KNESS 2023: a year in review

This year was full of important events, challenges, significant decisions, efforts, conscientious actions, and valuable experience. We have transformed, searched for new solutions, optimized internal business processes, and worked on innovative business models, making us stronger. 

In 2023, thanks to our Defenders, we were able to work, help, and develop models for the resilience of the power system, build new generating capacities for consumers, strengthen the economy, and support our country. So, we are summarizing the results, processing the experience gained, and drawing valuable conclusions for the coming year.

What important things happened in 2023?

Opening a representative office in Latvia and implementing 20.5 MW of solar power plants under the EPC terms

At the beginning of 2023, KNESS representative office in Latvia — KNESS Baltic with an office in Riga, started its work. During the year, we have built 20.5 MW of industrial solar power plants, which is a fairly significant share of solar generation for the country. This is more than 20 million kWh of green energy annually, equalling 20,573 tons of CO2 emissions reduction per year.

Starting export of Ukrainian steel structures to the European market

This year, KNESS started exporting its own steel structures to Poland and Latvia. As of the end of 2023, 710 tons of Ukrainian steel structures were manufactured and delivered to construction sites. The delivered models of support systems were developed and modernized by an in-house RnD Center team.

Systematic work and development in different directions

Thanks to more than 14 years of experience in the energy market, a qualified team, rapid development and implementation of new approaches, and effective business models, we have managed to continue to grow despite the challenging environment.

KNESS Service, which is a part of KNESS Group, has been certified for compliance with international ISO standards.  This year, more than 110 MW were added to the pool of facilities under our service, and more than a dozen facilities were taken over for dispatching.  In addition, we restored the facilities located in the de-occupied territories, set up the repair of centralized inverters, and established KNESS Service branches in the Dnipro region and international markets (Poland and Latvia).

KNESS Energy’s Balancing Group continues to grow and scale in terms of the number of participants. This year, KNESS Energy has also doubled the volume of electricity supply to enterprises, as the number of our industrial consumers has increased by 48%. We also continue to provide high-quality electricity forecasting for facilities with a total capacity of more than 1 GW and perform commercial metering for more than 150 enterprises (the number of metering points exceeds 3000).

We continue to build and develop renewable energy in Ukraine, Poland, and Latvia. In 2023, projects with a total installed capacity of 94.1 MW were implemented in three countries.

We designed rooftop and ground-based solar power plants, conducted feasibility studies, supplied the necessary electrical equipment, manufactured steel structures and other components for solar power plants, and built and commissioned new generating facilities. KNESS also continues to work on creating new and optimizing existing energy storage solutions, offering innovative models and products for the development of renewable energy sources, which will accelerate the decarbonization of the energy system and create conditions for energy security and energy independence of the country.

Equipment and software solutions created by RnD Center developers were modernized.

Joining international communities, initiatives and coalitions

We joined the SolarPower Europe industry community. We joined the circle of signatories of the Ukraine Business Compact 2023 and the Ukraine Energy Initiative.

Sharing our vision and best practices in the energy sector with others

We were represented at the international exhibitions ENEX 2023 and Intersolar Europe 2023. 

As invited speakers, we presented our proposals on strategies and ways of energy development in Ukraine at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023, at the Committee Hearings on “Ukraine’s Implementation of the EU’s Fourth Energy Package “Clean Energy for All Europeans”, at the “Energy of Business” forum by Forbes Ukraine, at the conference “Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation for Recovery and Strategic Partnership” and the Ukrainian Energy Security Dialogue. We communicated with the Minister of Climate and Energy of the Republic of Latvia during his visit to the facility we built.

What is more important is that we joined joint discussions with industry colleagues, participated, and continue to work together to develop important bylaws designed to develop the energy sector.

Acting as experts in business management and development and conducting educational lectures

We shared our experience of automating and systematizing business, business stabilizing, and focusing on development even in war times and energy trends for 2024 at meetings with entrepreneurs. Presented a case study on entering new markets at HR DAYS 2023. We shared our experience and advice and conducted excursions to the production facilities and dispatch center for representatives of communities within the EXCITE project, entrepreneurs from the Vinnytsia chapter of the Board, pupils, and students from different parts of the Vinnytsia region.

Ranking among the top 50 employers in Ukraine

This year, our company is among the most responsible employers who, despite the war, invest in people, their main asset. This is confirmed by the rating “TOP-100. Ratings of the largest!” according to delo.ua.

Supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities and volunteering

Together with the UWEA, the World Wind Energy Association WWEA, and the Global100RE platform, we produced two autonomous mobile solar power plants for the Kozynets outpatient clinic and the Irpin Lyceum of Innovative Technologies as part of the Renewables4Ukraine campaign.

Together with industry colleagues, we restored the energy infrastructure that suffered from the consequences of the aggressor state’s shelling, to ensure the energy stability of our country.

With the help of a corporate telegram bot, we managed to set up a system of active assistance for our colleagues and their close ones who are in the military. Through the bot, our colleagues created 95 requests for support and received it within the team. In addition, with the company’s assistance, we provided logistics for the systematic supply of medicines and equipment for tactical medicine from other countries, donated two pickup trucks to the military, financed fuel and tires for the military, purchased and delivered 5 multi-channel fast charging units that provide independent power supply for various equipment for the military and participated in the manufacture of more than 200 night vision devices for cars.

We also held 4 corporate Donor Days and donated 50 liters of blood (327 doses of components).

As another confirmation that we are doing everything right, we received the Corporate Volunteering award because we are united by a common goal and values.

Keeping a calendar of sustainable habits within the KNESS Team and among our Instagram followers, hosting the IV All-Ukrainian YEPS – a hackathon of innovative IT solutions, and simply doing our daily work, bringing a sustainable future closer step by step.

In 2024, KNESS is planning to continue working to increase the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system and decarbonize the energy sector in all countries where we operate. We are strengthening our expertise, exploring new markets, and investing our experience in the development and implementation of innovative technologies, products, and services aimed at developing clean and safe energy. We support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and believe in Victory.

We are grateful to everyone who has been with us this year on the way to energy independence. We thank everyone who continues to cooperate with us. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the synergy of interaction brings much better results in all sectors. So, let’s unite our efforts to increase the share of renewable energy worldwide.