Ukraine Initiates Power Market Regulatory Enhancement Bill, Mandating Equipment Maintenance/Fuel Reserves and Strictly Controlling Power Rationing Measures
On August 20, the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy proposed a draft law to strengthen state oversight of the electricity market, aiming to ensure the security of electricity supply. The draft, which has received the support of the Ukrainian Cabinet, will be submitted to parliament for approval. This initiative seeks to enhance the reliability of power supply and reduce annual economic losses amounting to millions due to electricity shortages.
The draft includes provisions to increase the responsibility of electricity market participants for complying with equipment repair and modernization schedules, accumulating necessary fuel reserves, and implementing other energy security measures. It also aims to improve control over the actions of transmission and distribution system operators when applying power rationing measures, ensuring transparency and efficiency in their operations.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy emphasized that this move is designed to guarantee stable and secure electricity supply for every consumer, strengthen the state's ability to control the technical condition of energy infrastructure, and effectively respond to risks and prevent emergencies. This represents a significant step for Ukraine's energy security and sustainable economic development, and it will take effect upon approval by parliament.
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Austria's PV and Energy Storage Funding Program: Subsidies Increased to €48.76 Million with "Made in Europe" Incentive Mechanism
On August 18, the Austrian Ministry of Economic Affairs announced a significant increase in applications for the second round of its photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage investment subsidy program. The budget has been raised from the initial €12 million to €48.76 million, which is expected to support the construction of 218.2 MW of new PV capacity and 200 MWh of energy storage systems.
During the application window from June 23 to July 7, a total of 9,327 applications were received, with 7,708 of these applications including paired energy storage equipment—a notable increase compared to the first round's 5,200 applications. Geographically, most applications were concentrated in the states of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Styria, while Vienna submitted only 293 applications.
The Ministry emphasized that the current figures are preliminary estimates and may be subject to minor adjustments, as the systems have not yet been fully constructed.
Energy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and State Secretary Elisabeth Zeitzner stated: "The high demand for photovoltaics and storage releases a positive signal for the energy transition and demonstrates continued strong investment willingness."
The surge in applications was partly driven by the government's earlier-than-expected cancellation of the VAT exemption for PV systems, which was originally scheduled to expire at the end of the year. The first-round funding of €40 million has been almost entirely allocated, approving 192 MW of PV projects and 120 MWh of energy storage projects.
The government confirmed that the third application round will take place from October 8 to 22, with an initial budget of €8 million. A key addition to this round is the "Made in Europe" surcharge mechanism: projects using products from manufacturers certified under the Renewable Energy Expansion Act (EAG) will receive an additional 10% subsidy for their PV and energy storage systems.
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Editor :Gracie Wong
Typesetter :Jane Lin
