Survived occupation, resilient during blackouts: а history of Borodianka Lyceum
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
Since the beginning of 2026, Borodianka Academic Lyceum has finally transformed from an object that struggled to survive after the occupation into a technological example of reconstruction. As part of the “100SolarSchools” project, the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation installed a hybrid solar station at the school which will help the lyceum become more energy independent and continue operating even during the energy crisis that occurred in Ukraine in January 2026. Now the building, which in 2022, was the only administrative shelter for the entire village, generates its own energy for the education and rehabilitation of more than a thousand children in the community.
Today, February 18, 2026, a solemn ceremony was held to open the hybrid solar station at the Borodianka Academic Lyceum. It is symbolic that during the event, the educational institution had electricity at a time when the entire village was experiencing rolling blackouts.
After April 2, 2022, when Borodianka was liberated from russian troops, the village resembled complete ruins. Most of the administrative buildings were completely destroyed. At this critical moment, the Borodianka Academic Lyceum became perhaps the only large building that survived. It was here that life began to pulsate in the first months after de-occupation: police officers and court employees sat in classrooms instead of students, and the post office and social services operated. While people were overcoming the consequences of large-scale destruction, the lyceum kept the entire village functioning.
Today, children's voices can be heard in these corridors again, but the role of the institution remains unchanged. It is a critical hub where more than 1,000 children spend their days. Itis not only lessons for 780 students, but also evening training for 150 young athletes, classes at the music school and technical creativity clubs, as well as an inclusive resource center where 223 children receive assistance, for whom stability is not a luxury, but a condition for development.
“We understood that Borodianka had already exhausted its limit of trials during the occupation. Children should not have to pay for the consequences of war with their development. Our task was quite pragmatic: to transform the lyceum into a space where a future aircraft designer could glue together a model of his plane, and a young athlete could push through the last approach, even if the power went out in the entire district,” explains Yuliana Onishchuk, founder and director of the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation. “Solar energy has become a guarantee for the community that nothing will pause their path to great victories, whether intellectual or athletic”.
The 30 kW hybrid solar station consists of 62 panels on the roof, an inverter, and powerful batteries (energy storage systems) with a capacity of 40 kWh. This is an engineering solution to blackouts that has already been tested for durability.
This winter, when schools in the region switched to distance learning en masse due to shelling and freezing temperatures, the Borodianka Lyceum became the venue for regional academic competitions. While diesel generators hummed around, creating smoke and noise, the lyceum classrooms were quiet and well lit. The station provides at least three hours of complete autonomy, allowing the educational process to continue even in the most difficult moments.
In addition to stability, a resource that is not obvious at first glance has also appeared. Thanks to the sun, the lyceum saves the community more than €7,000 per year. This money no longer goes to electricity bills or diesel purchases; it remains in the institution's budget.
“Now the lyceum is an example of energy autonomy. This project has become further proof that Ukrainian education can be stronger than any circumstances,” says Yuliana Onishchuk. “This is how we see the reconstruction of the entire country: not only restoring the old, but also creating a new, independent, and technological infrastructure that can withstand the most difficult times. This lyceum is now the standard. Modern, environmentally friendly, and sustainable. And we continue to work to ensure that there are more such strongholds throughout Ukraine”.
Light in classrooms is only the first step. To ensure that children not only use clean energy but also understand its global significance, on February 26, the lyceum will hold a training course on “Sustainable Development and Green Energy” for school students. During the classes, children will learn how renewable energy sources are changing the world and why environmental awareness is the foundation for rebuilding modern Ukraine. This is how a solar station on the roof is transformed from a technical facility into a real educational platform for children.
The solar power plant for the lyceum was installed thanks to the support of the fund's partners: SVAROG, LIVOLTEK, KENO, and Pełni Energii. Octopus Energy is also a partner of the fund, supporting projects to install renewable energy and energy storage systems in schools and hospitals throughout Ukraine.
