In Kyiv today, the European Commission has offered a new support package to Ukraine to secure its energy system and enable its full integration within the European energy market.
This package will allow for the full coupling of Ukraine’s electricity market with the EU by early 2027, together with Moldova.
The package will accelerate investments in renewable energy, adding up with up to 1.5GW of generation capacity.
This represents approximately a 25% increase of total renewable energy generation capacity in Ukraine.
Support will be channelled from the Ukraine Facility.
Measures also include further integration in the EU gas sector, provided that Ukraine significantly accelerates the necessary market reforms.
Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure has been the target of relentless Russian attacks over the past three years, with half of the country’s energy infrastructure destroyed.
Only a fully independent energy system can shield Ukraine from current attacks and future pressure.
Ukraine’s full integration with the EU energy market will act as part of the overall security guarantees the EU can provide, as well as an effective pre-condition for reconstruction as energy security is key to allow for investments to flow across the country.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) said: “For three years, Russia has sought to plunge Ukraine into darkness by relentlessly targeting the energy infrastructure. This needs to stop for good.
“With the package we offer today Europe will ensure Ukraine has a resilient, secure and competitive energy system. More renewable energy and full energy markets integration will bring to greater energy security both for Ukraine and the European Union.”
The package will facilitate electricity market integration with the EU by spring 2027, together with Moldova, as well as further integration in the EU gas sector.
This will be possible if Ukraine speeds up the implementation of existing commitments under the Ukraine Plan and the Energy Community in relation to legal, regulatory and public service obligation frameworks.
The Commission will assist in funding gas purchases, especially through the Ukraine Facility together with its implementing partners.
These new measures, including the acceleration of renewables buildout, will build on over €2bn of EU support delivered over the past three years to increase the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system and to guarantee people’s access to energy.
Support will be primarily via the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, as well as humanitarian aid and proceeds from Russian immobilised assets.
Wind and solar projects rolled out across Ukraine will bring energy security to critical services as well as households and businesses, including via the “Ray of Hope” project which is allowing for the installation of solar panels to power hospitals.
Today in Kyiv, the Commission and Ukraine also agreed on a roadmap to step up cooperation on renewable gases.