Energy Market 2026: Experts Discuss New Rules for Investment, Generation and Trading
On 18 September, the Ukraine Energy Initiative of the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine held the Dialogue Hub “Energy Market 2026: New Rules for Investment, Generation and Trading.” Representatives of NPC Ukrenergo, JSC Market Operator and Altelaw&Sempra discussed regulatory and market developments already affecting electricity market participants and the planning of new energy projects.
The discussion brought together Ivan Yuryk, Member of the Management Board of NPC Ukrenergo; Ivan Dubrovnyi, Head of the Information Collection and Processing Division of the Electricity Market Analysis Department at JSC Market Operator; Olga Savchenko, Senior Partner and Head of Energy Practice at Altelaw&Sempra; and Igor Retivov, Partner and Head of GR and Business Development Practice at Altelaw&Sempra. The discussion was moderated by Nataliia Khmelovska, Head of the Ukraine Energy Initiative at the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine.
One of the central topics was investment in new generation and flexible capacity. Ivan Yuryk presented the current needs of Ukraine’s power system and the mechanisms designed to stimulate the development of new generation. These include special auctions for ancillary services, auctions for renewable energy support quotas, and a competitive tender for the construction of new generation capacity. According to the data presented, the tender envisages 1,505 MW of new capacity supported through a market premium mechanism.
A separate session focused on energy storage systems and their operation on the spot market. Ivan Dubrovnyi presented an analysis of different business models for energy storage systems. According to JSC Market Operator’s calculations, arbitrage on the day-ahead market is one of the key scenarios, with project economics significantly affected by storage capacity and regulatory conditions. The presentation also examined the impact of transmission and distribution tariffs and models combining energy storage with solar generation.
Experts from Altelaw&Sempra focused on the practical implications of the new regulatory framework for market participants. Igor Retivov discussed renewable energy support auctions in 2026 and the one-sided market premium mechanism. Olga Savchenko addressed Ukraine’s future market coupling with the European electricity market, new grid connection rules, flexible connection and cable pooling, as well as recent court practice in electricity market disputes.
The discussion highlighted how investment decisions in the energy sector increasingly require market participants to consider the technical needs of the power system, project economics and the evolving regulatory environment together. In particular, the new flexible connection and cable pooling rules provide additional options for connecting generation and energy storage facilities, while preparations for market coupling are gradually bringing the Ukrainian electricity market closer to the principles of the integrated European electricity market.
The Dialogue Hub speakers’ presentations are available below:
ATTRACTING INVESTMENT IN UKRAINE’S ENERGY SECTOR — NPC Ukrenergo presentation (UA)
Energy Storage Systems: Operation on the Spot Market — JSC Market Operator presentation (UA)
Auctions, Market Coupling, Grid Connection and Court Practice — Altelaw&Sempra presentation (UA)
ATTRACTING INVESTMENT IN UKRAINE’S ENERGY SECTOR — NPC Ukrenergo presentation (EN)
Dialogue Hub is a format of the Ukraine Energy Initiative designed to foster professional dialogue among businesses, public institutions and experts on key issues shaping the development of Ukraine’s energy sector.
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