A group of 19 mentors for energy projects are supporting our project in different fields. As the Case Study Challenge Re-Energize Ukraine concluded and the winning groups were given the opportunity for a mentoring for the development of their energy project with our mentors.
 
Here you can find the list of all mentors here.

Mentor 1: Ielyzaveta Badanova

Ms. Badanova started consulting on green energy back in 2011 when she joined KPMG Tax & Legal. As part of the Energy Sector Group, she was involved in several consultancy projects in this connection. In 2014-2023, she worked at Naftogaz of Ukraine on issues related to EU energy regulation. This involved the study of market design peculiarities in Ukraine and in EU Member States, the comparison of experience and the design of appropriate solutions. At Naftogaz, she participated in major market reforms which equipped me with shrewd understanding of government relation-building, policy-building, lobbying, legislative drafting and procedure. In 2021-2022, she compiled and taught a course on Global Energy Law at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, which includes a substantial section on renewables regulation in the EU. Since February 2023, she is engaged by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine with a mandate to explore various avenues for financing under the REPowerEU initiative as well as to look after international directions focused on energy market integration. In addition, since 2022, she is a full-time PhD Researcher at the European University Institute where she investigates the international governance of financing for green energy and how to evaluate the effectiveness of financial management of these funds. 

Ms. Badanova will be happy to assist mentees with organising their project in terms of legislation, operational activities and financial possibilities of their development. 

 

Mentor 2: Mykhailo Hanchuk 

Mr. Hanchuk is the CEO of Promavtomatika Vinnytsia LLC. This company specializes in the development and subsequent production of electrical equipment, sells its own products and represents the interests of other domestic and foreign manufacturers. The company automates technological processes, performs electrical work, and builds solar power plants. In 2002, he graduated from Vinnytsia National Technical University with a degree in electrical engineering. In 2012, he completed an internship in Berlin (Germany) as part of the GIZ Program "Development of Managerial Qualities of Top Managers. Energy Efficiency in the German Housing and Utilities Sector", and in 2015 in Stockholm (Sweden) as part of the SIDA Program "Management Development". He completed business training in London (UK), at the ST Giles International School of Business English, International Marketing (2018). During 2019, he studied in New York (USA) at EC School, Business, International Marketing.

 

 

Mentor 3: Detlev von der Heide

Mr. von der Heide co-founded the citizen energy cooperative Teltow-Fläming eG in Luckenwalde near Berlin, since then he has been honorary board member of the cooperative. He has been planning and developing projects of PV plants on own account and for the cooperative since 2013. 

Mr. von der Heide has extensive expertise in managing an energy cooperative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mentor 4. Marcelina Elzbieta Golebiewska

Ms. Golebiewska is a skilled expert of energy markets operating and regulation in the EU and Eastern Europe. Since 2019, she has been constantly dealing with the topics of climate, decarbonisation and RES, based on her 15 years of experience in the energy sector (gas and electricty). She is currently working as an independent expert. On a project basis cooperating with MAI Group, Madrid (Senior Energy Expert - Markets ad Regulation). Earlier at DTEK Group, Kyiv (foreign expert specialising on regulatory issues at DTEK Energy, D.Trading and DTEK, 2018-2022) as well as Polish Oil and Gas Company, Warsaw (2008-2017). Lecturer and mentor. Author of articles and papers on energy sectors functioning. She is interested in the increasing role of civil society in the energy sector(s). She hopes that as a mentor she will be able to help project participants, and at the same time she will learn a lot herself. 

 

 

Mentor 5: Olena Zhydenko

Ms. Zhydenko is a high-level professional legal and renewables expert. She has experience in execution of all negotiation and contract administration activities, post-award contract management and operational work within realization of the renewable energy projects (more than 1 GW in total amount). She is experienced in negotiating EPC contracts, supply, installation, construction, grid connections agreements, full-service agreements (AOM, WMSA), financial and security contracts (SPA, pledge, debt, bank account pledge contracts, mortgage, security package documentation, PCG, other financial documents), negotiations with Sinosure, Euler Hermes, EKF; contract correspondence and letters, resolving variation order requests and execution corresponding variation orders, conducting and support claim and dispute resolutions and contract close out.

Her expertise lies in legal support to international procurement, construction, and operation activities of renewables business.

