Ukraine Introduces First Solar-Plus-Storage Support Mechanism

The Ukrainian government has amended its 2026 green-auction quotas to 1 GW total, introducing a groundbreaking new 100 MW dedicated category specifically for solar paired with storage. This marks the first dedicated support mechanism for solar-plus-storage in Ukraine, separate from standalone solar and wind auctions. State enterprise Guaranteed Buyer has scheduled the first 100 MW solar-plus-storage auction for September 25, 2026, with a support price cap set at €0.12/kWh.

Technical Requirements and Price Caps

Under Law No. 4777-IX, solar-plus-storage projects must pair at least 80% of solar capacity with storage, requiring a minimum of 2 kWh of storage per 1 kW of PV. The €0.12/kWh cap is notably higher than the €0.08/kWh cap for standalone solar and wind, reflecting the added value of dispatchable renewable energy. Support contracts for these projects will run through 2034, providing long-term revenue certainty for investors.

Market Forecast and Prosumer Growth

The Solar Energy Association of Ukraine (SEAU) forecasts that the country will add at least 1.5 GW of solar and over 3 GWh of battery storage in 2026. This follows a stellar 2025, where Ukraine added 1.5 GW of solar and 2.9 GWh of storage, making it Europe's fifth-largest storage market behind Germany, the UK, and Italy. Furthermore, Ukraine's net-billing prosumer count has more than doubled year-on-year, surpassing 100,000 households and driving distributed growth outside the state-auction system.

Major Corporate Investments

Corporate players are also scaling up. Agricultural conglomerate Kernel plans a massive $400 million investment to build up to 600 MW of combined wind, solar, and storage by 2028. This includes a 250 MW project in the Chernivtsi region, which will become the largest solar park in western Ukraine. These developments signal a robust and rapidly maturing energy storage market in Ukraine.

Source: Voice of Renewables

This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.