Energy honeycombs are the most efficient power source absent a grid connection – RSE Group Ukraine director

Energy honeycombs, or local energy hubs that combine various generation methods with energy storage systems, appear to be the most efficient power sources when a central grid is unavailable, according to Hanna Pozdniakova, director of the RSE Group Ukraine. Honeypots offer a practical solution to maintain critical infrastructure operations even after a grid damage, Pozdniakova wrote in an article for Interfax-Ukraine.

These energy hubs should be designed as integrated systems, combining different energy solutions rather than treating them separately. For instance, a local energy hub could integrate cogeneration for electricity and heat, a battery energy storage system (BESS) for storage and balancing, heat pumps for efficient heating, chillers for cooling, and mobile or diesel generators as emergency backups.

An automated control system would manage these elements, determining which sources to use, what loads are critical, and where energy savings can be made. If properly designed and equipped with appropriate protection, automation, switching, and backup power sources, the facility can operate independently in "island mode" even after an external grid outage, continuing to supply electricity and heat to critical processes locally.

Pozdniakova clarified that this level of self-sufficiency is not universal, as not every business or community requires full energy independence. However, it does provide a safeguard against external disruptions to the overall facility.