As part of the events dedicated to Science Day, an online meeting of students and teachers with a representative of the manufacturing industry was held on the topic “Renewable Energy in Industry: How It Works”. The speaker of the event was Yaroslav Dolzhenko, Head of the Technical Department of the Zaporizhzhia Non-Ferrous Metals Plant. During the meeting, the participants learned about the practical experience of implementing alternative energy sources in modern cable production in wartime conditions and unstable power systems. The speaker spoke about the activities of the enterprise, whose production sites operate in Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zabrze, Poland. Particular attention was paid to the challenges faced by Ukrainian manufacturers: power outages, rising electricity costs and the need to ensure uninterrupted operation of production lines. During the speech, the experience of using a gas piston unit as a backup and maneuvering energy source for cable production was presented. According to Mr. Yaroslav Dolzhenko, this solution allowed the enterprise to maintain stable operation of extrusion lines and melting equipment even during emergency power outages. The participants also discussed the prospects for using solar power plants, energy storage systems and cogeneration plants in industry. Considerable attention was paid to issues of electricity quality, the impact of voltage drops on technological processes of cable production, as well as the environmental requirements of the European market for product manufacturers. A lively discussion was sparked by the practical aspects of the operation of gas piston plants: their power, start-up speed, economic feasibility and the possibility of integration into the enterprise’s power system. Students had the opportunity to ask questions about the features of equipment operation and the prospects for internships in production. During the meeting, the importance of cooperation between higher education institutions and industrial enterprises for the formation of practical competencies of future engineers and specialists in the energy industry was emphasized. We sincerely thank Mr. Yaroslav Dolzhenko for his meaningful report, openness to professional dialogue, and support for student youth.
