Solar power company providing aid to Ukraine - Go Anacortes Article

ANACORTES — New Use Energy, a company based in Arizona and with a warehouse in Anacortes, has been providing humanitarian and military support to Ukraine almost since the country’s war with Russia began.

New Use Energy makes solar power systems, while also working to have social impacts throughout the world.

“We are a for-profit entity … we just think we can do good while we do that and it’s one of the reasons I work for NUE is I get to sell something that makes a positive impact,” said Senior Sales and Marketing Manager Maxim Smotolokha, who works out of the Anacortes warehouse.

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Shmotolokha’s mother is from Ukraine and his father is of Ukrainian heritage.

New Use Energy provides aid through its solar uninterruptible power supply units, solar and battery generators, and solar panels.

The company has about 900 pieces of equipment in Ukraine. About 500 have gone to civilian and humanitarian relief, and 400 to the military.

The company works with western and Ukrainian nongovernmental organizations to support Ukranians.

Emergency and planned power outages in Ukraine mean life-supporting devices cannot function.

Military strikes cripple critical facilities such as hospitals and humanitarian relief centers, making it nearly impossible for doctors to treat their patients.

Shmotolokha said consistent power is key, as many traditional gas generators and surges in the grid can damage medical devices.

He said New Use Energy products provide that consistent power.

They are safe, easy to use and transport, and don’t leave a heat signature that Russian forces can detect and target.

Solar uninterruptible power supply units and solar panels go to hospitals, patient stabilization points, refugee centers and the military. Solar and battery generators go to hospitals, government centers and water pumping stations.

Shmotolokha said he is proud that New Use Energy products are used by the Ukranians in their fight against the Russians.

“We didn’t think we’d be a military business … but we found there’s a massive need for it,” he said.

New Use Energy has gone through two generations of its products since it began supplying aid to Ukraine.

The company is part of the Power Up Ukraine program that aims to provide power to critical humanitarian and recovery facilities in Ukraine by equipping them with the products they need.

The Kharkiv Regional Clinical Perinatal Center in eastern Ukraine was hit by Russian strikes that weakened much of its infrastructure. Through the Power Up Ukraine program, New Use Energy deployed four portable backup generators to the center.

Shmotoloka said one success story that stands out to him was when a Russian missile struck the Perinatal Center in the middle of a cesarean section, knocking out the power. A New Use Energy unit provided power, and the baby was safely delivered.

At community centers, New Use Energy products have powered devices that have allowed people to contact their loved ones. At hospitals, the company’s products have saved infants in incubators and helped heal kids from injury and shock.

In March 2024, three missiles destroyed a medical stabilization point, trapping six doctors and medics under the rubble.

A solar uninterruptible power supply unit allowed them to connect with Starlink, communicate with rescuers, and five of the six people were rescued.

According to New Use Energy’s website, a diesel generator or consumer-grade unit would not have been adequate to help those trapped survive.

The Kherson Regional Children’s hospital connected its New Use Energy charging station to the hospital’s anti-shock chamber that serves children injured by landmines.

The device has saved lives.

New Use Energy products are in about 9 countries — including for humanitarian work in Ukraine, Madagascar and Malawi — and for humanitarian aid in about 12 states.