The Chairman of the Board of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine (SEAU), Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, spoke live on the Pryamyi TV channel, outlining the current state of Ukraine’s power system, the key risks of passing peak loads, and the systemic challenges facing the development of solar energy.
According to Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, the current situation in the power system can be described as one of fragile stability. After winter, the capacity deficit decreased to 4–4.5 GW (compared to around 6 GW during periods of severe frost), made possible by longer daylight hours, the stable operation of nuclear generation, electricity imports, and increased generation from renewable energy sources.
The SEAU Chairman noted that the ability of the power system to pass peak loads without large-scale outages now directly depends on the stable operation of nuclear units, the reliability of grids, uninterrupted imports, and the growing role of solar generation. On sunny days, output from renewable energy sources is already beginning to play a noticeable supporting role.
Special attention during the broadcast was paid to the issue of price caps. According to SEAU, increasing the day-ahead market price cap to UAH 15,000/MWh was a forced decision that made it possible to attract around 2 GW of imported capacity. However, this instrument cannot solve the overall deficit problem and should be viewed as a temporary anti-crisis measure.
Commenting on the possible introduction of pre-dispatching, Vladyslav Sokolovskyi emphasized that this is a step toward administrative management justified by wartime conditions. At the same time, such an approach carries risks for solar generation due to potential forced curtailments and revenue losses. One of the key ways to mitigate these risks, the expert noted, is the integration of energy storage systems (BESS) and more flexible, well-balanced dispatching decisions.
A significant part of the discussion focused on the debt owed to renewable energy producers, which has persisted since 2022. According to the Guaranteed Buyer, the payment settlement level in 2025 reached 96%, but the historical debt from 2022 remains substantial. To resolve it, SEAU believes systemic solutions are required: aligning the transmission tariff with real needs, separating current payments from accumulated debts, and creating targeted financial mechanisms with the involvement of international partners.
The problem of the balancing market was also highlighted separately, where payment delays can reach a year or more, seriously constraining investment and making it impossible to plan new projects. SEAU insists on the need for stricter payment control, budgetary support, and reform of PSO mechanisms.
Speaking about strategic prospects, Vladyslav Sokolovskyi noted that beyond wartime risks, the main barriers to solar energy development remain outdated grids and the low flexibility of the power system.
The expert identified the key priorities as the construction of solar power plants combined with energy storage systems, further development of the active consumer instrument, transparent market rules, digitalization of demand-side management, and predictability of settlements.
“Predictability of rules and payments is a much stronger incentive for investment than any high tariffs,” the Chairman of the SEAU Board concluded.