Seamless energy independence: how businesses can save and generate value in the energy sector

16/ 12/ 2025

On 11 December 2025, the European Business Association, together with SUNSAY NRG, Photomate Ukraine, and Huawei Ukraine, held a meeting dedicated to strengthening business energy resilience. The lack of a stable electricity supply as a result of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system is forcing businesses to seek alternative solutions to enhance their energy autonomy. As a result, the discussion focused on practical solutions and real-life case studies that are already helping Ukrainian companies achieve energy independence and optimise costs. These included solar power plants, energy storage systems (ESS), and seamless energy source switching technologies. Serhii Zinkevych, CEO of SUNSAY NRG, emphasised that an in-house solar power plant can cover up to 30% of a company’s annual electricity consumption, with an average payback period of around three years. According to him, one of the key energy trends for 2026 is the development of energy storage systems. When combined with solar power plants, ESS enable businesses to reduce costs and increase energy autonomy. Moreover, modern technologies make it possible to implement “seamless switching,” instant transitions between the grid, solar power plant, ESS, and generator, which remain imperceptible to sensitive production equipment. Oleksandr Aliokhin, Head of the Digital Power Division at Huawei Ukraine, spoke about the company’s global R&D expertise, which includes over 120,000 patents and a research centre in Kyiv. He presented reliable energy independence solutions ranging from industrial modular liquid-cooled container systems with capacities of up to 5 MWh to commercial ESS for businesses, including 215 kWh cabinets and 150 kW inverters. The speaker highlighted the highest safety standards of the equipment (Safety Prime) and noted that approximately 200 MWh of Huawei energy storage systems have already been commissioned in Ukraine. Oleksandr Ivashchenko, Head of Technical Solutions at Photomate Ukraine, outlined three key operating modes of energy storage systems: Maximum Self-Consumption: surplus solar energy is stored rather than lost and used in the evening. Time of Use: batteries are charged at night at lower tariffs and discharged during peak hours. Peak-Shaving: peak loads are compensated by batteries to avoid exceeding the permitted grid capacity. Tetyana Divenok, Green Finance Coordinator at ProCredit Bank JSC, presented loan products for the installation of solar power plants, both for self-consumption (to mitigate tariff risks and protect against outages) and for generating additional income. Financing options for electric transport, cogeneration units, and energy-efficient equipment were also discussed. Oleksandr But, CTO of SUNSAY NRG, noted that aggregating small energy producers into groups can increase the profitability of energy storage systems by 27–30% through optimised sales strategies. He stressed that professional maintenance of ESS is critically important, as incorrect system settings can lead to financial losses rather than savings. Igor Retivov, Partner at Altelaw&Sempra and Chair of the Development and Implementation of the Renewable Energy Sources Committee at the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association, explained that businesses can obtain the status of an “active consumer”. This allows companies to legally sell surplus electricity (up to 50% of the installed capacity) to their supplier without holding a generation licence. The European Business Association extends its sincere gratitude to the partners and speakers for their timely expert discussion and their valuable contribution to enhancing the energy resilience of Ukrainian businesses. Partners

On 11 December 2025, the European Business Association, together with SUNSAY NRG, Photomate Ukraine, and Huawei Ukraine, held a meeting dedicated to strengthening business energy resilience.

The lack of a stable electricity supply as a result of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system is forcing businesses to seek alternative solutions to enhance their energy autonomy. As a result, the discussion focused on practical solutions and real-life case studies that are already helping Ukrainian companies achieve energy independence and optimise costs. These included solar power plants, energy storage systems (ESS), and seamless energy source switching technologies.

Serhii Zinkevych, CEO of SUNSAY NRG, emphasised that an in-house solar power plant can cover up to 30% of a company’s annual electricity consumption, with an average payback period of around three years. According to him, one of the key energy trends for 2026 is the development of energy storage systems. When combined with solar power plants, ESS enable businesses to reduce costs and increase energy autonomy. Moreover, modern technologies make it possible to implement “seamless switching,” instant transitions between the grid, solar power plant, ESS, and generator, which remain imperceptible to sensitive production equipment.

Oleksandr Aliokhin, Head of the Digital Power Division at Huawei Ukraine, spoke about the company’s global R&D expertise, which includes over 120,000 patents and a research centre in Kyiv. He presented reliable energy independence solutions ranging from industrial modular liquid-cooled container systems with capacities of up to 5 MWh to commercial ESS for businesses, including 215 kWh cabinets and 150 kW inverters. The speaker highlighted the highest safety standards of the equipment (Safety Prime) and noted that approximately 200 MWh of Huawei energy storage systems have already been commissioned in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Ivashchenko, Head of Technical Solutions at Photomate Ukraine, outlined three key operating modes of energy storage systems:

Maximum Self-Consumption: surplus solar energy is stored rather than lost and used in the evening.
Time of Use: batteries are charged at night at lower tariffs and discharged during peak hours.
Peak-Shaving: peak loads are compensated by batteries to avoid exceeding the permitted grid capacity.

Tetyana Divenok, Green Finance Coordinator at ProCredit Bank JSC, presented loan products for the installation of solar power plants, both for self-consumption (to mitigate tariff risks and protect against outages) and for generating additional income. Financing options for electric transport, cogeneration units, and energy-efficient equipment were also discussed.

Oleksandr But, CTO of SUNSAY NRG, noted that aggregating small energy producers into groups can increase the profitability of energy storage systems by 27–30% through optimised sales strategies. He stressed that professional maintenance of ESS is critically important, as incorrect system settings can lead to financial losses rather than savings.

Igor Retivov, Partner at Altelaw&Sempra and Chair of the Development and Implementation of the Renewable Energy Sources Committee at the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association, explained that businesses can obtain the status of an “active consumer”. This allows companies to legally sell surplus electricity (up to 50% of the installed capacity) to their supplier without holding a generation licence.

The European Business Association extends its sincere gratitude to the partners and speakers for their timely expert discussion and their valuable contribution to enhancing the energy resilience of Ukrainian businesses.

Partners