Building underground substations seems to be a rather problematic solution – Ukrenergo's representative

"I think it's too early to bury our power system underground. It will still work. Yes, this is being done in some countries, for example, in Japan, but due to the lack of space (...). For us, based on the cost, time, technical problems, because completely different equipment will be needed, these solutions are quite problematic, at least in the short term," S. Nazarenko said during the Energy Security Dialogue-2024 organised by DiXi Group in Kyiv on Wednesday, Energoreforma reports.
He clarified that these are very expensive solutions. "The SF6 technologies used in such cases are also quite expensive."
He added that if an underground substation is damaged by high-precision weapons, it is impossible to restore it.
Reference. The Ukrainian Energy Security Dialogue is an annual meeting format that brings together Ukrainian, European and American stakeholders around topical issues of energy security in Ukraine and the region. Among the key issues of the Ukrainian Energy Security Dialogue-2024 are: strategies to combat threats in the energy sector and mitigate risks, measures to enhance the safety and reliability of energy facilities and networks, cooperation with EU countries (a joint action plan to strengthen energy security and resilience at the regional level), cooperation within ENTSO-E (strengthening interconnections, increasing and optimizing electricity imports), solution generators (what Ukrainian businesses and communities have done to get through the winter and what lessons can be learned), and others.