Advancing Ukraine’s green recovery: Kick-off meeting for cross-border renewable energy acceleration project

A high-level hybrid meeting marked the official launch of the Cross-Border Sustainable Renewable Energy Acceleration in Ukraine project, a key initiative supporting Ukraine’s green recovery and accelerated integration with the EU. In the wake of war, Ukraine’s recovery is not just about rebuilding – it’s about rethinking the future. This new initiative, led by the Energy Community Secretariat with support from the European Climate Foundation, reflects that ambition. It aims to map out the most suitable areas for renewable energy development – places where infrastructure, environmental conditions, and policy frameworks align to allow fast, sustainable growth. And crucially, it does so with cross-border cooperation in mind, linking efforts with neighbouring EU countries and Moldova.

The project takes a targeted approach, structured around four key pillars: the development of robust environmental and renewable energy criteria, tailored methodologies and questionnaires for data collection, detailed mapping of renewable energy sources (RES) to guide spatial planning and a strong focus on collaboration with stakeholders to align investment and policy frameworks. Together, these pillars ensure that acceleration areas are not only technically sound but also strategically aligned with Ukraine’s recovery and energy goals.

Marie-Therese Richter-Kuhnert, Deputy Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, emphasised the project's transformative potential to deliver tangible impact on the ground. “The Energy Community stands with Ukraine in driving a resilient, EU-aligned energy transition. By investing in critical infrastructure and launching Renewable Energy Acceleration Areas, we’re unlocking Ukraine’s vast renewable potential and proving that clean energy and nature protection go hand in hand—strengthening security, sustainability, and regional ties,” she said.

Lead experts from the Energy Community Secretariat emphasised the critical importance of early and inclusive engagement, urging stakeholders from all sectors—public authorities, developers, civil society, and academia—to actively participate in shaping the project. An open call for collaboration was launched, inviting all interested parties to contribute to the development of the project’s deliverables.