The project is implemented by an international consortium of partners from Ukraine and EU countries. The consortium is coordinated by EnGreen, an Italian company specialising in innovative renewable energy solutions and energy community development.
The consortium members include:
- DiXi Group (Ukraine) — innovative financing instruments, demonstration and monitoring activities;
- Ecoclub (Ukraine) — coordination with communities, assessment of sustainable development plans, selection of interventions;
- Global 100 RE Ukraine (Ukraine) — strategic communications;
- 5thVolt (Austria) — energy modelling and implementation strategies;
- BlueEnergy Revolution (Italy) — innovative technological solutions and technical support for cities;
- Enersave Capital (Luxembourg) and AFIN Alternative Financing IFN (Romania) — financing and financial models;
- Climate Alliance (Germany) — communication strategy and replication of models.
