Fourteen new clean‑energy pilots will proceed under InnovateUkraine after the UK confirmed a further £17 million to expand the programme announced at Rebuild Ukraine 2025. Running for 24 months from December 2025, the second round adds to 12 earlier projects and is aimed at fast, scalable fixes for energy security with lower emissions.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy welcomed the initiative as support for a modern, decentralised system, while His Majesty’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Neil Crompton, said the latest tranche reflects the countries’ long‑term partnership and commitment to climate and energy security.

The need is urgent. A joint World Bank, EU and UN assessment published on 25 February 2025 estimates Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction needs at $524 billion, noting a 70 percent increase in damaged or destroyed energy assets since the previous assessment. The government has budgeted recovery funds for 2025 but still faces a financing gap, underscoring why private investment and innovation matter.

Pre‑winter analysis from the International Energy Agency reported Ukraine expected about 17.6 GW of available generation heading into October 2025, with attacks causing thousands of disruptions and repeated damage to thermal power plants. These realities shape the programme’s focus on resilient decentralised supply that can keep clinics, schools and water systems running during outages.

Project briefs point to practical, field‑ready ideas. One pilot advances an all‑iron redox‑flow battery-targeting 1 MWh-to support long‑duration storage and energy arbitrage at solar and wind sites, strengthening reliability during peak hours. Another will trial compressed‑air energy storage with a 500 kW village‑scale system in Zakarpattia to provide backup power while cutting emissions.

Community power is a clear thread. An AI‑governed microgrid combines laser‑enhanced solar PV with real‑time optimisation and a service model designed for post‑conflict zones, aiming to provide uninterrupted electricity for critical services and humanitarian facilities when the wider grid is under strain.

Industrial decarbonisation features too. A first‑of‑a‑kind cement project plans to capture around five tonnes of CO₂ per day directly from kiln exhaust without chemical solvents, demonstrating a route to cut process emissions. Elsewhere, a refrigerant‑free cooling system for digital infrastructure promises compressor‑free operation and on‑site power generation via microturbines to reduce data‑centre energy use.

Agriculture and rural resilience are included: mobile pelletisers convert crop residues into clean fuel on farms; a biomethane project scales digestion of residues and cover crops with CO₂ utilisation; and a Miscanthus initiative repurposes abandoned land for energy and low‑carbon building materials-combining lower emissions with local income streams.

According to the UK Government, most first‑round projects-spanning heating, biogas, recycling and battery storage-are already lining up follow‑on finance and scaling plans. The second round continues the UK–Ukraine 100‑Year Partnership’s focus on practical energy solutions that can be built, tested and copied quickly across communities.