08.01.2026
2025 became a year of trials, decisive actions, and professional resilience for the Ukrainian energy sector. Constant shelling, the restoration of destroyed infrastructure, and the development of energy storage systems and distributed generation — the industry operated under conditions of continuous turbulence.
Ivan Grygoruk, Vice President of Energy Club, spoke about the key challenges, the achievements of energy workers, the role of Energy Storage, community development, Energy Club’s priorities in 2025, and the trends that will define 2026.
– Ivan, how would you characterize 2025 for the energy industry in one or a few words?
– I would say: high professionalism, courage, patriotism, and faith in victory.
– What was the most difficult challenge for the energy system, and what achievement of Ukrainian energy workers do you consider the most significant?
– Almost all energy infrastructure facilities were subject to systematic shelling throughout 2025 and into the first days of 2026. They were partially or completely destroyed. Naturally, this is the most difficult challenge not only for the energy system but for all Ukrainians.
But our energy specialists work around the clock to eliminate the consequences of Russian attacks and restore damaged critical infrastructure: gas transport systems, generating capacities (power plants), and transmission/distribution networks. Despite the constant shelling, they succeed. Such dedication, professionalism, and humanity are what impress not only me but the whole world.
However, significant destruction and the complexity of restoration works — damage assessment, delivery times for unique components and turbine units, the constant need for new energy equipment, construction, installation, and commissioning works — complicate the timeline for full recovery. This leads to the application of various power outage schedules for consumers. Work is being carried out 24/7, but the situation remains difficult, especially in regions suffering from constant shelling.
– 2025 was a year of active discussion and action regarding Energy Storage (BESS). In your opinion, has the turning point in creating a storage market in Ukraine already happened, or is the big “boom” still ahead?
– Paradoxically, the war is facilitating the development of electrical energy storage systems in Ukraine. Due to significant destruction of rotating generation — mainly thermal power plants (TPPs) — the demand for Energy Storage has increased manifold.
Therefore, the foundation has already been laid today in terms of legislation and the regulatory framework regarding the operation of BESS in the power system and in various segments of the energy market. And this is just the beginning. After our victory and the cessation of hostilities, the modernization of the energy system will begin, and Energy Storage will be essential for its sustainable operation.
Thermal power plants are a long-term story. With full funding, it takes at least three to four years to fully restore them or build new ones that meet European requirements, including environmental standards. But that will be in the post-war period, whereas Energy Storage is needed here and now. Although they are not a full replacement for TPPs, acting as an “emergency aid,” they can partially replace rotating capacities and work in complex with renewable energy sources, which is more effective for our power system. This will allow us to avoid frequent power outage schedules and balance peak loads in the intraday electricity production/consumption schedule.
– We have talked a lot about the transition to distributed generation. Are you satisfied with the pace of implementation of these projects in 2025? What hindered and what helped the market?
– Here we must speak about the role of distributed generation in ensuring the reliability of the power system and facilitating the livelihoods of communities under war risks. Because distributed generation is not a panacea, but it has its important place in the structure of generating capacities of our energy mix.
Distributed generation, if it operates, for example, on the basis of existing combined heat and power plants (CHPs), can be very effective and profitable, and there are already such cases today. The cost of a kilowatt-hour produced on electrical installations working in complex with CHPs or certain boiler houses is 2 hryvnias. Thus, such projects are undoubtedly necessary and beneficial for the development of local communities, to ensure their sustainability in the event of emergencies or mass blackouts in the power system.
Energy Club has been actively promoting the implementation of such projects for at least two years. Firstly, the Club participated in work to simplify the rules for commissioning distributed generation. Secondly, we promoted the development of aggregated groups, which allow a non-profile investor — and our communities are non-profile investors — to make a profit in various segments of the electricity market that are not very clear to them.
In other words, communities themselves are non-profile and, consequently, vulnerable players in this market where there are many risks. But today, under certain conditions, they have the opportunity to receive a stable, predictable income when operational management of installations and risks in various market segments are taken on by aggregators or balancing groups. Such cooperation allows communities to develop and focus on their own affairs, stably receive services in the form of heat and electricity supply, and not worry about imbalances, fines, or the technical condition and maintenance of electrical installations.
– Which initiative, event, or GR victory of the Club in 2025 do you consider the most significant for our members? Where did we bring the most benefit?
– Without a doubt, it is in the protection of the rights of energy market participants, specifically forming the position of electricity suppliers and traders during the consideration by the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court of specific norms of the Law of Ukraine “On Public Procurement” (item 2 part 5 art. 41).
We also prepared a joint hearing on this issue regarding amendments to the draft law at a meeting of two committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: the Committee on Economic Development and the Committee on Energy and Housing and Communal Services.
Thanks to the appeal of Energy Club, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued Resolution No. 1605 regarding amendments to paragraph 22.5 of the Traffic Rules. This concerns the use of special equipment involved in eliminating the consequences of accidents at critical infrastructure facilities resulting from shelling and destruction. The changes simplify the work of energy workers and make it impossible to impose fines when moving special equipment, which ultimately accelerates the restoration of critical infrastructure damaged by enemy shelling.
In addition, together with the NACP (National Agency on Corruption Prevention), Energy Club worked on a new anti-corruption strategy for 2026–2030 in the part concerning the energy sector, and we also prescribed measures to ensure the independence of the regulator — the NEURC.
In my opinion, these landmark initiatives yielded concrete results already in 2025. However, there are still many initiatives, we continue to work, and I hope that in 2026 they will come to a logical conclusion.
– In 2025, more than 20 companies joined Energy Club. You often meet with CEOs and top managers of Club member companies at forums and other events. How has the portrait and needs of the Club member changed this year? What is the priority now: seeking investment, protecting interests, or technological partnerships?
– Technological partnership and the protection of market participants’ interests have come to the fore, but the search for investment also has its place. An example is the fruitful cooperation in organizing lending for the development of distributed generation and BESS between banks and businesses, which, by the way, are members of Energy Club. We are also working on improving legislation and regulatory documentation in the energy sector.
– Name the trends that will shape Ukraine’s energy agenda in 2026. What should business prepare for?
– The first trend is distributed generation, which we have already discussed. If developed in a civilized way, it is quite profitable, and the Ukrainian legislative framework allows a non-profile investor to work successfully in various segments of the electricity market. All this is possible with the correct application of technical solutions and professional legal support for companies during the implementation of such projects. Then distributed generation will become effective support for communities, and they will also be able to earn money stably with its help.
The second very promising trend is the construction of data centers. Currently, our colleagues are working in two European Union countries, Canada, and the United States, and we are participating in technical consultations for them regarding the implementation of such projects. After the war, I think we will join in the construction of such data centers in Ukraine as well. Data centers have several areas of work, business cases, so to speak. Firstly, data processing and storage; secondly, the well-known mining; and thirdly, participation in regulating the energy system as a large consumer (demand response).
– And finally – your wishes to Energy Club members for 2026?
– Of course, first of all, I wish us all peace. Inspiration and strength in our difficult but extremely important cause, and confidence in victory.
Ukrainians are an extremely strong nation, and this impresses our European and American partners with whom we communicate. They are surprised and at the same time admire how we cope every day and every minute with the constant challenges of this four-year active phase of an almost 12-year war.
Our prospects are colossal. The main thing is victory. And then, I am sure that together we will build our energy system to be high-tech, resilient, and a model for other countries of the world.