 

Mentor 6: Hanna Zotieva

Ms. Zotieva is currently a developer and chief engineer of renewable energy projects in Europe. Prior to that, she worked as a technical director and chief engineer at EDS Project, a company that designed energy facilities, including solar and wind farms. She advises on the development of renewable energy facilities, all technical support, budgeting, financial models  

She can assist with budget calculation and financial model, project management, stakeholder coordination and technological solutions. 

 

 

 

Mentor 7: Oleksii Karmazin

Mr. Karmazin works at the Institute of Renewable Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Department of Integrated Energy Systems. He has over 18 years of experience in the energy sector. His main areas of activity are: research in the field of renewable energy; assessment of renewable energy potential in Ukraine; study of parallel operation of power plants on renewable energy sources as part of the integrated power system of Ukraine, development of combined power supply systems based on renewable energy sources, design and construction support at all stages of hybrid and grid-tied solar power plants. 

The expertise of Mr. Karmazin lies in the development of technical and economic justifications for the construction of wind power plants and solar power plants; design of industrial photovoltaic plants; support of renewable energy projects at all stages; 
energy audit of social and industrial facilities; implementation of energy-efficient solutions for social and industrial facilities.

 

Mentor 8: Khrystyna Kasyanova

Ms. Kasyanova is an expert with 7 years of experience in renewable energy projects development, particularly solar; responsible for sales & business development in EPC company acting in Eastern Europe & MENA region; Head of Energy & Energy Transition Committee of German - Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce; currently responsible for green hydrogen projects development in Europe; self-made manager, inclusion & gender equality driver in Women Energy Club of Ukraine. 

She has experience in Business Plans, development of RES projects, investment and financing engagement, International EPC bids, Team Leadership and Inclusion & Diversity. She is a fan of energy topics and balanced approach to work, the Head of Energy and Energy Transition Commitee in AHK Ukraine and loves to mentor for energy projects development. 

 

Mentor 9: Maryna Kozlovska

Starting from 2008, Ms. Kozlovska has been working at the National Ecological Center of Ukraine, the Association of Demining of Ukraine, the HELPUA.PT Association. She is an expert in conformity assessment in the design of renewable energy facilities, and project manager in projects on the implementation of international standards on energy and environmental management. She is also a consultant for European projects and the UN Humanitarian Program for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Within the framework of the EU Green Week, she acts as a speaker of the online event "Enhancing skills for a green transition in the Eastern Partnership countries" 06/08/2023, on the issues of acquiring skills by government officials and business, for the cyclical economy and the needs of cooperation of science, education, metrology and expert institutions for the sake of standardized ensuring a "green" transition. 

Ms. Kozlovska is an expert on projects on cyclical economy, renewable energy and reconstruction of energy capacities, sustainable development of rural communities, renewable energy for rural development, ecosystem approach in planning and implementation of national and local projects (coaching, mentoring, management).

 

Mentor 10: Serhii Kravchuk

Mr. Kravchuk is director of the company KNESS Energy in Vinnytsia. The company is a licensed electricity supplier to industrial consumers in Ukraine, operating on the territory of all distribution system operators, an organizer of balancing groups and microgrids, and an operator of the battery energy storage complex. KNESS Energy is a part of the KNESS Group of Companies, which has established itself as a reliable business partner for many companies in Ukraine and abroad over 13 years of its work in the energy sector and has implemented more than 1.2 GW of renewable energy projects. Mr. Kravchuk is ready to assist in the business planning and navigating through the legislative framework. 

 

 

 

Mentor 11: Alisa Kupchynetska

Ms. Kupchynetska focuses on financial planning. For about 15 years, she has been a financial director in companies in the energy and food industries. Currently, she is employed in the IT sector. Ms.Kupchynetska can be useful to teams in creating financial models, cash flows, and calculating key investment indicators.

 

 

 

 

Mentor 12: Nataliia Levchenko

Ms. Levchenko is a Full Professor at the Department of Entrepreneurship, Trade and Exchange activities at the National University «Zaporizhzhya Polytechnic», Ukraine. She participated in a program "Management in local self-government organizations for community leaders and deputies of local councils", which was implemented as a part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Program "Decentralization brings better results and efficiency" and was carried out in cooperation with Malopolska School of Public Administration at the Krakow University of Economics (MSAP/UEK, Poland). 

Ms. Levchenko has extensive expertise in start-up development, stakeholder analysis, business planning, determination of net and gross investment volumes, pricing, assessment of expected financial results, risk management, and project implementation scenarios.

