Does Ukraine export electricity? The answer is no!
Countering disinformation is one of the prerequisites for winning the war. Given the difficult situation in Ukraine’s energy system, information attacks are becoming more frequent. Let’s consider the topics, causing the biggest controversy.
1. Why, according to open data, are we transmitting electricity to our neighbours if there is an electricity shortage in Ukraine?
It is necessary to distinguish between physical and commercial electricity flows. Physical flows are all the measured real movements of electricity between the power systems of neighbouring countries (including commercial flows, transit, emergency assistance, technological flows). And commercial flows are flows that are carried out pursuant to electricity purchase (import/export) contracts concluded between market participants from different countries.
An analysis of data from the Energy Map portal demonstrates that in 2024, electricity was periodically transmitted from Ukraine. This is due to the transit of electricity through our country. How does it work? For example, when Romania supplies electricity to Hungary, part of the kilowatts may be transported through Ukrainian power grids. According to the data on physical flows in December-July this year, the volume of electricity entering Ukraine amounted to 66%, and the volume of electricity exiting Ukraine’s system was 34% of the total volume of interstate flows. That is, the Ukrainian power grid received almost twice as much electricity as it gave out.
2. Is electricity exported abroad and does it have something to do with scheduled outages?
In 2019-2022, summer was mostly a season of electricity exports from Ukraine. Imports, on the other hand, were much smaller or did not take place at all.
However, with the start of Russian missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian power system, the volume of exports gradually decreased. And over the past two months, electricity sales abroad have completely stopped.
The last electricity export was on May 12, 2024. At the same time, it accounted for only 2% of the total physical flow of electricity from Ukraine.
Therefore, in June and July, Ukraine did not export electricity and, according to Ukrenergo, does not plan to do so due to a significant deficit in the domestic market.
3. Why are interstate power flows important and what benefits do they bring to our power system?
Synchronisation of Ukraine’s power system with that of continental Europe is important for several reasons. First, it is an element of integration with the EU and European markets. Secondly, the ability to import electricity is currently helping Ukraine to partially cover its domestic electricity deficit, maintain the stability of the power system and reduce the number of outages – especially after targeted hostile attacks. Thirdly, Ukraine can receive emergency assistance from partner countries on top of imports, which also contributes to stability of the power system and improves reliability of electricity supply to consumers.
Please use information only from official sources, in particular the media resources of @Ukrenergo, @MinEnergo, @ENTSO-E and distribution system operators (oblenergos).
Up-to-date data on commercial and physical electricity flows is available on the Energy Map data portal by day and hour.
*data for July covers 1-10 days of the month
