Ukraine Doubles Solar Power Despite War

While facing ongoing conflict, Ukraine nearly doubled its solar power installations in 2025, adding 1.5 GW of clean energy capacity to keep lights on and businesses running.

The Solar Energy Association of Ukraine estimates the country added twice as much solar in 2025 compared to 2024's 800 MW, bringing total capacity above 8.5 GW. Businesses, farms, municipalities, and homeowners installed solar panels paired with battery storage to protect against blackouts and power shortages.

The real breakthrough came in combining solar with batteries. Ukraine commissioned its first megawatt-scale battery projects last year, with companies installing 398 MW of energy storage after winning five-year contracts paid in euros.

Smart policy changes fueled the growth. The government eliminated taxes and import duties on solar panels and batteries through 2028, making the technology more affordable. State-owned banks also launched loan programs specifically for solar and storage projects, while the Decarbonization Fund provided grants.

Industrial and commercial customers led the charge, followed by agriculture and residential users. The threat of electricity shortages drove many to seek energy autonomy rather than relying solely on the vulnerable grid.

The Ripple Effect

The solar surge is giving Ukrainian communities real independence during their toughest hours. Hospitals can keep operating during outages, farms can maintain refrigeration for crops, and families can power essential appliances when the grid fails.

The movement toward distributed energy is spreading beyond just backup power. Companies are now selling excess electricity back to the grid through frequency regulation services, creating new revenue streams while stabilizing the national power system.

International support is growing too. The International Energy Agency published strategies in December to help Ukraine accelerate solar and battery deployment even faster, recognizing the country as a model for energy resilience.

The Solar Energy Association calls 2025 a "turning point" and expects even more growth this year, projecting at least 1.5 GW of new solar and over 3 GWh of battery storage by year's end. Despite wartime uncertainty, investment keeps flowing into these distributed energy solutions that can't be easily disrupted.

Ukraine's solar boom proves that communities can build resilient energy systems even under the most challenging circumstances, turning crisis into an opportunity for lasting independence.