Simulating Strategies for Mitigating the Impact of the Energy Crisis on Small-Scale Businesses

The military invasion of Ukraine has significantly impacted the global energy market. The provoked energy crisis has posed considerable challenges to the economies of many EU countries and the wider world, with small businesses experiencing the most pronounced effects. Amid the acute phase of power outages, the survival of small businesses emerged as a critical concern. Escalating energy prices have led to strategic dilemmas for numerous companies. The paper considers various response strategies of small businesses to the energy crisis, specifically exploiting alternative electricity sources. The trend and the range of optimality for each scenario have been determined, including using standalone gasoline or diesel generators, battery energy storage systems, and installing solar panel power stations. The ownership costs for each alternative over five years, and the consideration of each solution’s life cycle have been calculated. The payback period for a hypothetical small business enterprise in Ukraine has also been projected. The study’s informational foundation was drawn from the experiences of small businesses during the energy collapse in Ukraine. The study resulted in a substantiated, effective method for overcoming energy challenges during wartime. The proposed approach can be employed to rationalize strategies for ensuring the energy security of a broad array of small businesses.