What was 2025 like for KNESS? It was strategic, innovative, intense, productive, responsible, emotionally challenging, and decisive at the same time. A year of new horizons and important projects to support the energy system. A year of rapid growth, scaling, professional challenges, and teamwork. A year of inspired interactions, win-win partnerships, and trust that has lasted for more than one year.
This year, we transformed our years of expertise into innovative energy solutions that are significant for the country and for the future, gained a wealth of new experience, and once again confirmed that the most valuable thing in any endeavor is mutual team support. What ideas and plans drove us to new achievements? What have we managed to accomplish, and where are we headed? Here’s a look back at how we spent this year — in numbers and facts.
One of Ukraine’s largest portfolios of energy storage projects — done!
KNESS has implemented over 140 MWh of energy storages, which have been providing comprehensive frequency containment reserve (FCR) and automatic frequency restoration reserve (aFRR) services since October 1. This is one of the largest energy storage systems in Ukraine, which the KNESS team successfully implemented in just one year, within the framework of special auctions won in 2024. Most of the projects were implemented based on the technological solutions of our strategic partner HiTHIUM, and one 10 MW project was implemented using KNESS’s solution. This amount of new capacity is a significant boost to the country’s energy system in terms of stability and reliability.
The entire KNESS team was involved in the implementation and subsequent management of the ESS project portfolio.
KNESS RnD Center specialists developed their own ESS technological solution, which was scaled up to a 10 MW project. This is a unique project, as it was implemented using Ukrainian ESS to operate in the Ukrainian ancillary services market. The team also developed a software and hardware complex for ESS management — Energy Management System (EMS), which is now actively used.
The development team prepared all the necessary documentation for the construction of ESS facilities in various regions of the country: this included searching for and registering land plots, technical conditions for connection and urban planning conditions, developing and approving projects, and obtaining all construction permits.
The EPC team developed project documentation, delivered all equipment to construction sites, implemented and successfully commissioned the projects.
The O&M team took over the projects at the stage of grid connection and licensing and now provides comprehensive maintenance services for energy storage facilities with a capacity of over 140 MWh, including operational and technical management and dispatching. To this end, the KNESS team underwent relevant training in China and received certificates from equipment manufacturing partners.
The energy management team currently oversees the commercial management of energy storage facilities, putting KNESS’s business models and its own expertise into practice. This involves using ESS to provide FCR and aFRR services, as well as for arbitrage, both as standalone units and as part of balancing and aggregated groups.
Service teams — financial specialists, logisticians, procurement specialists, lawyers, IT specialists, and others supported operational areas throughout the entire process, each in their own field. Dozens of negotiations, thousands of calculations, stacks of documentation, hundreds of hours of fruitful work… And now, the efforts of each and every one of them have been transformed into an important innovative energy project for the systematic support of the country’s energy system.
Plans for next year include a new horizon: the turnkey implementation of over 200 MWh of ESS capacity.
New directions
KNESS as a distributor of energy equipment from global manufacturers
At the beginning of the year, KNESS Trading House launched its operations as the official distributor of electrical equipment from leading global brands in Ukraine and Europe. This involves the supply of both individual equipment and comprehensive turnkey solutions for enterprises and infrastructure projects with warranty obligations on the part of KNESS. For example, this year KNESS became a strategic partner of HіTHIUM, one of the world leaders in the development and production of energy storage systems (ESS). KNESS also cooperates with NR, Sineng, and others. As part of this direction, a spare parts warehouse for ESS in Ukraine has been created. By the end of 2025, KNESS Trading House had contracted over 700 MWh of ESS capacity. Of these, more than 250 MWh of energy storage installations have already been delivered to Ukraine for our own ESS projects and for partner customers who implement ESS projects under various business models. Another 450 MWh of installations are in the process of being supplied and manufactured. Plans for the coming year include the supply of over 500 MWh of ESS.
KNESS in the role of Aggregator
Upon receiving an aggregation license at the end of last year, KNESS launched its own aggregated group, which provides commercial management and dispatching of consumption, production, and storage facilities of various capacities with the aim of utilizing their resources in different segments of the electricity market.
KNESS as O&M partner for WPP and ESS operation & maintenance
In addition to comprehensive maintenance of solar power facilities, KNESS’s O&M portfolio has expanded this year to include wind farms and energy storage systems. These are not just new facilities, but an entry into a narrow market segment for the technical maintenance of wind energy infrastructure and energy storage facilities, which are innovative for the Ukrainian energy market.
