EBA discussed preparations for the winter season with Ukrenergo

09/ 10/ 2026

On 8 October, the Energy Committee of the European Business Association held an extended meeting with Vitalii Zaichenko, Chairman of the Management Board of NPC Ukrenergo, and the company’s team. Participants discussed the energy system’s readiness for the winter period, possible scenarios for the heating season and current issues affecting the operation of the energy market. Winter Preparations and Generation Capacity According to Vitalii Zaichenko, the maintenance programme at nuclear power plants is nearing completion, while repairs to thermal and hydropower facilities are ongoing. He noted that the available thermal generation capacity provides a sufficient basis for managing the winter period. However, hydropower generation is somewhat constrained by insufficient water reserves. Renewable energy sources continue to develop, although their contribution to meeting electricity demand is limited during periods of low wind and reduced solar activity. The development of distributed generation plays an important role in strengthening the resilience of the energy system. Consumers have already installed more than 3 GW of their own backup power capacity, while gas-fired distributed generation continues to expand, reaching approximately 2 GW as of October. Scenarios for the Heating Season During the meeting, the participants outlined baseline and pessimistic scenarios for the operation of the energy system during winter. Under the baseline scenario, provided temperatures remain moderate and electricity imports are available, domestic demand is expected to be met. However, if temperatures fall to −10°C or below, consumption restrictions may be introduced for all categories of consumers. The pessimistic scenario is primarily associated with the risk of large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure. As the head of Ukrenergo noted, attacks on the electricity transmission system have already necessitated consumption restrictions in certain regions. Energy sector specialists are working to restore damaged facilities, but further developments will depend on the scale and consequences of any potential attacks. Recommendations for Business and Current Energy Market Issues Important measures to strengthen business energy resilience include meeting companies’ own electricity needs and further developing distributed generation. Such capacity can be used to meet businesses’ electricity needs during periods of shortages and, where conditions allow, participate in the electricity market at other times. For large industrial producers, adapting production cycles to daily fluctuations in electricity consumption may be beneficial. Electricity imports by businesses and industrial consumers remain another available tool. Participants also focused on the operation of the balancing market, the application of electricity supply restriction schedules to businesses, and issues relating to debt and its repayment in the renewable energy sector. The European Business Association thanks Vitalii Zaichenko and the Ukrenergo team for the constructive dialogue on energy sector issues of importance to business.

On 8 October, the Energy Committee of the European Business Association held an extended meeting with Vitalii Zaichenko, Chairman of the Management Board of NPC Ukrenergo, and the company’s team. Participants discussed the energy system’s readiness for the winter period, possible scenarios for the heating season and current issues affecting the operation of the energy market.

Winter Preparations and Generation Capacity

According to Vitalii Zaichenko, the maintenance programme at nuclear power plants is nearing completion, while repairs to thermal and hydropower facilities are ongoing.

He noted that the available thermal generation capacity provides a sufficient basis for managing the winter period. However, hydropower generation is somewhat constrained by insufficient water reserves. Renewable energy sources continue to develop, although their contribution to meeting electricity demand is limited during periods of low wind and reduced solar activity.

The development of distributed generation plays an important role in strengthening the resilience of the energy system. Consumers have already installed more than 3 GW of their own backup power capacity, while gas-fired distributed generation continues to expand, reaching approximately 2 GW as of October.

Scenarios for the Heating Season

During the meeting, the participants outlined baseline and pessimistic scenarios for the operation of the energy system during winter.

Under the baseline scenario, provided temperatures remain moderate and electricity imports are available, domestic demand is expected to be met. However, if temperatures fall to −10°C or below, consumption restrictions may be introduced for all categories of consumers.

The pessimistic scenario is primarily associated with the risk of large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure. As the head of Ukrenergo noted, attacks on the electricity transmission system have already necessitated consumption restrictions in certain regions. Energy sector specialists are working to restore damaged facilities, but further developments will depend on the scale and consequences of any potential attacks.

Recommendations for Business and Current Energy Market Issues

Important measures to strengthen business energy resilience include meeting companies’ own electricity needs and further developing distributed generation. Such capacity can be used to meet businesses’ electricity needs during periods of shortages and, where conditions allow, participate in the electricity market at other times. For large industrial producers, adapting production cycles to daily fluctuations in electricity consumption may be beneficial. Electricity imports by businesses and industrial consumers remain another available tool.

Participants also focused on the operation of the balancing market, the application of electricity supply restriction schedules to businesses, and issues relating to debt and its repayment in the renewable energy sector.

The European Business Association thanks Vitalii Zaichenko and the Ukrenergo team for the constructive dialogue on energy sector issues of importance to business.