A Hybrid Heating Solution for Kyiv: Modular Boilers to Replace Destroyed Power Plant

Kyiv's Heating Crisis: Modular Boilers to Warm Thousands of Homes

According to Главком: Following the destruction of the city's CHP-4 plant by Russian forces, Kyiv must find a way to provide heat to over a thousand apartment buildings before the new heating season begins. Former head of Ukraine's Gas Transmission System Operator, Serhiy Makohon, advocates for a hybrid approach combining cogeneration units with modular district boilers. He presents six key arguments in favor of modular boilers, highlighting their:

• rapid deployment
• cost-effectiveness
• ease of maintenance
• modular design
• environmental friendliness
• resilience in wartime conditions

CHP-4, which supplied heat to more than 1,100 multi-story buildings, sustained critical damage. Repairing the equipment and systems at the Darnytsia plant will require at least two months, assuming no further attacks occur. On the morning of February 3rd, water was drained from building heating systems to prevent freezing. The right bank of Kyiv is currently heated by 180 small boiler houses, which are managing to provide warmth amid the current challenges.

Serhiy Makohon notes that the waiting list for complex cogeneration machines like Jenbacher and Caterpillar is 6-9 months. The monthly rental cost for a 10 MW module in the US or Europe ranges from $15,000 to $30,000. The cost per MW of installed thermal capacity for a cogenerator is dozens of times higher than for a modern gas boiler, even though modern gas boilers boast an efficiency exceeding 90-92%.

A 10 MW mobile boiler unit may cost around $1 million, whereas a cogeneration unit is 5 to 10 times more expensive. A district boiler with 6-10 MW capacity can be supplied in a standard shipping container and is capable of heating 20-25 apartment buildings even in severe frost. A cogeneration unit requires oil and filter changes every 1-2 thousand hours and a major overhaul after four years.

The Advantages of Modular Boilers

According to Makohon, the benefits of modular boilers include:

• fast equipment delivery and installation
• economic advantage
• savings for the Kyiv city budget

He states that given the shortage of funds, this is the only way to quickly provide heat to thousands of apartments by directing resources to directly heat water with maximum efficiency.

"That is, 50 boiler houses of 10 MW each will cost $50 million, perhaps $100 million with installation. These are very realistic funds that both the city and donors can find," says Makohon.

Modular boiler houses not only shorten heating mains and reduce heat loss but also significantly simplify connection. "It's simply a gas boiler. They can be located in close proximity to the buildings," he adds. In wartime conditions, decentralization through simple modules is the best survival strategy. "This is precisely why the right bank still has heat, as it is heated by 180 small boiler houses," the expert concludes.

Implementing modular boilers could be a crucial step in providing heat for Kyiv residents under the difficult conditions of war and destroyed critical infrastructure. While restoring CHP-4 may take considerable time, implementing this hybrid model would allow the city to cope with the challenges of the heating season more quickly and effectively. This solution also demonstrates the city's adaptability to new realities, saving budgetary funds and reducing the vulnerability of the energy system. Such measures could enhance heating supply stability and ensure comfort for the capital's residents. This situation highlights the severe strain on Ukraine's urban infrastructure following targeted attacks on energy facilities.