A total of 150 solar panels, received by the community through the “Solar for Ukraine” competition, will power the maternity and infectious disease wards of the Chortkiv Central City Hospital. The hospital is expected to save about 400,000 UAH per year on electricity costs.
In Chortkiv, Ternopil region, two grid-connected solar power stations (PV systems) with a combined capacity of 50 kW have been launched. This marks the first case in Ukraine where women trained under the “Solar Power Plant Installer” program participated in the installation of municipal solar stations.
The hospital received its equipment — 150 solar panels and inverters — thanks to its victory in the “Sun for Ukraine” competition, organized by Greenpeace Ukraine in partnership with the German foundation BIOHAUS-Stiftung.
The two new stations, with a total capacity of 50 kW, will supply electricity to the maternity ward (30 kW) and the infectious disease ward (20 kW). According to estimates, they will generate up to 50,000 kWh per year, helping the hospital save over 400,000 UAH annually.
All photos by Vasyl Stasyshyn for Greenpeace
“We are proud to support Chortkiv — a city with a truly forward-looking mindset. The community not only actively promotes the green energy transition but also champions gender equality and opportunities for women. With the support of the municipality, our graduates — female solar installers — have proven that Ukrainian women can both install solar stations and drive the country’s energy transformation,” — said Polina Kolodiazhna, Program Lead at Greenpeace Ukraine.
The Chortkiv Central City Hospital serves more than ten surrounding communities — nearly 250,000 people. Its maternity ward delivers about 700 babies every year, so in a time when Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, energy resilience is a matter of safety and saving lives.
The women who installed the systems are originally from Luhansk region. For both of them, this was their first hands-on experience after completing the “Solar Power Plant Installer” training program, implemented by Women in Tech Ukraine and Greenpeace Ukraine in partnership with the humanitarian organization People in Need, with financial support from the people of the Czech Republic
In the photo: installer Svitlana Shyian
Svitlana Shyian, now living in Kirovohrad region, previously worked in the hotel and restaurant industry. She has a technical background and has always been deeply interested in solar technologies. The “Solar Power Plant Installer” course allowed her to fulfill a long-time dream of joining the solar energy sector — now she plans to install a PV system for her own home and even considers starting her own solar business. In Chortkiv, she and the technical team worked on installing ground screws, mounting structures, and solar panels.
“The training from Greenpeace was truly a gift. Green energy means freedom and the future. We assembled the entire system ourselves — and I realized that I want to develop my own solar business. It’s a job that gives you energy — literally and symbolically,” — says Svitlana Shyian.
In the photo: installer Maryna Skrypnyk
Maryna Skrypnyk is from the city of Antratsyt, Luhansk region, and now lives in Kharkiv. She is the widow of a fallen Hero of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade and says that the training and work on the solar installation became a path of inner transformation for her. In Chortkiv, Maryna completed the full installation cycle — from marking the field and drilling the ground screws to mounting the panels.
“The past year has been one of transformation in my life. That’s why I challenged myself — to learn how to install solar stations, and I believe I succeeded. The Chortkiv hospital was my first practical site, and I hope it’s just the beginning. I’m convinced that green energy is the future. Especially now, when our country is at war and the enemy targets our energy infrastructure, we must become more autonomous — and solar power is the way,” — says Maryna Skrypnyk.
For the community, the solarization of the Chortkiv Central City Hospital is a logical continuation of the “Solar Chortkiv” project — a large-scale municipal initiative aiming to make the city 100% powered by renewable energy by 2050. Chortkiv already operates 12 solar power stations on critical infrastructure facilities, including the hospital, water utility, rehabilitation center for children with disabilities, dormitory for internally displaced people, and other key sites.
For the community, green energy means cost savings, energy resilience, and uninterrupted power supply during blackouts.
“Since our pilot solar project in 2023, we have been consistently expanding ‘Solar Chortkiv’ — now we have 12 stations operating on critical infrastructure. Winning the ‘Sun for Ukraine’ competition by Greenpeace enabled us to equip two more hospital wards. For us, it’s not only about producing clean energy but also about supporting gender equality — the women installers did an outstanding job on their first practical project,” — said Yana Bondarenko, Head of the Department of Municipal Development and Energy Management of the Chortkiv City Council.
The Chortkiv hospital became one of ten winners of Greenpeace’s “Sun for Ukraine” competition. Other medical facilities across Ukraine are now also receiving and installing solar equipment, and female solar installers are expected to gain further hands-on experience at these new sites.