 

 

Mentor 13. Viktoriia Lomaka

From 2018 to 2021, Ms. Lomaka worked as a communications manager for the project "Increasing Energy Efficiency in Educational Buildings in the Sumy city". Carried out communication activities in the Sumy region. Organized open lessons on energy efficiency for students. Her experience includes: development of communication strategy, internal communication, external communication, development of communication strategy with grantors, development of materials, crisis management, cooperation with the media, marketing, social media, analysis of communication results. 

Ms. Lomaka can advise how to convey the ideas of the project to the population of the country, how to work with journalists, with the public, how to advertise one’s project and convey its value to people.

 

 

Mentor 14: Serhii Marynets

Mr. Marynets is Technical Support Manager in Ukraine at the Kermi GmbH, enhancing his experience in various projects involving climate equipment. He has been working in the field of energy-saving technologies for over 15 years. He is experienced in implementing projects of small and commercial-scale solar thermal and solar power stations in the position of an engineer at the SintSolar company. Mr. Marynets has always been involved in the development of complex custom-designed climate systems based on energy-saving equipment.  

While working as an engineer at Vaillant, he gained strong expertise in heat pump systems for residential applications. 

 

 

Mentor 15: Oleksandr Novytskyi

Mr. Novytskyi has an experience in participating in renewable energy projects, including engineering and technical support. He carries out activities in the field of engineering and technical support of buildings and structures at all stages of the life cycle of real estate. He is an active energy auditor and a specialist in the examination of engineering systems. He has a technical sciences degree in construction and is a certified expert in the inspection of the technical condition of buildings and structures. For more than a year of the war, his team implemented the restoration of more than 100 buildings that were damaged because of war. Now they are implementing projects of complex thermal modernization of public buildings. 

Mr. Novytskyi has expertise in calculation of the implementation effect during the energy audit; construction design of metal structures of a solar power plant, as well as geological, geodetic surveys and aerial photography. When developing a business plan template, he can help with issues related to equipment, its installation on the roof, or a plot of land (considering mounting structures). He would also assist with construction, in particular design and estimate documentation, cost, terms and operation. 

 

Mentor 16: Nataliia Revutska

Ms. Revutska has more than 5 years of successful work experience in the energy industry: from a leading specialist to the deputy head of the department of an energy company. She Is engaged in strategy development, optimization of business processes and personnel's KPI monitoring.  

Working in the energy sector, she tries to implement and improve her 15 years coaching and teaching experience. In particular, she conducts webinars and trainings on finding tools to support projects in the field of energy, justification and implementation of strategic goals and business models of energy companies. She has experience in mentoring business projects in the field of energy for students of specialized programs in the field of energy (for example, KSEP, Ukraine, Kyiv).  

Ms. Revutska’s expertise will be useful to teams and organizations seeking to develop and implement projects with added entrepreneurial social value. She will help to form strategic goals, justify projects / measures to achieve them, as well as visualize the business model within the framework of which they will be implemented.

 

Mentor 17: Tetiana Tsishkovska 

Ms. Tsishkovska is currently working as a Junior Electricity Specialist at the USAID Energy Security Project. She prepares analytical reviews on the operation of the electricity market, the energy system, and changes in legislation. She also manages several projects for Ukraine, assists in purchasing electrical equipment, etc. Recently, she successfully completed the courses for RES-related topics in RENAC.

 

 

 

 

Mentor 18: Christian Schoenwiesner

Christian Schönwiesner has over 30 years of professional experience in the field of renewable energy. He began his career at the international auditing, tax, and legal advisory firm Rödl & Partner GbR, where he played a significant role in establishing the renewable energy division. He then assumed a leading position at the European headquarters of the globally operating Korean company Samsung C&T, where he was responsible for the solar energy division in Europe and Africa. Since 2017, Christian Schönwiesner has been working independently, applying his extensive expertise in the industry. Additionally, he is actively involved as a board member of the German-Ukrainian Forum e.V., promoting the exchange and advancement of sustainable energy projects.

 

 

 

 

 

Mentor 19: Stella Schoenwiesner

Stella Schönwiesner is a Ukrainian entrepreneur specializing in the field of solar energy. Her focus is on the construction of solar installations and the export of solar equipment. With a broad range of experience in energy, infrastructure, logistics, and business consulting, she has established herself as a competent businesswoman. She has also served in various municipal and state roles in Ukraine, including as a city council member in Kherson. With her expertise and international education, she is a driving force in the field of solar energy and bilateral relations between Germany and Ukraine.