Ukraine added up to 1.1 GW of new solar capacity during the first half of 2026, according to preliminary assessments undertaken by the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine (SEAU).
SEAU estimates Ukraine’s total installed solar capacity reached 9.4 GW to 9.7 GW by mid-2026. The association is expecting this year’s additions to reach around 2 GW by the year’s end, growing on the approximately 800 MW in 2024 and 1.5 GW in 2025.
The association explains that much of this year’s growth comes from smaller projects. “We estimate that installations of up to 1 MW, primarily intended for self-consumption, will account for around 80% of new installations in 2026 by number, rather than by capacity,” SEAU’s analysis explains.
SEAU Chairman of the Board Vladyslav Sokolovskyi told pv magazine that distributed generation and energy storage have become essential to Ukraine’s energy security and resilience.
“Their development supports the energy transition while addressing an immediate need: keeping businesses, households and critical infrastructure supplied with electricity during wartime,” he explained.
Sokolovskyi explained that storage systems offer a reliable source of backup power for households and businesses. He added that for businesses, the economic value of a battery also includes the losses avoided by maintaining essential operations.
Lower equipment costs have also made solar-plus-storage systems more accessible, Sokolovskyi continued, while batteries can increase solar self-consumption and reduce electricity costs for users.
9 GWh in 2025, making it the fourth largest European market last year. Sokolovskyi noted the figure covers multiple market segments, including portable battery systems widely used for backup power in Ukraine.
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