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UWEA showcased Ukraine’s wind energy potential at Energy Week Black Sea 2026

On 4–5 February 2026, Bucharest, Romania, hosted the Energy Week Black Sea 2026 international conference—a premier regional platform for discussing energy security and renewable energy development in the Black Sea region.

The event was attended by UWEA member companies, led by Ivan Bondarchuk, Deputy Chairman of the UWEA Board and Partner at LCF Law Group. He delivered a presentation titled: “2026 – A Critical Year for Rebuilding Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities”.

The conference once again underscored that the stability of Ukraine’s power system directly impacts regional security. Discussions frequently highlighted recent grid outages in Romania and Moldova linked to events in Ukraine, illustrating the deep interconnection of regional energy markets.

Despite the war challenges, Ukraine remains a strategically attractive destination for investment. Key takeaways from Ivan Bondarchuk’s presentation included:

• Market Dynamics: Although 56% of the 2.3 GW of installed wind capacity remains under temporary occupation, the industry demonstrates remarkable resilience. While development focus has shifted to western regions, construction continues in the south as well.
• Track Record: Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 572 MW have been commissioned, with over 700 MW currently under construction alongside 500 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems.
• Investment Pipeline: More than 4 GW of wind projects are currently in development, with international partners already securing approximately 50% of the investment.

A particular emphasis was placed on 2026 being the year of transition from one-off transactions to deep partnerships. In this new “risk economy,” the primary task for developers and investors is not to avoid risks but to structure them through Joint Development Agreements (JDA/DSA), predictable PPAs, and robust insurance mechanisms.

Ukraine has proven its ability to build during wartime. The next step is scaling investments, which is crucial for the energy stability of the entire Black Sea region.

We thank the organizers of Energy Week Black Sea for the opportunity to present the vision of the Ukrainian wind sector and our colleagues for the productive dialogue.