On September 3, the forum “Charge and Earn: How Energy Storage Systems Unlock New Opportunities in the Electricity Market” was held, organized by the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine (SEAU) in cooperation with JSC “Market Operator”.
The event generated significant interest – the number of participants exceeded the venue’s capacity, so not everyone was able to attend. This once again confirmed the relevance of the topic for the energy community, business, and investors.
The forum opened with a welcome speech from First Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Artem Nekrasov, who emphasized that energy storage systems (BESS) are no longer the future, but a reality of modern energy policy.
“We understand that today, amid ongoing attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure, energy storage systems can become a key element enhancing the resilience, flexibility, and stability of our energy system,” he said.
According to him, BESS ensure system stability, increase energy efficiency, and create autonomy opportunities for both businesses and households.
CEO of JSC “Market Operator” Oleksandr Havva highlighted that the main task of the company as the market segment organizer is to ensure its smooth, transparent, and efficient operation.
“Our goal as JSC ‘Market Operator’ is to ensure the harmonious operation of Ukraine’s electricity market. That is why we see it as our social mission to develop energy literacy among market participants. Trust and awareness are the foundation of a strong and resilient market,” he stated.
Additionally, a new platform for economic dispatching of BESS was presented, with testing scheduled to start on October 7, 2025. The system will allow modeling the economic feasibility of BESS operations across different market segments and ensure transparent integration of this segment into Ukraine’s energy system.
Panel 1: “BESS in the Electricity Market: Opportunities and Challenges”
Yehor Zakharchenko (D.TRADING) presented “How to Profit from BESS Without Going Bankrupt the Next Day”, outlining the drivers for BESS project development: demand for frequency restoration and reserve support, system flexibility needs, optimization of RES facilities, and market demand-supply irregularities. He noted that in 2025–2026, over 2 GWh of new storage systems will enter the market, with 736 MW already accepted at NEK Ukrenergo auctions.
Olha Halko (JSC “Market Operator”) focused on the potential of BESS across different market segments. According to her, the day-ahead market (DAM) is the most attractive, where BESS can maximize price arbitrage strategies, improving profitability and accelerating ROI. “With the growing role of renewables and the need for system flexibility, energy storage systems (BESS) open wide opportunities for commercial use across various electricity market segments,” she noted.
Serhii Kravchuk (KNESS Energy) analyzed DAM price dynamics: prices rose from ~UAH 2,100/MWh in 2021 to over UAH 10,800/MWh in August 2025. He emphasized that this volatility creates strong incentives for storage development and detailed possible BESS operational models – either aggregated in groups or via operators.
Panel 2: “BESS Development: Auctions, Experience, Barriers, and Prospects”
Oleksandr Stremoukh (NEK Ukrenergo) summarized four special auctions, which incentivized construction of over 1,050 MW of high-maneuverability capacity and concluded 5-year contracts for 863 MW of new facilities. He highlighted the importance of automatic frequency restoration reserve (aFRR) for rapid system stabilization.
Oleksa Konenko (OKKO) shared a practical case of a BESS project in Western Ukraine with a 44+50 MWh capacity and 22+22 MW power, noting logistical challenges during wartime, service provision, and integration with the market operator for automated trading.
Vadym Utkin (DTEK Renewables) discussed financial aspects, emphasizing that profitability is critical for investors – a BESS project in Ukraine must generate at least €166,000 per MW per year over its lifecycle.
Panel 3: “Practical BESS Cases: Financing and Regulatory Aspects”
Vyacheslav Babich (PJSC Ukrhydroenergo) noted that combining hydro-pumped stations with electrochemical BESS reduces imbalances and increases system efficiency.
Nataliia Korobenko (Elementum Energy) presented a pilot BESS project at Dniester WPP with 10 MW capacity and 20 MWh storage, operating under an arbitrage and imbalance management model. She also provided recommendations for integrating BESS into existing plants.
Polina Korchak (DTEK Renewables) discussed financial implementation aspects, highlighting that creditors expect transparency in business models and high-quality project documentation.
Ivan Balytskyi (SEAU) outlined key legal challenges for BESS deployment, including installation rights, licensing requirements, and potential additional costs. He emphasized that legal issues can be as complex as technical or financial ones.
Elena Kononenko, Director of Rebuild Ukraine, thanked organizers for the relevant event and invited Ukrainian RES market participants to join the Solar & BESS Invest Forum UA on November 14, 2025, in Warsaw, as part of the ReBuild Ukraine Energy 2025 conference, supported by the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Economy, and the European Commission.
At the closing, SEAU Chairman Vladyslav Sokolovskyi thanked participants for their active engagement and constructive dialogue and announced the next joint event with JSC “Market Operator”.
“We are grateful to all speakers and participants. This Forum confirmed that energy storage systems are an extremely relevant topic for Ukraine. Soon we plan a new Forum focusing on BESS financing, grid connection, technical, and legal aspects,” he stated.
Members of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine present included DTEK Renewables, Huawei Ukraine, Stable Energy, Raiton, SolarSK, Eskore, Unasolar, Unisolar, Imexlogistic, and EAB New Energy.
The forum confirmed that energy storage systems are a key element of Ukraine’s new electricity market architecture, supporting renewable integration, enhancing system resilience, and creating new opportunities for business and investors.
SEAU thanks all participants for their active discussions and has already received positive feedback from attending companies. Together, these efforts will accelerate modern energy development and strengthen Ukraine’s energy independence.
See you at upcoming events!
P.S. Participants and SEAU partners will be able to view the presentations and photos from the Forum in the upcoming issue of the “Solar Digest”.