18.05.2026
On May 26, as part of the International Specialized Exhibition Green EnerTech – 2026, Energy Club is holding the forum “Energy Decentralization 2026: Generation, Storage, and Financing”. The event will take place at the International Exhibition Centre in Kyiv.
One of the forum’s leading speakers – Denys Samchuk, Deputy Director of the Micro, Small, and Medium Business Sales Department at Oschadbank – will cover the topic of financing energy projects: available tools for businesses and communities, credit lines, international grants, and the return on investment in decentralized generation.
In an interview with Energy Club journalist Olena Karpachova, Denys Samchuk spoke about how business demand for financing energy solutions is growing rapidly in Ukraine, why solar power plants and energy storage systems are becoming a new investment model for MSMEs, which credit and partner programs are actually working today for business energy independence, as well as the main mistakes made by entrepreneurs when preparing energy projects, the payback periods of such solutions, and the role of banks in strengthening the country’s energy resilience.
– Mr. Denys, is energy decentralization for small and medium-sized businesses today more about survival, cost savings, or a new investment logic? How does the bank see it?
– Today, it is a combination of all three factors. Initially, businesses looked at their own generation as a survival tool during massive attacks on energy infrastructure and constant power outages (as energy independence). Now, more and more entrepreneurs view it as an investment: in the stability of business operations, reduced energy costs, and long-term savings (energy efficiency).
– How much has business demand for financing energy solutions changed over the past two years: solar stations, generators, batteries, heat pumps, backup power systems?
– Demand has grown almost from scratch: if in 2022-2023 we had almost no applications for energy projects in the pipeline, in 2024 there were already applications for energy projects worth UAH 2.2 billion, and currently (2024-05.2026) – worth UAH 5.5 billion.
Today, we see significantly more comprehensive projects — solar power plants, energy storage systems, biogas plants, hybrid solutions.
In terms of 2024/2026 projects within the structure of applications:
Today, micro, small, and medium-sized businesses most frequently approach Oschadbank regarding the financing of solar power plant (SPP) projects: in 2026, such applications account for 57% of the total structure.
– To put it in simple terms for an entrepreneur: what tools are currently available at Oschadbank for financing business energy independence?
– These are not only classic investment loans, but also programs with state support, international programs with guarantee and grant support, and partner programs with energy equipment manufacturers with an interest rate starting from 0.01%.
Also, important tools in financing energy projects are the bank’s simplified approaches to collateral (the option to pledge property rights to equipment) and financing works on credit.
– Oschadbank has a product called “Business Energy Independence,” where financing can cover the acquisition of equipment for alternative energy, generation, and storage. What type of business uses these solutions most often: manufacturing, trade, the agricultural sector, logistics, or commercial real estate?
The structure of requests across segments is interesting: 79% of requests by quantity come from micro-businesses, while 45% of requests by amount come from medium-sized business clients.
– The most active in requests for energy financing are trade, industrial, and service enterprises. Specifically, industry accounts for 36%, agriculture – 21%, trade forms about 20% of the portfolio of such loans, and the service sector – 16%. A smaller share is held by construction (about 2%) and other industries — about 5%. This demand structure is explained by the fact that for retail chains, manufacturing enterprises, and service companies, it is critically important to ensure the continuity of equipment operations, refrigeration systems, and production processes, so investments in their own energy solutions have become one of the key directions for business modernization.
– For micro and small businesses, the key question is the down payment. How realistic is it today to finance an energy project with a minimal or even zero advance payment?
– Such opportunities exist; back in 2024, Oschadbank adapted its energy products to market needs, especially in partner programs where it is possible to obtain financing with a down payment starting from 0% and an interest rate from 0.01% per annum.
– At the beginning of 2026, Oschadbank reported on energy loans at 0% per annum for businesses within state support, with maximum financing up to UAH 10 million and a term of up to 3 years. What typical projects can fall under such conditions?
– Entrepreneurs can obtain a subsidized loan at 0% per annum through Oschadbank within the framework of the state program “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%” for the purchase and connection of energy equipment. The energy loan is provided for the purchase and connection of:
– The “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%” program remains one of the main tools for business. How does it work today specifically for investments in energy equipment and energy resilience?
