Groundbreaking Model project shows possibilities for sustainable and independent energy supply in a war-torn country.
Kyiv, 18. 12. 2025 – Together with the city of Trostyanets and the green energy cooperative Green Planet Energy, Greenpeace Germany and Greenpeace Ukraine have completed a groundbreaking model project for sustainable heat supply in Ukraine.
A multi-family apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city, which was severely damaged during the Russian occupation in 2022, has been completely renovated and equipped with a modern heating system using geothermal energy, heat pumps and solar power. This project is the first in Ukraine where heat pumps serve as the sole source of heating and hot water supply for a multi-apartment building.
The pilot project shows how sustainable reconstruction can succeed and how European aid can be used for future technologies and safe, affordable heating. Ukraine’s heat supply, which consists of 70 percent fossil gas, one third district heating and one third combined heat and power, has been under increasing attack again from Russia since October 2025. Around 60 percent of the gas supply has already been paralyzed. Many Ukrainian households are facing another difficult winter.
Since 2023, the five-storey building with 60 apartments has been renovated with state aid and also underwent energy-efficient refurbishment. “Our pilot project demonstrates how beneficial sustainable and decentralised heating systems are,” says Andree Boehling, project manager at Greenpeace Germany. “Heat pumps, geothermal energy and renewable energies are the future. They should be prioritized over fossil gas – at least in reconstruction approaches with EU participation.”
Blueprint for Ukraine’s green reconstruction
The new heating system includes five heat storage tanks of around 2,000 liters each and a high-performance heat exchanger for hot water. The investment sum for the heating system is 218,000 euros. The project is intended to help implement the “Master Plan for Green Reconstruction” developed by the city of Trostyanets in 2023. The aim is to establish concepts for a sustainable heat supply in large residential buildings and make the city a model for the whole of Ukraine. The number of residents in the town, which is 35 kilometers from the Russian border, has risen despite renewed Russian attacks.
“Trostyanets has deliberately chosen a path of reconstruction that makes our community stronger, more energy-independent, and safer for our people. This building proves that even during the war, Ukraine can implement cutting-edge technologies and create dignified living conditions. We want our experience to show other cities that the transition to renewable energy is possible today — and that it gives people something essential: the feeling of a home that is always warm and protected from threats”, says Yuriy Bova, Mayor of Trostyanets.
The implementation of the pilot project was co-financed by customers of the German energy cooperative Green Planet Energy and the Greenpeace Environmental Foundation. The experts from Consulting IC Ukraine and CES Clean Energy Solutions have also been supporting the project since the beginning and provided the basis for the city’s sustainable urban development strategy.
Pictures can be used to illustrate a related article, by using the credit © Ivan Govzan/Greenpeace: https://media.greenpeace.org/shoot/27MZIFJRZY45G
