DTEK and Octopus Energy Group launch initiative to boost Ukraine's energy resilience

On June 23, 2025, a significant partnership was announced between Ukrainian private energy leader DTEK and the UK-based clean tech company Octopus Energy Group during the Octopus Energy Tech Summit in London. They unveiled the RISE initiative, aimed at installing rooftop solar power systems and battery storage for Ukrainian businesses and public institutions, marking the first program of its kind in Ukraine. This initiative seeks to raise $115 million in funding to support 100 localized energy projects over the next three years, addressing the urgent need to stabilize the national power system and protect consumers against outages and price volatility. The RISE program, or Resilient Independent Solar Energy, is blending DTEK's expertise in energy efficiency with Kraken, Octopus Energy's AI-powered system. The essence of this program is to enable Ukrainian communities and businesses to regain control over their power supplies while promoting a transition toward decentralized and renewable energy systems. DTEK CEO Maksym Timchenko emphasized the program as a crucial step toward rebuilding the energy sector that has faced devastating setbacks due to the ongoing conflict, noting that approximately 70% of thermal generation capacity has been damaged or destroyed since the start of the invasion. The collaboration is deemed not only technical but also symbolic as it represents a shared vision between the two companies to empower the Ukrainian populace through decentralized systems powered by renewables. As part of the initiative, installations will be carried out by D.Solutions under the YASNO brand, a DTEK division that specializes in energy supply and efficiency solutions. The integration of Kraken will allow users to monitor and optimize their electricity utilization in real-time, increasing energy self-sufficiency and enabling them to sell any surplus electricity back to the grid. Additionally, the timing of this initiative coincides with Ukraine's broader aim to make educational institutions energy-independent, enabling schools to operate for up to 12 hours without external electricity, a response to ongoing assaults on the country's energy infrastructure. Ultimately, the RISE initiative represents a significant move towards a resilient future for Ukraine’s energy sector, amidst ongoing crises that have highlighted the critical need for recovery efforts and a shift towards sustainable energy practices.