On 25 June 2025, a modern solar power plant (SPP) with a capacity of over 10 Kilowatts (kW) was officially opened at the Sports Complex of the National Technical University «KhPI». The plant was launched by Yevgen Sokol, Rector of National Technical University «KhPI. The power plant, which is installed on the roof of the building, is designed to power the lighting systems of the sports facility, in particular the swimming pool. It will ensure a stable supply of electricity even in the absence of solar activity or interruptions in the external power supply. In the event of a complete power outage, the SPP will be able to maintain lighting for up to 3 hours and operate as a point of invulnerability. Its manufacture, installation, and connection to the internal power system were carried out by specialists from the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» Research Plant and university scientists. The event was attended by the project manager, Vice-Rector Magomediemin Gasanov teachers from NTU « KhPI», and Sports Complex employees.
Based at the Polytech sports complex, NTU «KhPI» has implemented an innovative solar power plant (SPP) project designed to power the building’s lighting systems, including the swimming pool. Its manufacture, development, and installation on the roof were carried out by specialists from the Kharkiv Polytechnic Research Plant with the support of the Sports Complex staff. The project manager is Magomediemin Gasanov, Vice-Rector of NTU «KhPI».
The SPP consists of 24 silicon monocrystalline solar panels with a capacity of 435 W each, and the total installed capacity of the solar power plant is over 10 kW. It will ensure a stable supply of electricity even in the absence or interruption of the external power supply.
The installation of the solar power plant and its connection to inverters and storage batteries was carried out independently by scientists from the Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Computer Modeling, Applied Physics, and Mathematics of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute»: Head of the Department Professor Roman Zaitsev, Professor Kseniia Minakova, Associate Professor Mykhailo Kirichenko, Researcher Dmytro Shkoda. The SPP was connected to the internal power system of the Sports Complex by employees of the Department of Electrical Power Transmission of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Energy, Electronics and Electromechanics of the National Technical University «KhPI»: Professor Dmytro Danylchenko, Associate Professor Stanislav Dryvetsky, Senior Lecturer Oleksiy Kulik, and Laboratory Head Oleksandr Kamyshynsky.
According to the participants of the innovative project, in the event of a complete power outage, the solar station will be able to maintain lighting for up to three hours. During this time, the Sports Complex staff will be able to finish their work or, if necessary, leave the building or move to a shelter. The use of solar energy provides Kharkiv Polytechnic with autonomy and independence in energy supply, and also reduces CO2 emissions from traditional energy sources. This set of measures will also make it possible to create a Point of Invincibility for teachers and employees of NTU «KhPI» on the basis of the Sports Complex.
«A comprehensive solution is used to efficiently utilize the generated energy: a 15 kW inverter combined with a 10 kWh lithium-ion battery. It will ensure a stable supply of electricity even in the absence of or interruptions in the external power supply,» says Kseniia Minakova, a participant in the innovative project and professor at the Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics at the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute». «In addition, the solar station will serve as a laboratory complex that can be integrated into the educational process and used for classes, including online.»
«This innovative project will ensure the energy independence and energy efficiency of the sports complex. We will use data from the solar station in our own scientific research. This includes, for example, comparing different types of inverters depending on lighting, weather conditions, etc. It will also make it possible to create a large database for further research into renewable energy sources. In the future, we can talk about combining all renewable energy sources into a single energy management network at NTU «KhPI», notes another project participant, Professor Dmytro Danylchenko of the Department of Electrical Power Transmission at Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.
NTU «KhPI» launched the SPP construction project in January 2025.
Note:
The Sports Complex «Polytech» was built between 1985 and 1991 (total area 8,602 square meters). It is the only sports facility in Ukraine that has been awarded the State Prize in Architecture and has the status of «Olympic Training Base for Ukrainian National Teams.» The Ukrainian national teams in basketball, badminton, athletics, and other sports trained here, students majoring in «Physical Culture and Sports» attended classes, world and European champions and Olympic medalists studied here, and numerous mass sports and physical culture and health events took place here: Spartakiads, international competitions and contests, as well as open days. This unique building in the center of Kharkiv brought together all those who loved movement, sports, and development.
On the night of 24 June 2022, the Sports Complex «Polytech» was destroyed by russian rocket fire. The main impact was on the athletics arena and the games hall. The blast wave damaged the swimming pool and all the premises of the sports complex: windows, doors, walls. Despite the significant damage and lack of funds, Polytechnic students, graduates, their friends, and athletes joined forces: they cleared the rubble, removed glass and debris, and stacked bricks. After some time, restoration and repair work began. On 1 June, 2023, KPI opened a renovated swimming pool in the sports complex and part of the building that was not so badly damaged by rocket strikes—a major renovation of the physical education department building was carried out, which was separated by a wall from the damaged athletics arena and game room.