A Green Light in Chernobyl’s Darkness

The Chernobyl site is an uninhabitable place where a fuel test was messed up in 1986, which caused an explosion that radiated all across Europe and forced thousands to evacuate. Because of this, it remains uninhabitable for up to another 24,000 years. While it’s impossible to get accurate numbers on the amount of people who have died from the radiation, it is estimated that tens of thousands of lives have been lost due to cancer from the radiation.

However, despite all this tragedy, there is a light in the darkness. A green, renewable light. On Friday, October 5^th, 3800 solar panels were revealed beneath the shadow of the plant. These panels will power 2000 homes in the area and bring a positive spin to a sad story.

Evhen Variagin, chief executive of Solar Chernobyl, said, “It’s not just another solar power plant. It’s really hard to underestimate the symbolism of this particular project.”

A Symbol of Progress and Change

And symbolic it is, as this solar energy represents a new frontier in the world of energy that is clean and will hopefully end the dangerous cycle of harmful traditional energies that destroy our planet, and the people that live on it, every day.

Many people believed Chernobyl would never generate energy again, as it has been shut down entirely for the past 18 years. Now, however, it will begin to provide energy to hopefully begin the healing process of the area.

Complication of Building on Chernobyl

The main complication was the radiation of the area and the complication of building anything there. Because the 2000 square kilometers that surround the area aren’t safe to be around for more than a few hours, the process of putting up the panels was more complicated than usual. But it was worth it.

With the success of this project, Chernobyl’s new solar site will now be able to generate 2.5 gigawatts of solar energy. This means that it will be producing half of what it used to before the accident without the risk of lives being lost in an explosion.

Not only that, but it will also add to the great amount of investment Ukraine has placed into solar energy.

Chernobyl Anew

“We are seeing a new sprout, still small, weak, producing power on this site and this is very joyful,” Variagin said.

Like a small tree, this green energy is just in the beginning of its life cycle. By the time it reaches maturity, it will completely change the face of Chernobyl and provide a symbol of growth and renewal that will make everyone who lives in Ukraine extremely proud.

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