The Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy (UARE) held an open meeting of the UARE Energy Storage Systems Committee together with UARE member company iSolar on the topic “From Equipment to Energy Management: Solutions for Residential, C&I and Energy Trading Opportunities.”
The meeting was held on August 27 in an online Zoom format.
The meeting was moderated by Serhii Ruchko, Head of the UARE Energy Storage Systems Committee. The speakers were Oleksandr Bilyi, Head of iSolar Partner Hub; Andrii Kvasnevskyi, Head of Energy Trading at iSolar; and Mykhailo Knysh, Head of R&D at iSolar.
The discussion focused on the changing approach to energy solutions – from selling individual pieces of equipment to comprehensive solutions combining solar PV, BESS, energy management systems and energy trading. iSolar representatives discussed current customer needs in the residential and C&I segments, energy storage use cases, practical approaches to system configuration, and opportunities to participate in the energy market.
Oleksandr Bilyi, Head of iSolar Partner Hub, presented the company’s approach to developing integrated energy solutions. According to him, iSolar operates as an integrated alternative energy developer covering the full project cycle – from design and equipment supply to service, energy management and the development of investment projects. The company has delivered more than 3,000 projects, operates its own service and logistics infrastructure, and is developing the Partner Hub, Energy Hub, EMS and iSolar Academy divisions.
The expert also highlighted the changing needs of businesses. Previously, the main C&I model was based on grid-connected solar PV systems with predictable economics and relatively short payback periods. Today, alongside cost savings, businesses increasingly need to ensure uninterrupted operations. As a result, companies are increasingly considering hybrid solar PV and BESS solutions that can provide backup power, reduce peak loads and shift energy consumption to more economically favorable periods.
“Different customers come with different levels of preparedness, but they all expect the same thing – a reliable solution and expertise they can rely on,” Oleksandr Bilyi noted.
Andrii Kvasnevskyi, Head of Energy Trading at iSolar, focused on energy consumption management and energy trading opportunities. He emphasized that businesses need to look beyond the final electricity bill and understand the detailed structure of their consumption on an hourly and minute-by-minute basis. For this reason, he noted, automated electricity metering systems (AMR) form the foundation for further analysis and optimization of energy consumption.
The next element of this system is an Energy Management System (EMS), which makes it possible to analyze data, respond to market signals, and automate the charging and discharging of energy storage systems. In this model, BESS is viewed not merely as a backup power source, but as a cost-management tool and an energy asset that can be used to shift consumption, utilize excess solar generation and participate in market mechanisms.
The participants also discussed the concept of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) – the aggregation of small industrial and residential generation and storage systems into a single virtual energy resource. According to the iSolar representative, this approach could allow smaller installations to participate in the market as a single aggregated resource.
Mykhailo Knysh, Head of R&D at iSolar, presented new technical solutions and the results of iSolar’s cooperation with equipment manufacturers. In particular, he discussed the scalability of hybrid systems and new configurations for industrial applications. Among the solutions presented was MegaLink, which enables up to 15 hybrid systems to operate in parallel, as well as new battery storage system configurations.
During the discussion, participants also raised questions regarding the parallel connection of systems, switching speed, BESS operation in microgrids, the integration of energy storage with solar generation and diesel generators, and the specific design requirements for such systems.
One of the most detailed topics of the discussion was the Virtual Power Plant concept. Participants explored the potential participation of small non-household and residential consumers equipped with their own generation and storage systems. According to Andrii Kvasnevskyi, aggregating such resources makes it possible to operate them as a single asset in the energy market.
Serhii Ruchko emphasized the importance of this model not only from a commercial perspective but also from a system-wide perspective, as it could increase the flexibility of Ukraine’s power system:
“For me, the Virtual Power Plant is a dream that we need to achieve if we want to save Ukraine’s power system. I see it as a major support for our power grid.”
At the end of the meeting, iSolar representatives presented the company’s educational initiative, iSolar Academy. Participants learned about practical courses covering solar PV installation, energy trading and solar PV equipment – from equipment selection to configuration and commissioning.
The Association thanks Serhii Ruchko and the iSolar team for the practical and insightful discussion, and all participants for their active engagement in discussing the technical, economic and market aspects of the development of energy storage systems in Ukraine.