Sustainable development
Development of ESS and WPP projects
The development team has implemented 380 MWh of ESS project capacity to the R2B stage. Another nearly 600 MWh of ESS is planned. In addition to developing energy storage projects, KNESS continues to prepare permits for the wind farms construction. The total capacity of WPP projects in the development portfolio is over 700 MW.
Continuing to scale solar generation
In 2025, KNESS Group designed 89 power generation facilities. The team implemented 140 MW of rooftop and ground-based solar power plants in Ukraine, Poland, and Latvia on a general contracting basis. Of these, 27 MW are solar capacities built and connected to the grid in Ukraine (B2B segment). Another 110 MW are in the implementation phase. For 40 MW of implemented projects, mounting systems developed and manufactured by KNESS production facilities were used. Another part of SPP’s projects was implemented in conjunction with energy storage systems. In addition, to connect new RES capacities, the team reconstructed seven 110 (35) kV substations and built a 110 kV substation.
Therefore, the total capacity of SPPs implemented by KNESS now amounts to 1.3 GW.
Expanding the O&M portfolio of electric power facilities
In addition to over 100 MW of new WPP and ESS capacities, the O&M portfolio has been expanded with solar stations, including one of the largest ground-based SPP in Latvia with a capacity of 94 MW.
The total capacity of all facilities under maintenance and dispatching today is 1.93 GW in Ukraine, Poland, and Latvia. This includes 197 power facilities. We are also actively developing the substation maintenance business: currently, our portfolio includes 14 substations with a voltage class of 110 kV and above in Ukraine and abroad.
Developing areas of electricity supply and trading, Automated Commercial Electricity Metering, and generation forecasting.
Throughout the year, we continued to supply electricity to more than 180 non-household consumers. The total annual supply amounted to 101 million kWh. Among other things, we imported electricity to ensure power supply to enterprises and critical infrastructure even during periods of shortage in the power system. And during periods of surplus, when there was more electricity in the power system than was needed to supply all consumers, KNESS exported electricity abroad for the first time. A total of 9 million kWh of export and import operations were carried out over a period of three months.
Another important thing is that we are integrating the self-production mechanism into practice, helping enterprises obtain the status of “active consumers” and purchase surplus generation from RES.
We also continue to systematically automate electricity metering for producers and consumers across the country, serving over 220 consumers and electricity producers, with over 3,000 commercial metering points. In addition, we forecast generation for 1.4 GW of power facilities. In particular, KNESS became the first provider of generation forecasting services for households in Ukraine.
Exacerbating capacities of KNESS Balancing Group
At the end of 2025, KNESS balancing group will include various types of RES facilities with a total capacity of 380 MW and 175 MW/300 MWh of energy storage facilities.
Actively working and developing in Poland and Latvia
KNESS continues to operate in foreign representative offices. Our teams in Latvia and Poland are building industrial solar power plants, including in combination with energy storage systems. More than 100 MW of solar power plants are currently under construction. Thanks to the team’s energy expertise, the service division has established itself in the Polish and Latvian markets and continues to grow.
Not just about business achievements
Ranked among the best employers in Ukraine in 2025
KNESS was included in the TOP 50 best employers in the country according to NV magazine and in the TOP 100 according to the business portal Delo.ua. This is yet another confirmation of the importance of our actions aimed at developing and supporting our team of energy industry specialists. Our group of companies is also among the 30 best employers in Ukraine for veterans, according to Forbes Ukraine. For the second year in a row, the company has been running a comprehensive support and assistance program for mobilized employees and veterans. During 2025, as part of the program, our specialists processed 135 requests for various types of support and provided material support to mobilized employees in the amount of almost UAH 5 million. In addition, in cooperation with partner specialized institutions and charitable organizations, we provided rehabilitation for nine veterans and their families.
Received the highest award in Latvia for adhering to high compliance standards
KNESS’s representative office in Latvia, KNESS Baltic, received recognition for its contribution to creating a fair and stable environment for the country’s development and was recognized as a company that adheres to high compliance standards. This means that the company belongs to the highest category “A” according to the taxpayer rating system in force in Latvia, has a positive impact on society and the development of the country’s economy, and adheres to the principles of fair competition.
Joined national and international communities, initiatives, and coalitions
KNESS joined the Romania-Ukraine Bilateral Trade and Industry Chamber, opening up new opportunities for cooperation, experience exchange, and implementation of joint projects aimed at strengthening energy security and sustainable development in both countries.
Ivan Vekirchyk and Ievgen Didichenko, co-founders of KNESS, have joined the expert panel of the Council for Strategic Development of the Vinnytsia City Territorial Community. Together with government officials and other residents of the city, they are participating in the updating of the Vinnytsia 3.0 development strategy.