– The “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%” program for energy equipment – one of the key drivers of business support. Since the inception of the program, Oschadbank has concluded more than 20,000 loan agreements worth more than UAH 55 billion, supporting the operational resilience of Ukrainian business under wartime conditions.
Businesses can obtain an investment loan at a subsidized rate for purchasing equipment, installing solar power plants, storage systems, or modernizing energy infrastructure.
– What is more important for the bank when reviewing an application: the financial condition of the company, the quality of the energy project itself, the equipment supplier, the payback period, or the collateral?
– For the bank, a combination of factors is important, such as: the borrower’s business reputation, positive credit history, transparent group structure, and the financial condition of the company – profitable operations.
The equipment supplier is also important to us, so we recommend cooperating with the bank’s partners who are leaders in their market sector.
– What mistakes do entrepreneurs make most often when they come to the bank for a loan for a solar power plant, BESS, generator, or other energy equipment?
– Often, entrepreneurs come to the bank only with an invoice for the equipment, rather than with a fully formed project logic. For the bank, it is important to understand not just what exactly the business wants to buy — a solar power plant, BESS, or a generator — but what economic effect it will bring: electricity savings, operational stability for the enterprise, reduced downtime, payback, and the source of loan repayment.
We also frequently encounter an underestimation of associated costs: installation work, engineering design, connection, servicing, technical specifications, and the timeline from the start of work to the actual launch of the project. Because of this, the real cost and payback of the entire project may differ from the initial invoice.
– Often, businesses first choose the equipment and only then think about financing. Is this correct? At what stage is it best to involve the bank in project preparation?
– It is best to involve the bank as early as the selection and preparation stage of the project. Then the bank can help build the right financial model, determine the project’s payback, and select the optimal financing tool/product.
– How much attention does the bank pay to the technical quality of the project: consumption calculation, load profile, seasonality, savings forecast, possibility of integration with the grid?
– The quality of the project is also important to us. The consumption calculation, load profile, savings forecast, and integration with the power grid directly affect the investment efficiency and project payback.
– Can the bank refuse financing not because of the client’s financial condition, but due to poor technical preparation of the energy project?
– Yes, if the project is not prepared technically, or carries too high risks, the bank may recommend refining it before financing.
– For many companies, a solar power plant is no longer just a “green” story, but a way to reduce costs and risks of outages. What payback periods for such projects look acceptable today for both the bank and the client?
– For most energy projects, businesses consider payback within 3–5 years under a positive scenario and 5-7 years – a more pessimistic forecast. Therefore, the bank is ready to finance solar power plants for a term of 5 to 10 years.
– Oschadbank also launched partner programs for financing solar power plants with terms where the equipment itself can serve as collateral. How important is such a model for small and medium-sized businesses, which do not always have enough property for collateral?
– This is a very important tool for MSMEs. It allows projects to be financed even for those companies that do not possess significant assets for classic collateral.
It is precisely the partner programs that provide the opportunity to finance with a down payment from 0%, with an annual rate from 0.01%, for a term of up to 10 years. In this case, the equipment being purchased serves as the collateral.
In addition, financing based on property rights is possible, meaning that while the equipment is not yet in Ukraine or installation work is ongoing, we can already finance the project.
– Do you see an increase in demand for projects that combine solar power plants and energy storage systems? Are banks ready to finance such comprehensive solutions?
– Yes, over the past year we have seen a gradual growth in demand for such comprehensive solutions, as they allow businesses not only to generate energy but also to accumulate and use it efficiently.
– Is BESS for business currently more about backup power, or is it already a tool for cost savings, peak demand management, and future participation in the ancillary services market?
– Currently, businesses most often use BESS as a backup and a tool for optimizing consumption. In the future, such systems could also play a role in balancing the power grid and participating in the ancillary services market.
– How ready are banks to finance not only the equipment but also the full scope of work: engineering design, installation, commissioning, control systems, and connection?
– Yes, usually financing can cover not only the equipment but also engineering design, installation, commissioning, and other components of project implementation – we can finance up to 20% of the work relative to the equipment amount.
– In 2026, Oschadbank and YASNO announced “turnkey” energy independence financing for businesses and communities, covering up to 100% of the cost of equipment and installation with a term of up to 5 years. Can it be said that the market is moving toward package solutions where the client receives not just a loan, but a ready-made project implementation model?
