The Solar Cluster shall be focused on the formation of the Ukrainian-Slovak innovative industrial and technological chain for the designing, investment, configuration and coordination of the construction of typical Solar Power Plants (SPP), including co-production of Mono-silicon from poly-silicon raw materials produced in the EU. In addition, a joint production of neutron-doped silicon in Ukraine for power electronics and modular technological blocks and equipment sets for the accumulation and smart distribution of the produced electricity is envisaged.

It is proposed to organize joint serial production of wind-solar tower-type power plants “Tornado” in the range of installation capacities from 2 to 20 kW, such solution being at least twice as energy effective as the best current world analogues. This Ukrainian innovative development can be especially useful for providing autonomous power supply to individual budget buildings (medical centers, hospitals, schools, etc.), as well as individual households, farms and SMEs.

This cluster shall strive to implement fully autonomous wastewater plants (Decentralized Wastewater Treatment) that require maintenance only once per quarter (or bi-weekly at larger installations), with optional capability to recycle water. Ideally, such technology should process the whole volume of sludge biologically, resulting in odour-free and chemicals free operation. Such solutions should ideally be controlled and managed remotely, with real-time notification of critical events, including power failures.

In addition, a Decentralized Potable Water Production shall be aimed for. Such technologies shall allow for autonomous decentralized potable water treatment with real-time quality monitoring. The treatment intensity shall be adjusted based on real-time data to the contamination level, ensuring guaranteed disinfection quality.

This cluster is also focused on the joint production and implementation of a wide range of thermal power equipment based on European and Ukrainian innovations. In particular, we are talking about modular pyrolysis and block-modular plasma torches with a cavitation activator in capacity range of 250kW - 1MW.

Hydrogen Cluster shall be focused on joint development, designing and production of industrial equipment (generators, electrolyzes, bio fermenters, accumulators, etc.) for hydrogen generating, storing, transporting and consuming, using both electrolysis and biotechnologies. In addition, this cluster shall also focus on the wider topic of cyber security of critical infrastructure, in particular cybersecurity of hydrogen and other power storage technologies.

This cluster shall be oriented at the joint designing and production of typical micro and mini hydro power plants (HPP), as well as the development of successful eco-friendly HPP-cascade projects based on pilot local communities and sub-regions.

The creation of such cluster was ignited by Slovak initiatives deeply reforming national energy supply systems in the direction of market decentralization. As a result, this leads to the formation of distributed systems for generation and consumption of energy within local communities and subregions, based on renewable energy sources and green technologies, thus contributing to an overall increase in the safety of its critical infrastructure. In turn, this requires the construction of appropriate local smart grid systems as well as digital platforms for intelligent energy management. The barbaric nature of ussian shelling of civil and, above all, energy infrastructure in Ukraine showed the high vulnerability of centralized power supply systems and sharply actualized the urgent need for decentralized approaches and the creation of “small energy”.

At the same time, the uncertainty of the prospects for the end of the war, taking into account the experience of the winter 2022/23, it requires an urgent movement in this direction. However, a serious obstacle on this path is the lack of the necessary legislative, institutional and regulatory framework, as well as, given the fundamental novelty of such a formulation of this problem in Ukraine, the low level of readiness of the Ukrainian authorities at all levels for its gradual resolution.

Under these conditions, the rapid adaptation of the best Slovak and European practice, as well as joint development of innovative technologies and smart management for “small energy” can play a critical role for the future of both Ukraine and EU.

In this sense, the creation of such a cluster, the development of successful local projects of “small energy” within pilot regions and the training of the personnel required for its emergent growth is of particular importance.

No less important for the restoration and further growth of local and regional economic dynamics is the balanced use of water resources of territorial communities and the sustainable functioning of systems for the preparation and supply of clean and safe drinking water, as well as the effective treatment and recycling of wastewater.

In turn, as a result of the extreme wear, damage and partial destruction due to hostilities of water supply and sanitation systems in Ukraine, their rapid restoration and modernization will require typical modular energy-independent innovative technological solutions and the joint production of a large number of similar equipment.

However, due to the priorities and requirements of the “Green Deal”, this will require a different approach to the compilation of water-economic balances of local communities, taking into account recycling, as well as an effective monitoring and optimal use of natural fresh water reserves, including its underground sources.

As a result, the problem of integrated monitoring and optimal management of water basin resources arises, which requires us to go beyond the administrative boundaries of local communities, as well as creation innovative technological solutions, formation of new competencies and training of relevant highly qualified personnel.

The faster way to solve this problem seems to be in the form of creating specialized international clusters, as well as working out practical models of an energy-independent integrated approach to water resources management on the example of pilot regions or sub-regions for which the problem of water supply is particularly acute. Such regions in Ukraine include primarily the southern and eastern regions, which were most affected by military destruction. All this, taken together makes the issue of creation of such a cluster particularly relevant and requiring immediate solutions.