Hundreds more mobile generators to provide vital power for Ukraine

Hospitals, shelters and other essential services will be given more power to operate in the face of ongoing Russian attacks with a further 287 mobile generators donated from the UK government.

It follows a request from the Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko who welcomed the previous shipment of generators by saying "the light will always win over darkness".

This takes the total number of generators from the UK government to Ukraine to 856.

This follows an initial 569 generators from 5 UK companies who have all supplied mobile units to help Ukraine.

The new generators - enough to power the equivalent of around 8,000 additional homes - will be used for larger buildings such as hospitals and shelters following the brutal onslaught in Eastern Ukraine. The government has purchased these from Merseyside-based supplier Speedy Hire, with some of the 287 being loaded at a depot in Stoke-on-Trent.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

Putin's atrocities have continued to escalate, and so we are ramping up our support to the Ukrainian people in their time of need. Our donation of a further 287 generators will ensure more essential services in Ukraine can keep running.

Russell Down, Chief Executive of Speedy, said:

Our position as the UK's leading tools and equipment provider has enabled us to react promptly and assist the UK government in supporting the Ukrainian people.

The generators will be delivered to a Polish government hub. From there, the Ukrainian government and the country's energy networks will distribute the generators across the country to where they are needed most.

As part of the ongoing effort to support Ukraine, the UK government has also introduced 2 time-limited exemptions to its international fossil fuel support policy, one applying to Ukraine, and one to Eastern Europe. The policy prevents the UK providing any new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas. These exemptions have been introduced to allow the UK to provide support for Ukraine's energy and fuel needs.

This will mean the UK can join international efforts to address the regional energy security impact of the crisis in Ukraine and quickly respond to requests for assistance. These temporary measures could see the UK supporting Ukraine to ensure there is enough fuel for vehicles involved in food production and other basic services, and to help build up energy reserves ahead of winter.

However, the UK is clear that longer-term solutions in the region and globally must focus on clean energy, to prevent long-term dependence on fossil fuels. Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the vulnerability caused by our reliance on fossil fuels. Accelerating the shift to clean power generation is the most effective route to both climate and energy security.

Notes

Suppliers of initial 569 generators include:

• Generator Power
• Electricity North West
• Woodlands Power
• SP Energy Networks
• Finning

Members of the Ukraine Electricity Network Support Task Group include:

• Energy Networks Association
• Electricity North West
• Western Power Distribution
• UK Power Networks
• Northern PowerGrid
• Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
• SP Energy Networks
• National Grid Electricity System Operator
• National Grid Electricity Transmission

On 31 March 2021, the UK government implemented its policy to no longer provide any new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas.

About Speedy Hire Plc

Founded in 1977, Speedy is the UK's leading provider of tools and equipment hire services to a wide range of customers in the construction, infrastructure and industrial markets, as well as to local trade and industry.