Ukraine currently faces a shortage of 12–14 GW of electricity generation capacity. Over three and a half years of full-scale war, the enemy has destroyed about 14 GW of generation capacity, along with significant portions of the power and gas distribution infrastructure. Constant shelling — and the resulting blackouts — leave businesses without power, driving up costs and disrupting operations.
The consequences ripple across the economy, which is why green energy is now viewed not only through the lens of ecology, but also as a matter of economics, financial efficiency, and energy independence.
Retailers.ua spoke with Oleksandr Bondarenko, Managing Partner of the Bureau of Investment Programs and NOVO Energy — a company implementing solar generation projects for businesses — about how the retail sector can achieve energy self-sufficiency.
Why Energy Efficiency Means Economic Survival
Many companies still perceive “green solutions” as an added expense. But according to Bondarenko, energy efficiency has become a matter of survival for any business that plans ahead — even a few steps.
“After the latest attacks, systematic electricity outages began again in nearly all regions of Ukraine,” he explains. “Enterprises, factories, offices, and supermarkets often can’t function: some lack generators, while others have them but not enough capacity to power their entire operation.”
Export contracts are increasingly at risk because of unstable electricity supplies. Blackouts break entire production chains — from raw materials and packaging to processing and delivery.
“For foreign partners, it doesn’t matter whether you personally have electricity today,” says Bondarenko. “If orders are delayed, disrupted, or quality drops, the contract collapses. Exporters can lose profitable deals in just one or two months of instability — and with them, a large part of their profits.”
He compares energy efficiency to “the circulatory system of the economy.” Just as no organism can survive without blood flow, no business or economy can operate without reliable electricity. “Otherwise,” he adds, “it’s not development — it’s survival.”
Solar Energy: From Backup to Core Strategy
Among alternative solutions, green energy — solar or wind — offers clear advantages. Unlike diesel generators, it does not harm the environment. And as electricity demand rises, it makes more sense to build new green generation rather than expand thermal or gas power plants, which pollute and raise health risks.
The biggest advantage, however, is cost efficiency. Large retailers such as Epicentr, VARUS, ATB, and Aurora are among Ukraine’s top electricity consumers.
A single large supermarket can spend ₴500,000–1 million per month on electricity. For an Epicentr hypermarket, that figure can reach ₴2.5–3 million. With rooftop solar panels and battery storage, a hypermarket of this size can save ₴6–8 million per year on electricity alone.
Across all 75 Epicentr and Nova Linia hypermarkets, total savings could reach ₴500–600 million annually — comparable to the annual budget of a mid-sized Ukrainian city.
The investment in solar power plants and storage typically pays off in 2.5–3 years. Smaller retail formats such as VARUS or ATB, with consumption of 70–90 MWh per month per store, can save ₴150,000–200,000 monthly per location.
For ATB’s 1,290 stores, even partial implementation — installing systems in just 30% of the most energy-intensive outlets (around 387 stores) — could yield ₴650–700 million in annual savings.
Estimated capital investment: $45 million, covering 180 kW solar stations and 250 kWh battery systems per store. Such a project would pay off within 2.7–2.9 years.
“After that,” Bondarenko notes, “the company pays about ₴1 per kWh instead of ₴10–11 (tariff plus distribution). The cost essentially covers only maintenance and servicing. Retailers become both producers and consumers of their own electricity — independent of blackouts and shutdowns. That means energy security, financial stability, and higher competitiveness.”
He adds that investors increasingly value the environmental aspect, which strengthens companies’ access to financing.
Energy Efficiency as an Investment in Stability and Brand Value
Energy efficiency is not just about cost savings — it directly impacts business valuation.
“Even in negotiations to buy a factory or office center, investors ask: ‘What’s your Plan B for power supply?’” Bondarenko says. “If a site can lose electricity at any moment, it’s no longer an attractive asset. Alternative generation is now part of a company’s investment appeal.”
Independent generation and storage increase capitalization, resilience, and economic security. “It’s no longer optional — it’s essential,” he stresses.
The Most Effective Technologies for Retail
Large supermarkets and malls are increasingly adopting hybrid rooftop solar systems. A roof of about 10,000 square meters can host a 0.9–1 MW solar plant paired with a 2–3 MWh battery system — enough to keep the facility running through outages while drastically cutting electricity costs.
A 1 MW rooftop solar plant costs around $400,000, and a 2 MWh battery system about $320,000. The total investment typically pays off within 2.5–3 years, after which the business transitions to full or partial energy self-sufficiency.
What Limits Green Energy Expansion
Hybrid or grid-connected solar stations require significant upfront investment. In developed economies, such projects are financed with long-term low-interest loans — a tool Ukraine currently lacks.
For example, Epicentr plans to install solar plants on all 75 of its hypermarket roofs, a project that requires a major credit line. Large corporations can sometimes secure acceptable terms, but small and medium businesses face loan rates of 20–22% per year — practically impossible to sustain, as projects would need 25–30% annual returns just to cover interest.
Bondarenko argues that green energy projects need financing at 10–12% per year in hryvnia for 5–6 years, after which the investment pays for itself entirely.
“Such programs,” he explains, “would allow a supermarket to install rooftop solar panels, reduce operating costs, achieve energy independence, and redirect savings toward social projects, infrastructure, or business expansion.”
Ukrainian Businesses Are Ready
According to Bondarenko, Ukrainian companies are “100% ready” to embrace energy efficiency. Demand for solar installations and storage batteries is surging.
“Diesel generators were a temporary solution,” he says. “But they’re extremely expensive. A large factory or mall might burn through 1–2 tons of diesel per day just to stay operational. Those costs — fuel, logistics, maintenance — get added to product prices and undermine competitiveness.”
Today, solar panels are not a formality but a strategic asset, determining business stability and long-term viability.
How Energy Efficiency Shapes Consumer Perception
Consumers may not immediately notice a retailer’s switch to green energy — but they do notice who stays open during blackouts.
“When the lights go out,” Bondarenko says, “customers will go to the supermarket or mall that has electricity, Wi-Fi, and working checkout counters. That’s an instant competitive advantage.”
For manufacturers, solar generation ensures consistent deliveries and full shelves. Without independent power, outages disrupt logistics and can lead to delisting by retail partners.
Some companies are already going fully green. Near the NOVO Industrial Park in Volyn, Nestle operates a cluster producing ketchup and mayonnaise. A large solar plant and storage system are under construction to make the site fully energy-independent and carbon-neutral.
Similarly, a new logistics terminal nearby will run entirely on rooftop solar panels, achieving zero CO₂ emissions — a model of how companies can become ambassadors for green investment.
The Future: Smarter, Greener, and More Automated
The future of retail is being shaped in South Korea, China, and Japan, which are five to ten years ahead of Europe in store automation and AI integration for logistics, inventory, and customer service.
Ukraine is already following this path. Self-checkout systems are reducing cashier numbers, and automation is spreading across warehouse operations and shelf restocking. The entire supply chain is becoming more robotic and data-driven.
E-commerce is also growing fast. In Kyiv and major cities, around 25% of consumers regularly buy groceries and cosmetics online. In South Korea, the figure is 50–55%. In 2024, online retail accounted for 42% of all sales in Korea, compared to about 10% in Ukraine — but the trend is clear.
Physical shopping is becoming the exception, especially during power outages.
“Energy efficiency now defines business resilience and market position,” Bondarenko concludes. “Companies investing in their own generation and green energy reduce costs, protect themselves from blackouts, and gain a competitive edge that strengthens trust among partners and investors.”