Ukraine expands solar power despite war
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Ukraine installed 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of new solar power capacity during the first half of 2026, according to the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine (SEAU).
SEAU estimates the country’s total solar capacity reached between 9.4 and 9.7 GW by mid-2026 and projects an additional 2 GW of solar power will come online by the end of the year.
Much of this growth comes from smaller, self-consumption projects, installations of up to 1 megawatt are expected to make up 80% of new installations by number. Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, Chairman of the Board at SEAU, explained that distributed generation and energy storage are vital for Ukraine’s energy security during the ongoing war. He noted that battery storage systems provide reliable backup power for homes and businesses and can reduce electricity costs.
Ukraine added 2.9 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of new battery storage in 2025, making it the fourth largest market in Europe for that technology. SEAU expects another 3.2 GWh of storage capacity to be added in 2026, but warned that future growth depends on security, financing, and grid connections.
The association also stated that Ukraine needs approximately 10 GW of new and restored generating capacity to address power shortages and damage from Russian attacks, and outlined seven priorities to support further development of solar and storage, including restoring infrastructure and simplifying grid connections.