– Yes, this is an obvious trend. It is easier for a business to work with a model that features a comprehensive solution: technology, integrator, and financing. That is why we are working on and expanding the list of partner programs that allow the client to get a ready-made solution when contacting the bank.
– For communities and communal enterprises, the issue of financing is even more complex than for private business. What tools can be available to them: loans, partner programs, guarantees, a grant component, co-financing?
– Oschadbank is a market leader in financing territorial communities.
Today, jointly with the European Investment Bank (EIB), there is a support program for territorial communities called “District heating,” under which financing is provided for projects related to district heating, renewable energy, and the energy efficiency of buildings. Within this program, a grant component is provided for frontline territories.
– How much do international guarantee mechanisms and development partner programs help banks more actively finance energy projects under wartime conditions?
– Cooperation with international partners within risk-sharing and grant programs substantially reduces risks for banks and allows for more active financing of projects even under conditions of elevated risk. For example, thanks to cooperation with the EBRD, there is an ongoing support program for energy projects with a guarantee instrument of up to 50% and a grant component ranging from 10% to 30%.
– What is currently holding back the scaling of energy project lending the most: military risks, equipment costs, insufficient preparation of clients, regulatory issues, or the limitations of state programs?
– It is a combination of factors: military risks and a lack of insurance tools deter clients from scaling and investing in new projects; a shortage of equipment in Ukrainian warehouses and long delivery times (from 6 to 12 months); high equipment costs; and a shortage of personnel, especially technical specialists for the implementation and subsequent maintenance of the equipment.
– If a small or medium business owner wants to install a solar power plant, battery, or another power supply system, what should be their first step before approaching the bank?
– The first step is to precisely calculate one’s own energy consumption and the need for autonomy. The business should conduct an energy audit or at least analyze its electricity bills, peak loads, and risks of interruptions. Based on this, a technical concept for the solution is formed — solar power plant, batteries, a generator, or a combined system. Once there is a project model and a preliminary budget, the conversation with the bank regarding financing becomes much more objective. This allows the bank to offer an optimal financial program.
– Does the bank have requirements or recommendations regarding equipment suppliers and contractors? How important is it for the project to be implemented by an experienced integrator?
– The bank has over 100 partners for energy projects, so we usually recommend working with verified suppliers who have experience in implementing energy projects and a track record of cooperation with the bank.
– Can we expect that in 2026, financing decentralized generation will become a separate large sector for the Ukrainian banking market?
– For us, supporting decentralized electricity generation has been a priority direction for more than just one year. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Oschadbank has financed 1,280 energy projects worth UAH 10.3 billion, which is equivalent to 600 MW of generation and energy storage capacity.
– How do you assess the role of banks in restoring the country’s energy resilience: is it no longer just lending to businesses, but part of energy security?
– Today, financing energy projects is not just about supporting an individual business. It is a contribution to the overall energy resilience of the country. Each project of local generation or energy storage reinforces the stability of the economy, reduces the load on the power grid, and helps the business be energy independent.
– Which sectors of small and medium-sized business currently need energy independence the most?
– First and foremost, these are energy-intensive and continuous manufacturing facilities: the food industry; production; the agricultural sector; logistics and cold storage warehouses; medical facilities; retail and commercial real estate. For these sectors, a stable power supply directly impacts business continuity.
– Which financial products will be the most in-demand in 2026?
– Demand is likely to center on several key solutions: loans for solar power plants; financing for energy storage systems; wind generation; combined financial solutions with guarantees, grants, and support from international financial institutions; and partner programs with loyal interest rates.
– What main practical answer should an Energy Club forum participant take away after your speech?
– The main point is simple: financing energy projects for business is accessible today. The bank’s products and processes are adapted to market needs.
A wide list of partner programs, state support programs, and international programs with a grant component is available.
We invite you to cooperate – we will help you choose a partner and a financing program. Oschadbank – a market leader in financing energy projects and a reliable partner that helps turn energy independence into an economically viable solution for business.
Thus, today banks are no longer just financing individual energy solutions, but are effectively shaping a new infrastructure for business energy independence – from lending for SPPs and BESS to comprehensive “turnkey” partner programs, where financing becomes part of a ready-made energy resilience model for enterprises and communities.
