Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, Chairman of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine (SEAU), provided a comment to the online media outlet Kommersant Ukrainsky in the article “Debt Knot: Why the Ukrainian Electricity Market Suffers from Massive Debts.”
The publication highlights the widespread problem of accumulated debts in the electricity sector, which have been building up over the years and are holding back the development of Ukraine’s energy market.
In his comment, Sokolovskyi noted that the main cause of the cash deficit is the incomplete settlements by consumers and traders with NEC Ukrenergo, which prevents the company from fully compensating Guaranteed Buyer JSC for the “green” tariff. As of July 2025, the debt of Ukrenergo to the Guaranteed Buyer amounted to approximately UAH 15.3 billion, while the total debt to renewable energy producers reached around UAH 22 billion, with at least 80% of this amount attributed to solar generation.
The expert emphasized that the market situation is gradually stabilizing thanks to the adoption of Law No. 4213-IX, which allocated UAH 10.7 billion for debt repayment: 45% to the balancing market, 45% to the Guaranteed Buyer, and 10% to owners of household solar power plants. Additionally, the nearly 30% increase in Ukrenergo’s electricity transmission tariff for 2025 allowed, for the first time in several years, the establishment of a deficit-free tariff.
“This is an important step toward financial stability in the energy market; however, the debt problem remains unresolved and requires a systemic approach,” stressed Vladyslav Sokolovskyi.
He also underlined that overcoming the debt crisis should involve restructuring liabilities with a clear repayment schedule, creating a transparent settlement mechanism, and attracting targeted international aid funds.
“Resolving the debt issue is key to maintaining a stable investment climate, preserving investor confidence, and ensuring the sustainable development of renewable energy in Ukraine,” the expert concluded.
The Solar Energy Association of Ukraine notes that a stable energy market is essential for the effective development of solar generation and the implementation of energy storage systems (BESS), which are becoming a critical component of the country’s energy security.