On 4–5 December 2024, the EoLIS seminar, organised by WindEurope, took place in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. The event focused on the current challenges and strategies for the end of the operational life of wind turbines. One of the key sessions was a discussion on the topic of investment decisions and the motivation for purchasing second-hand wind turbines through the eyes of the buyer.
The invited speaker of this session was Kateryna Knysh, head of the analytical department of UWEA and business development director of MCL. She presented the prospects for the use of second-hand wind turbines in Ukraine, outlining the attractiveness of this segment for Ukrainian buyers. In her presentation, Kateryna shared the history of the development of the second-hand wind turbine market in Ukraine, defined the profile of the modern Ukrainian buyer and named the key advantages of choosing second-hand turbines instead of new ones. In particular, the example of one of MCL’s latest projects, developed specifically for the implementation of second-hand turbines, was given, and some potential locations for future such projects were presented.
“According to UWEA data, the total installed capacity of second-hand wind turbines in Ukraine amounts to 32 MW, and their average unit capacity is 1.24 MW. However, since 2024, Ukrainian buyers have been demonstrating an interest in turbines with a unit capacity of 2 MW and above, primarily because of the generation deficit in the power system”, noted Kateryna. She also emphasised that the use of second-hand turbines is a critical need for Ukraine dictated by wartime realities: “This is a fast and economically advantageous investment solution for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as for local critical infrastructure facilities, in particular water utilities”.
Answering a question from the audience about the challenges that Ukrainian buyers face, Kateryna singled out two main problems:
- Operation and maintenance. The market lacks qualified personnel and service centers. “We are also interested in developing training programmes for Ukrainian personnel”, noted the speaker.
- Equipment quality. Buyers are oriented towards refurbished turbines with a guarantee of 10 years of operation. “We now take a very serious approach to the quality of the equipment that is purchased. Our buyers are interested only in refurbished wind turbines that have a manufacturer’s guarantee for at least 10 years of further operation”, she added.
The moderator of the session was the CEO of Business in Wind, a company that recently joined UWEA. He emphasised the company’s potential to carry out high-quality repairs and guarantee the stable operation of turbines, which is especially valuable for Ukrainian buyers.
UWEA extends its gratitude to WindEurope for providing another platform to present the Ukrainian wind energy market and for supporting Ukraine.
