Ukraine’s comedian-turned-president gets behind domestic solar

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president at elections in April (Image credit: Flickr / U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine)

Ukraine’s recently elected president has rubberstamped new legislation designed to promote domestic solar via special tariffs.

Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, voted into Ukraine’s top office at presidential polls in April, signed on Tuesday a new law setting out the conditions for solar production by private homes.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The text was amended over the summer to ensure rooftop and façade PV installations of up to 30kW can sell the electricity they produce at so-called green tariffs.

The law sets out the various prices private homes can expect to receive all the way to 2030, based on their size and whether their technology makeup is standalone PV, wind or a mix of both.

In Ukraine, the presidential blessing to domestic PV comes as the country gains international standing as an upcoming market-to-be for utility-scale developments.

The current pipeline includes a raft of solar projects by Scatec Solar – which last July claimed to have 336MW under construction – Acciona and UDP Renewables.

The Eastern European state was home last year to 2GW in installed PV capacity, according to IRENA, but is now expected by Wood Mackenzie to install 6.6GW between 2019 and 2024.

By the latter year, according to the consultancy’s estimates, Ukraine should have become one of a score of solar “growth engines” worldwide as it rolls out 1-5GW every year.

Approached by this publication, developers on the ground see potential in the country’s shift from feed-in tariffs to deregulated auctions, with some expecting it to follow a reverse approach.

Speaking to PV Tech in late May, TIU Canada CEO Michael Yurkovich praised the country’s strong irradiation levels and industrial roots, noting however issues around grid congestion.

3 November 2026
Málaga, Spain
Understanding PV module supply to the European market in 2027. PV ModuleTech Europe 2026 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of module supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, traceability of supply-chain, factory auditing, module testing and reliability, and company bankability.

Read Next

June 5, 2026
French utility Engie will invest close to €100 million (US$114 million) in a 155MW solar PV project at its Castelnou power station. 
Premium
June 3, 2026
The UK renewable energy investment landscape is 'quite good', according to Anastasios Christakis, COO at Queequeg Renewables.
June 3, 2026
With BESS in the generation mix, energy is no longer simply generated and exposed to the market; it can be stored and used when most valuable.
June 3, 2026
A PV gigafactory in France planned by start-up HoloSolis is to receive a share of a €100 million investment from water technology company Ecolab.
June 2, 2026
Svea Solar Utility has secured €185 million (USS$215.4 million) in finance to support the development of Sweden’s largest solar PV project.
June 2, 2026
Portuguese energy utility EDP will spend €1.3 billion in France to build 1GW of solar, wind and energy storage assets over the next four years.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 30, 2026
Sacramento, California
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
August 25, 2026
São Paulo, Brazil
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 1, 2026
Mexico City, Mexico
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 9, 2026