Mariia Malaia: “Energy efficiency and renewable energy are the foundation of Ukraine’s energy security and future”
First Deputy Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, Mariia Malaia, took part in the "Energy Day 2025" Forum, dedicated to the transformation of Ukraine’s energy system during wartime and in the post-war recovery period.
“Today, energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy are not just global trends — they are strategic issues of national security and survival. The full-scale war has fundamentally changed the approach to shaping energy policy. It has forced us to rethink the principles of managing the energy sector, accelerate the integration of clean technologies, and implement sustainable solutions,”
— emphasized Mariia Malaia during the panel discussion.
The key focus of the event was the challenges facing Ukraine’s energy system. The year 2024 became one of the most difficult: massive and targeted Russian attacks were aimed at energy infrastructure facilities, particularly flexible (maneuverable) generation. These capacities play a critical role in balancing the power system, especially during peak loads and emergency situations.
In response to these threats, the government’s top priority has become eliminating electricity shortages — through the rapid restoration of destroyed facilities and the development of distributed generation based on renewable energy sources and alternative fuels.
During the panel discussion, Mariia Malaia underlined:
“The development of renewables is not only a path to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, but also a key tool for ensuring Ukraine’s energy independence.
According to the national strategy, by 2030, the share of renewable energy in the energy mix should reach at least 27%, and by 2050, Ukraine aims to achieve full climate neutrality in the energy sector.”
Today, the Ukrainian Decarbonisation Fund, a joint stock company, serves as a key instrument of state financial support in the decarbonisation sphere. Thanks to the Fund, dozens of enterprises across various regions of Ukraine have already received funding to implement projects aimed at improving energy efficiency, developing green energy, reducing carbon emissions, and modernizing production facilities.
“Ukraine’s future lies in clean, smart, and resilient energy. The challenges we face today open up new opportunities. Right now, we are laying the foundation for a new energy architecture — independent, ecological, and geared toward sustainable development,”
— concluded Mariia Malaia.
The event served as a platform for experience exchange, coordination of efforts, and building a shared vision of Ukraine’s energy future.
