The team «ELECTROLIUM», consisting of students from the Department of Electrical Power Transmission at NTU «KhPI» took part in the first youth hackathon dedicated to climate innovation and challenges—the Youth Climate Innovation Hackathon. The event was held in Kyiv and brought together students from five leading Ukrainian universities. The teams developed climate solutions based on real challenges proposed by Ukrainian businesses. The young people researched current issues in the electric power industry and proposed solutions that could be implemented in the near future. Students from NTU «KhPI» had the opportunity not only to work with mentors from leading companies, but also to present the results of their work to them. The hackathon was organized by the Kyiv School of Energy Policy in partnership with the Ukrainian Climate Office.
Thirty participants in the Youth Climate Innovation Hackathon worked on real climate challenges proposed by businesses in six interdisciplinary teams. NTU «KhPI» was represented by the student association «ELECTROLIUM», which includes students of the Department of Electrical Power Transmission of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Energy, Electronics and Electromechanics. The Kharkiv Polytechnic team consisted of Denys Lutsenko, Oleksii Dyryaiev, Bohdan Masych, Ivan Zhigailo, and Yevhenii Klimov. During two days, they not only tried their hand at developing climate solutions, but also worked with mentors from leading companies. The case studies for the teams were prepared by KNESS, DTEK VDE, iSolar, and UNIT.City/UDP Renewables. The tasks included finding decarbonization models for industrial enterprises, developing solutions for energy clusters to help each other in crisis situations, creating new projects in the field of renewable energy, and preparing investment pitches to attract foreign partners. Participants worked on pressing issues in the energy sector, proposing innovative approaches and creative ideas.
The final presentations were evaluated by a jury consisting of representatives of business, innovative companies, and partners. During the project defense, participants presented innovative solutions in the field of renewable energy: from simulators for the optimal selection of the ratio of solar and wind power in joint projects to the creation of hardware and software platforms for the direct exchange of electricity between communities and industrial parks. Investment models for the development of new projects in the field of «green» energy were also demonstrated.
«This event brought together students and leading energy companies in Ukraine. Hackathon participants felt their own impact on the future, as the projects they worked on could be implemented in the next 5–10 years. Representatives of leading companies saw the level of preparation and motivation of students and can now choose the best ones for themselves. And, of course, our partner, the Kyiv School of Energy Policy, organized an incredible event, for which we are especially grateful,» said the professor of the Department of Electrical Power Transmission at NTU «KhPI», who also participated in the event as a guest mentor.
It should be noted that the hackathon received institutional support from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The event was opened by Grigory Mozolevich, Director General of the Directorate for Science Development at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, who emphasized the importance of involving students in real climate challenges, as they are the ones who will shape the future scientific and engineering potential of the country.
According to the participants, the event became a unique example of cooperation between business, education, and the state to shape a new generation of climate leaders in Ukraine who are capable of creating practical solutions for the sustainable reconstruction and green transformation of the country.
Note:
The Youth Climate Innovation Hackathon is an intensive event where participants form teams to develop new ideas, solutions, or project prototypes in the field of climate innovation and electric power within a short period of time. The event was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and co-financed by the European Union. The Youth Climate Innovation Hackathon, organized by the Kyiv School of Energy Policy in partnership with the Ukrainian Climate Office, took place on 28-29 August, 2025, in Kyiv. In addition to the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute,» the following institutions participated in the hackathon: Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic National University, and Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University.
«ELECTROLIUM» is a student association founded on 15 June, 2018, at the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» as an initiative of active students of the Department of Electrical Power Transmission of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Energy, Electronics, and Electromechanics. The organization regularly participates in scientific events and uses every opportunity for self-realization and growth.