Energy Solutions for Ukraine Blackouts

【Redodo in der Ukraine】

My name is Alexander, I am a scientist, currently Professor Emeritus at an academic research institute, Kiev, Ukraine.

Since February 2022, there have been many blackouts in Ukraine due to the destruction of as a power supply equipment in result of missiles and drone attacks. Recently, the intensity of such attacks has been increasing, and the authorities have warned of a difficult winter ahead because of such attacks. The blackouts will be much longer. Most services in Kyiv are equipped with reserve power supply, from small 3kW generators at the entrance to large ones. A generator is not possible for an apartment. So, to create an inexpensive Uninterruptible Power supply (ups) at home, I ordered a battery, an inverter and a charger from China via Aliexpress. There was a problem with the batteries: the companies  (PowMr Flagship or Honlolo Energy Store Stores, for example) warn that it could take more than 3 months to deliver by sea. So I started searching for batteries online in Europe. Redodo proved to be the most attractive company for this purpose.

It is expected that this winter's blackouts will be continuous for 8-12-16 hours, and maybe even longer. First of all, you need to keep food in the fridge during this time. LiFePO4 batteries are the most suitable for this purpose. A LiFePO4 12V 100Ah battery with an energy reserve of 1280Wh meets the limited needs of a 2- or 3-room apartment. A LiFePO4 12V 200Ah or LiFePO4 24V 100Ah battery will meet all the needs of a larger apartment during a long blackout. The promised 4000 charges/discharges, deep discharge safety and safe operation (as compared to the explosion hazard of lithium batteries or harmful vapors of other batteries) are attractive. Equally important is the aesthetic appeal of Redodo batteries when used in an apartment interior.

The demand for batteries in Ukraine is high, and the companies I referred to above mentioned that they are planning to open stores for their products in Ukraine. Redodo batteries are sold in several stores in Ukraine, but at a price 1.5-2 times higher than Redodo offers directly. For example, one large store offers LiFePO4 12V 100Ah for UAH 20,480 compared to UAH8257 in Redodo directly. Since Redodo is based in Germany, this is additional guarantees of its product quality. So my choice in favor of Redodo was obvious.

The received from Redodo battery has been tested in several use cases. If the battery is only used to power a 200-litre Liebherr fridge, it has a capacity for 24 hours from full charge to 10% remaining charge. To keep the refrigerator running continuously, 2 LED lamps in the morning and evening during dark hours, a computer for 5 hours, the battery capacity was sufficient for 14 hours, i.e. to fulfil the minimum needs.

Regarding the relationship with Redodo (delivery by Meest mail in 3 days directly to the apartment) and after-sales service. After 3 disconnections from the load during 24 hours of operation, suspicion fell on the BMS. Redodo was ready to replace the battery. However, after the tests offered by Redodo, it turned out that the problem was not in BMS but in the inverter.  And I was forced to order another inverter more advanced.

Good quality products and the company's constant interest in the performance of the sold products allow me to recommend Redodo to other potential customers in Ukraine and Europe.