A new international alliance will train Ukrainians to rebuild and operate a green and resilient energy system as the country’s infrastructure continues to come under attack.
To ensure a robust and secure energy system for the future, Ukrainians will need new skills to rebuild a greener and more decentralised energy sector. The new alliance REE-Skill Ukraine aims to meet this challenge by upskilling Ukrainians for jobs in the green energy sector. Through education and training, the alliance will help build the workforce needed to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and thereby contributing to a free and independent Ukraine.
Energy security is national security
In just a few years, Ukraine’s energy system has been severely damaged. For the fourth winter in a row, Ukrainians have relied on generators to keep their homes warm and the lights on. As Russian missiles and drones continue to strike power plants, gas storage facilities and transmission lines, the country’s energy infrastructure remains under severe pressure. Energy security has therefore become inseparable from national security.
Against this backdrop, a group of companies and organisations has joined forces to help rebuild a green and resilient energy system. This is the motivation behind the REE-Skill Ukraine alliance, established with initial funding from the Ramboll Foundation.
“The REE-Skill Ukraine initiative empowers Ukrainians with the skills and knowledge to restore and renew their energy systems. Our mission is not just to help recover but to rebuild for the regeneration of nature and society. We want to assist by fostering local expertise for a sustainable, resilient, and self-sufficient future” says Asbjørn Kristensen Høgsbro, Head of Philanthropy at the Ramboll Foundation.
At the same time, Ukraine’s energy sector is undergoing a large-scale shift towards renewable and decentralised energy sources, which requires a new generation of skills.
“For us, energy security is national security. As we move away from centralized vulnerability towards distributed wind generation, the demand for a highly skilled workforce becomes critical. The REE-Skill Ukraine partnership is not just about training; it is a strategic investment in our resilience. It ensures we have the hands and minds capable of maintaining the renewable assets that keep the lights on and the heating running, turning RES into a reliable shield against future blackouts.” says Andriy Konechenkov, Chairman of the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association.
Putting people first: Re-skilling for a green energy system
Energy is a basic condition for freedom and a functioning society. Ukraine’s transition towards a more decentralised and renewable energy system will require thousands of workers with new or upgraded skills from technicians and installers to engineers, planners and students.
While emergency aid focuses on restoring power and heating in the short term, REE-Skill Ukraine focuses on the long term: ensuring that Ukrainians themselves can operate and maintain the energy system.
The alliance works across three main areas:
- Local partnerships in Ukraine between Ukrainian institutions, energy companies and Danish or international partners.
- Targeted training programmes developed with technical schools and industry organisations.
- Strategic advisory support for planning, financing and implementing a resilient energy system.
“By bringing the right stakeholders together and bridging the gap between education and workforce demand, we aim to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian population to support a renewable energy system with a focus on a self-sufficient and secure energy future.” says Sara Petrycer, director of Mentor to Impact.
Join the alliance
The alliance is now inviting organisations, companies and institutions to join the effort by contributing expertise, networks or resources. Stakeholders with relevant knowledge of energy, education, reconstruction or Ukraine are encouraged to get involved through advisory roles, partnerships on specific initiatives, or contributions to the alliance’s mapping of key stakeholders and needs.
“Russia’s invasion has turned the reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy system into one of the most complex stakeholder landscapes in Europe. As a European public affairs agency with an office in Ukraine, Rud Pedersen’s role is to convene and connect, bringing together decision-makers, authorities, businesses and civil society to turn good ideas into real impact on the ground,” says Michael Dahl, Partner at Rud Pedersen Denmark.
Facts
REE-Skill Ukraine was founded in 2025 by Mentor to Impact, the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association and Rud Pedersen. The name combines renewable energy and energy efficiency: the two pillars of a future-proof Ukrainian energy sector.
This week, the alliance held its first Steering Committee meeting, marking an important milestone. The meeting brought together key actors from the Danish and Ukrainian energy sectors, education institutions and organisations working with the green transition, united around one goal: creating the skills needed for a green and resilient Ukrainian energy system.
Contact
For more information about REE-Skill Ukraine or opportunities to join the alliance contact:
- Sara Petrycer Hansen, director of Mentor to Impact: sph@mentortoimpact.dk
- Michael Dahl, partner at Rud Pedersen Denmark: dahl@rudpedersen.com
- Yevhenii Kontorshchykov, UWEA: kontor@gmail.com
