At the Solar Agro Conference, organized by the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, Ivan Balytskyi, Head of the SEAU Legal Committee, delivered a presentation on the key legal aspects of implementing solar power plant (SPP) projects for self-consumption.
The speaker emphasized that the development of distributed generation requires not only technical readiness, but also proper legal support that takes into account ownership structure, funding source, connection type, and market model. Depending on the purpose of the SPP installation, the approach to documentation and contractual arrangements can vary significantly.
“The success of a project depends not only on properly selected equipment, but also on how well the contracts are drafted. Land rights, grid access, ownership structure, and the parties’ obligations – all of this must be clearly regulated from day one,” Ivan Balytskyi stressed.
He outlined three main models for implementing SPPs:
- for self-consumption without grid feed-in;
- with the ability to sell surplus electricity to a supplier;
- construction aimed at entering the wholesale electricity market.
Special attention was given to legal instruments such as the construction contract, the EPC contract (“turnkey” construction), and the CPPA – Corporate Power Purchase Agreement. Within CPPA frameworks, both physical models (direct connection to the consumer’s network) and virtual models (market-based energy transfer without a physical link) can be applied.
The expert also highlighted key risks in contracting: land use regime, the scope and technical specifications of the equipment, parties’ responsibilities, terms of maintenance, and financial obligations.
The conference once again confirmed that the development of distributed generation is not only a technical challenge but also a legal one – requiring a systematic approach and strong partnerships between businesses and the expert community.