Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, Chairman of the Board of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, spoke at the international conference “Off-Grid to the Rescue: Rebuilding with Mini-Grids”.
The event took place on 23 June 2026 as part of Intersolar Europe 2026 in Munich, Germany, with the support of BSW – German Solar Association and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The conference focused on the role of decentralized energy systems and mini-grids in rebuilding countries affected by war, crises, and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Participants discussed how autonomous energy systems based on solar generation and battery energy storage systems (BESS) ensure the uninterrupted operation of hospitals, water utilities, schools, and other critical facilities, while also supporting economic recovery, local community development, and workforce training.
Together with representatives of international organizations and European businesses, Vladyslav Sokolovskyi participated in a panel discussion dedicated to practical experience in implementing decentralized energy solutions under crisis conditions.
During his presentation, the SEAU Chairman emphasized that the war has fundamentally changed Ukraine’s approach to energy development. Following the large-scale attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure, distributed generation has evolved from being solely a decarbonization tool into one of the key pillars of Ukraine’s energy security.
Mr. Sokolovskyi placed particular emphasis on the role of Solar + BESS solutions in ensuring the continuous operation of critical infrastructure. According to him, solar power plants combined with battery energy storage systems now enable hospitals, water utilities, district heating companies, industrial enterprises, and other critical facilities to continue operating even during prolonged power outages.
The presentation also highlighted Ukraine’s experience in creating favorable conditions for the development of distributed generation. Conference participants learned about the legislative reforms that have encouraged the growth of active consumers, simplified the deployment of self-generation and energy storage systems, and introduced government support mechanisms that have accelerated market development.
During the discussion, Vladyslav Sokolovskyi also addressed the transformation of the sector’s workforce. He noted that Ukraine’s solar energy industry is actively engaging women, veterans, internally displaced persons, and young professionals, while the development of short-term training programs and international cooperation is helping to build a new generation of specialists for the country’s post-war energy reconstruction.
“The war has demonstrated that decentralized energy is no longer a backup solution – it has become the new standard for energy resilience. Where centralized systems come under attack, local Solar + BESS solutions enable communities, hospitals, water utilities, and businesses to continue operating,” said Vladyslav Sokolovskyi.
The Solar Energy Association of Ukraine believes that Ukraine’s experience in developing decentralized energy under wartime conditions already provides valuable insights for the international community. The practical solutions being implemented in Ukraine demonstrate that solar generation, battery energy storage systems, and mini-grids can deliver not only the energy transition but also stronger community resilience, uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure, and enhanced national energy security.