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.

2 February 2027
London, UK
Returning in 2027 for its 14th edition, Solar & Storage Finance Europe will bring together the brightest minds representing funds, banks, developers, utilities, government and industry across Europe and the UK on a programme that is solutions-focused from top to tail. The event is designed to enable leaders at the forefront of solar and storage investment and deployment in Europe to scale, learn and land themselves industry defining partnerships.

Read Next

November 3, 2026
'Technology is moving way faster than our ability to evaluate it,' said KIWA PI Berlin's Elene Garciandia at PV ModuleTech Europe.
November 3, 2026
Trina Solar, Tongwei and TCL Solar announced that they are exploring a wide range of module technologies at PV ModuleTech Europe conference.
October 30, 2026
Norwegian independent power producer (IPP) Scatec has been impacted by an impairment loss from its solar PV plants and intangible assets in Ukraine and Pakistan during its third quarter results for 2026.
Premium
October 30, 2026
Renewabl's JP Cerda speaks to PV Tech Premium about changing corporate procurement strategies and the impact of negative electricity prices.
Premium
October 29, 2026
Solargis' Pablo Caballero discusses how asset owners and operators should respond to extreme weather events following summer 2026.
October 29, 2026
Western Australian government has set a target for renewables to supply 75% of SWIS electricity generation by 2030-31.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK
Solar Media Events
April 20, 2027
Istanbul, Türkiye