OREANDA-NEWS. Under-financing of Burshtyn TPP will negatively affect the capacity to comply with the requirements of the European network of system operators and disrupts the operations of the Burshtyn energy island. The issue of applying the general tariff-setting principles to plant, regardless of the regime of working in ENTSO-E, was initiated by the working group of Energorynok SC with NCSEPUR participation.

Burshtynska TPP is a part of the Burshtyn energy island. Plant generating units are synchronized with the European energy system ENTSO-E and operate separately from the United Energy System of Ukraine (UES). Technical characteristics of working in ENTSO-E differ from the UES of Ukraine requirements. That is why, since 2004 generating units of Burshtyn TPP have had a tariff that took into account the regime of working within the European energy system.

Integration of the South-Western part of the UES of Ukraine with the energy system of the European countries ENTSO-E is one of the key achievements in the process of Ukraine’s integration into the European community. To ensure the parallel operations regime, a frequency and capacity controlling system has been introduced; state-of-the-art relay control devices installed; three phases of shunting reactors of 750 kV; the generating units, telecommunications networks, etc. upgraded. The automation of the Burtshtyn TPP generating units’ control system ensures the accuracy and reliability of energy supplies. Units No. 5 and No 7 have been retrofitted. The upgrading of the equipment and relay protection of the energy grid of Burshtyn TPP helped increase the export transmission capacity of Ukrenergo NEC from 500 to 650 MW in 2013. Since the plant privatization DTEK has invested UAH 1.8 bln in upgrading, overhauls and maintenance of Burtshyn TPP.

The decision not to take into account the specifics of the plant’s operations in ENTSO-E system will result in a disruption of the stable operation of Burshtyn energy island. ’In 2015, Burshtynska TPP has been running with an average profitability of minus 15%’, said Vitaly Butenko, Commercial Director of DTEK Energy. ’If the approach to tariff-setting changes, every year the plant will under-receive UAH 1 bln. The plant will not have funds to purchase coal in time and compile with ENTSO-E technical requirements to the network and equipment. It jeopardizes the operations of the entire Burshtyn island. The plant will run with a smaller set of the units, exports will drop, as well as tax and currency revenues, and coal from Lviv and Volyn mines will not be needed. Ukraine will lose its positions in the European electricity market and won’t be able to fulfil the flexible capacities functions for the European energy system. In the process of Ukraine’s energy integration to Europe the Burshtyn energy island was a kind of a common bridge that connected both energy systems. Now the plans for further synchronization are being jeopardized."