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

August 7, 2019
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.

Read Next

December 12, 2025
A round-up of news coming from Europe, with IPP Encavis acquiring a 265MW solar PV portfolio in Italy, Iberdrola starting construction on 366MW of solar PV in its home country and IPP Sonnedix signing a renewables supply agreement with a subsidiary of Volkswagen in Spain.
Premium
December 11, 2025
Slowing solar PV and energy storage installations in Europe risks “competitiveness and security at a pivotal moment”, according to the head of SolarPower Europe.
December 11, 2025
The European Commission has proposed improvements to Europe’s energy infrastructure, aiming to accelerate the grid permitting process.
December 11, 2025
Italy has awarded 88 projects for a combined 1.1GW of solar PV in its Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) non-price criteria FER-X auction.
December 10, 2025
Italy's NZIA FER-X auction aims to diversify Europe's supply chain, but this brings its own challenges, writes Patrizio Donati.
December 10, 2025
The average price of several types of solar PV modules remained stable in Europe in November, according to sun.store.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
December 17, 2025
2pm GMT / 3pm CET
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA