The kindergarten in Kamensky urgently purchased solar panels at prices 3 to 5 times higher than the market rate.

The KZ "Institution of Preschool Education (Nursery-Kindergarten) of combined type No. 31 "Barvinok" of the Kamensky City Council in the Dnipropetrovsk region ordered a solar power station for 5.58 million UAH from FOP Solomonenko Maxim Illarionovych on December 24, based on the results of a tender. This was reported by "Vidomo" referencing "Our Money".

According to the tender in the "Prozorro" system, rooftop solar panels with additional equipment and energy storage systems are to be delivered by the end of 2024 to ensure autonomous uninterrupted power supply. The goods are to be paid for within 120 working days after delivery.

In particular, they ordered 86 Chinese monocrystalline solar panels Trina Solar TSM-DE19R with a capacity of 570 W at 21,200 UAH each. Their total capacity amounts to 49 kW.

This model is sold in online stores at prices starting from $99, which equals 4,084 UAH at the NBU exchange rate, up to a maximum of 7,080 UAH. This means it is three to five times cheaper.

Additionally, according to the price comparison service Hotline, the same model of the Trina Solar TSM-DE19R panel, but with slightly higher power of 575 W, is sold for 3,810-4,165 UAH.

They also purchased 8 Chinese hybrid solar inverters Easun Power ISolar SMG-II-11KW-48V with a voltage of 48 V, a capacity of 11 kW, and Wi-Fi interface for 69,076 UAH each. However, online stores offer this model for 28,800–48,359 UAH, which is 1.5 to 2 times cheaper.

Moreover, they will deliver 8 lithium-ion battery packs NLiTech with a voltage of 48 V, a capacity of 24 kWh, and a maximum charge/discharge current of 150 A/300 A for 399,962 UAH each. Each pack has three units in racks, BMS protection, an emergency automatic disconnector, and additional fuses. The brand could not be found on the market.

The entrepreneur received the orders without competition, as no one else attended the open bidding. To participate in the tender, one had to present a similar contract for the supply of any goods, with at least 90% of its value fulfilled at the time of proposal submission.

The "Institution of Preschool Education (Nursery-Kindergarten) of combined type No. 31 "Barvinok"" is headed by Tatyana Daradan, and the authorized person for public procurement is Oksana Dukhanina.

"Local entrepreneur Maxim Solomonenko has tendered for 13.06 million UAH since 2016," investigators note.