Kernel installs solar panels on grain elevators: two pilot projects are already underway
21.05.2026 - 14:12
Agroholding Kernel launches solar power plants on grain elevators and will sell surpluses to the grid.
The company has launched a program to deploy its own solar generation at industrial facilities, the Kernel press service reported.
The project’s goal is to reduce dependence on external power supply, ensure stable operation of grain storage facilities, and reduce the carbon footprint of products.
Currently, the company is implementing two pilot projects on grain elevators with a total capacity of 250 kW, costing about $140,000. The first is in the Kirovohrad region for 100 kW, and the second is in the Poltava region for 150 kW.
“Given current electricity tariffs for commercial consumers, investments in industrial solar power plants without storage systems are one of the most effective cost optimization tools. The expected payback period is up to 5 years. At the same time, the cost of its own solar kilowatt-hour for the enterprise is several times lower than the market price,” said Serhiy Shcherban, head of the storage department at Kernel.
The company added that currently the generated electricity covers the technological processes and economic needs of the elevators. In the next few months, it is planned to connect to the grid according to the active consumer model, which will allow selling excess electricity to the power system.
Kernel is also considering the possibility of scaling the project. Among the potential locations are other facilities in the Poltava region and Vinnytsia region. In the future, the installation of systems with a capacity of up to 550 kW is being considered, and on large sites – up to 3-4 MW.
In addition to the direct economic effect and risk reduction, this step is part of the holding’s long-term ESG strategy for decarbonizing production processes. Recall that in April 2026, the EBRD, for the first time since the beginning of the Great War, provided Kernel with a $45 million loan for the construction of a solar power plant.
