Ukrainians seeking energy independence just got one less bureaucratic hurdle. The Cabinet of Ministers announced on 28 January that installing solar panels on rooftops and building facades no longer requires construction permits.
“There is no need for additional permits or registration procedures from state architectural and construction control bodies.”
Previously, such installations were classified as reconstruction or capital repairs and required approval from state architectural and construction control authorities. This process could take weeks and, in a country where energy sector corruption has been documented at the highest levels, create opportunities for bureaucratic gatekeeping.
Under the new resolution, commercial buildings now need only a technical inspection report from a certified specialist. For individual homeowners, even that is voluntary.
“There is no need for additional permits or registration procedures from state architectural and construction control bodies,” Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
Easing the path for self-installed solar
The reform removes friction for households and businesses already installing solar. According to the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, the country added around 800 MW of solar capacity in 2024 and over 1,000 MW in 2025—both record years—with the majority coming from self-consumption systems installed by businesses and households seeking to keep operations running during grid outages.
“The demand for energy independence today is stronger than ever.”
“Solar generation combined with storage systems is actively being implemented by businesses, communities, and households,” SEAU Chairman Vladyslav Sokolovskyi noted in November. “The demand for energy independence today is stronger than ever.”
Removing permit requirements makes this easier. But it doesn’t address the barriers blocking utility-scale solar development—a different market entirely.
The bigger barriers
Renewable energy producers are owed hundreds of millions of euros in unpaid debts from the tariff system. When pilot renewable energy auctions finally took place in late 2024 and early 2025, they attracted zero bidders for solar or wind projects—only one small hydro project secured a contract.
Ukraine needs around 4 GW of distributed solar annually to build a resilient, decentralized power system.
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“The biggest problem is that Zelenskyy is not fulfilling the promised key energy sector reforms and not opening the market for independent renewable energy project developers,” energy policy expert Oleh Savytskyi of Razom We Stand told Euromaidan Press. “Only the most resilient and politically connected companies are able to survive.”
Solar can’t stop Ukraine’s blackouts. Can it become part of a more resilient power system? (INFOGRAPHIC)
The International Energy Agency estimates Ukraine needs around 4 GW of distributed solar annually to build a resilient, decentralized power system. Even 2025’s record 1,000 MW is a quarter of that pace.
Solar will never replace baseload power or solve winter heating crises—but it could be one component of a diversified, decentralized system. Yet building that system requires clearing the debt backlog, fixing failed auctions, and opening market access.
With the recent step, the government has shown it can cut red tape. Whether it will tackle the harder reforms remains the question.
