The Solar Energy Association of Ukraine held an open meeting of the Committee on Energy Storage Systems (BESS) titled “Via negativa: The ‘yes’ that emerges through the ‘no’ for BESS projects”.
The event took place on November 4 in the format of a Zoom conference and brought together representatives of companies developing energy storage solutions in Ukraine.
The speaker was Vadym Utkin, Advisor to the CEO of DTEK Renewables, and the moderator was Serhii Ruchko, Chair of the SEAU BESS Committee.
At the core of the discussion was the practical via negativa approach, which helps build effective business models through analyzing typical mistakes and ineffective decisions.
During his presentation, Vadym Utkin emphasized that real profitability of BESS projects must be based on clear calculations and market statistics, not on short-term price spikes:
“I very much believe in volatility — it exists. But a business case must rely on real patterns, not on a few days with a 15,000 UAH price difference”.
The expert highlighted the importance of understanding price decoupling in the market, which creates new opportunities for arbitrage.
Special attention was paid to the question of storage system integration — AC vs. DC connection. According to the expert, under Ukrainian conditions, standalone solutions currently appear more promising, as they minimize operational risks and simplify entry into balancing and ancillary services markets.
The speaker also stressed the critical role of technical warranties and contract terms. Key parameters include:
- equipment availability of at least 98%;
- clearly defined spare parts stock;
- a system of liquidated damages for delays, efficiency drops, or capacity degradation.
These mechanisms, according to Vadym Utkin, are “the very essence of via negativa” — protecting the investor from risks.
The discussion also covered degradation and RTE, which must be incorporated into financial models, as well as the role of trading. The speaker demonstrated real degradation charts from different manufacturers and emphasized that RTE is not constant — projects must account for declining efficiency. Mr. Utkin added:
“A strong trader is your alpha. They are the one who can outperform the market and ensure project profitability”.
Following the meeting, participants noted that the Ukrainian BESS market is becoming increasingly mature – investors are moving from romantic expectations to precise technical, legal, and financial models. Today, the success of BESS projects is determined by deep data, high-quality processes, and a professional team.
SEAU thanks the speaker – Vadym Utkin, the moderator – Serhii Ruchko, and all participants for a meaningful discussion and practical insights. The Association will continue to create an expert environment for the development of the energy storage market, contributing to the formation of a strong, flexible, and innovative energy sector in Ukraine.
The recording of the SEAU BESS Committee meeting with Vadym Utkin will be available in the upcoming issue of the Solar Digest. A reminder that members of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine may request access to recordings of webinars and committee meetings held on the SEAU platform.