To share experience and technical expertise, KNESS joined the newly formed Ukrainian Wind Energy Association (UWEA) Committee on the development and implementation of energy storage systems (ESS). Serhii Kravchuk, Director of Electricity Trading and Supply in KNESS, was elected Deputy Chairman of the Committee.
KNESS has also been selected to join the AI Committee of the IT Ukraine Association to collaborate on the development of artificial intelligence in Ukraine alongside other leading Ukrainian businesses and IT companies. Our company will be represented by Vladyslav Fomin, Head of Artificial Intelligence Systems Implementation and Support in KNESS.
Presented KNESS’s experience at exhibitions, forums, company visits, and conferences
The year was full of special events. KNESS experts not only got to put their knowledge into practice, but also shared their results:
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- on energy-efficient solutions for businesses: on aggregation in an online discussion within the Ukraine Energy Initiative and at the event “Green Transformation of Vinnytsia: Politics, Communities, Energy”, on the legal and practical aspects of operating ESS and optimal models for industrial ESS in a series of webinars from the UWEA, in a panel discussion by Sayenko Kharenko, at industry and international forums, on innovative partnership models by KNESS at the Future Energy Forum, in a lecture as part of the course “Economic Training for Businesses Affected by the War in Ukraine,” in a webinar for the Women’s Energy Club, at the ENERGOTECH 2025 conference, at the Ukrainian Wind Energy Forum 2025;
- on experience in running a business: at the Ukrainian Investment Congress 2025, at the II Ukrainian Forum: Development of Ukraine’s Intellectual Capital, at the business forum “Trends 2026. Business & Technology for Growth”, at the event “One Voice: ESG UNITED”, at a company visit by representatives of Ukrainian business;
- on AI in products and operational processes: at the Digital Enterprise Forum 2025, Forbes AI Summit, the training program “Economic Training for Businesses Affected by the War in Ukraine,” the international exhibition on AI, technology, and digital innovations in Bologna, the conference on the role of the technical industry in Ukraine’s recovery from We Build Ukraine, and the forum from the NGO “Ukrainian Students for Freedom.”
- on Ukraine’s energy recovery: at conferences held by the We Build Ukraine analytical center, at Rebuild Ukraine 2025, in expert discussions organized by UIF, “Europe-Poland-Ukraine: Cooperate Together’25”, during a round table discussion on hydrogen, at the SOLARWIND forum, Rebuilding Ukraine Forum 2025, at the annual forum on energy development from Forbes Ukraine — “Energy of Business”, at Ukraine’s Energy & Climate Investment Roadshow, at the international event: “Europe–Poland–Ukraine: Cooperate Together. Future of Investments”.
In addition, KNESS welcomed the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Iraq in Ukraine and a delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.
Supported educational initiatives
We signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” to join forces in educational projects, scientific research, and, most importantly, in the practical training of technical students. We co-organized the Third Ukrainian Forum and Hackathon for Intellectual Capital Development, which took place in Vinnytsia, as we support young talent and environments of progressive ideas that can change the world for the better. We organized an engineering day for 8th and 9th grade students at one of the lyceums in Vinnytsia, participated in the OL Science & Tech Fest 2025 science and technology festival, conducted training sessions on cybersecurity and the use of AI for patients of the Harmony rehabilitation center, and hosted excursions for pupils, students and youth, including as part of the Open Days at our partner university Intita, shared our experience as expert mentors and judges at the Youth Climate Innovation Hackathon and BEST Engineering Competition 2025, and presented career opportunities at KNESS at university job fairs and other events for job seekers. We also discussed the role of business and innovation in modern education at regional and national forums.
Continued traditions: volunteering, donating blood, making charitable contributions, and supporting the country’s defense capabilities
Over a year, KNESS’s donor movement collected 117 donations, which is 53 liters of blood that can save lives. We also supported our colleagues’ fundraising efforts for the Defense Forces, helped repair one of the lyceums in Vinnytsia, sponsored sporting events, shared our expertise, and participated in the restoration of energy infrastructure. Part of our volunteer work remains “behind the scenes” and quietly works toward victory.
We are grateful to 2025 and welcome the new year 2026!
We are grateful to the passing year for what we have achieved. We are grateful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and especially to our colleagues in the military, for their defense.
We welcome 2026 with hopes for a bright, peaceful, energy-independent future, which we continue to create with our own hands: with gigawatts of “sun,” “wind,” and renewable energy sources, plans for economic recovery and reconstruction of the country, and support for important projects and initiatives that resonate with our values.
