Why Ukraine Needs Energy-Independent Schools: Solar Solutions Help Protect Access to Education

Due to russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this winter, nearly 2 million Ukrainian students were affected. Around 60% of schools were forced to temporarily close or switch to remote learning during January–February 2026 due to power disruptions. In practice, this resulted in approximately 4 hours of learning lost per day for many students.

Electricity shortages affect not only classrooms but also the functioning of shelters and underground schools, which rely on stable power supply to ensure safe in-person learning.

One example demonstrating how these challenges can be addressed is the “Power Supply for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine” project initiated by the Government of Lithuania.

Within this initiative, 18 schools and kindergartens across Ukraine were equipped with full solar energy systems. Each installation includes approximately 100 kW of solar capacity and around 150 kWh of battery storage.

The systems allow schools to operate autonomously for 5–8 hours during power outages and can cover up to 100% of a school’s annual electricity demand. In addition to strengthening energy resilience, the installations generate significant cost savings — around €25,500 per year for each school.

“This is crucial support for us. We have adapted our learning process to survive the blackouts, and now the solar panels will accumulate enough energy to keep our school running smoothly,” said Valentyna Koliesnikova, principal of one of the schools supported by the project.

Currently, the majority of Ukrainian schools still lack such solutions. Only about 100 out of more than 12,000 schools in Ukraine are equipped with solar panels.

Expanding energy-independent infrastructure in schools remains essential for protecting access to education and ensuring the continuity of learning, particularly in regions regularly affected by power outages.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine continues working with international partners to scale solutions that strengthen the resilience of the education system and support safe, uninterrupted learning for Ukrainian students.