Business Round Table on the Energy Sector in Ukraine
On 17 June 2025, the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Ukraine), together with the German-Ukrainian Energy Partnership, hosted a Business Round Table on the Energy Sector in Ukraine. The event brought together representatives of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the Embassy of Germany to Ukraine, the Delegation of the EU to Ukraine, and members of AHK Ukraine’s Committees on Energy & Energy Transition and Construction & Energy Efficiency.
The aim was clear: bring policymakers and businesses to the same table to identify bottlenecks, explore opportunities, and set the stage for deeper cooperation in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Session I: Renewable energy and energy storage
Participants highlighted both opportunities and persistent barriers in Ukraine’s renewable energy sources (RES) and energy storage markets. Companies pointed to the limited availability of financing instruments, shortcomings in the green auctions framework, and difficulties in securing long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). At the same time, investors showed growing interest in battery storage projects, which could compete in ancillary services and offer turnkey solutions for businesses and households.
Participants identified hydrogen as a medium-term priority and stressed the importance of developing a legal and regulatory basis in Ukraine together with European partners. Companies also questioned the limited presence of German manufacturers in the Ukrainian RES sector and reiterated their demand for VAT exemptions and state support for large-scale renewable investments.
Session II: Energy efficiency in buildings
Company representatives pointed to low public awareness and limited support programs for energy efficiency measures, as well as regulatory gaps. They emphasized the urgent need to align Ukraine’s certification procedures with EU standards, including for boilers, transformers, and construction materials. Businesses also requested recognition of test results from EU laboratories to avoid duplicating tests and to accelerate the introduction of energy-efficient solutions to the Ukrainian market.
Another key point of the session was the transparency of public procurement procedures on Prozorro. Participants highlighted obstacles and restrictions in the system, including localization requirements that complicate foreign companies’ participation in tenders. Companies advocated quality-based award criteria and adjustments to legislation to enable fairer competition.
What’s next?
Across both sessions, participants emphasized the importance of financing mechanisms, regulatory alignment with EU standards, and transparent market conditions as prerequisites for scaling investments in Ukraine’s energy and construction sectors. They also welcomed opportunities for cooperation with German stakeholders on rebuilding energy supply in de-occupied areas through solar and storage solutions for critical infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.