Local energy planning is gradually becoming one of the key instruments for strengthening the energy independence of communities in Ukraine. It enables local self-government authorities to take a systematic approach to energy resource management, plan reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change.
To assess how this process is developing in practice, DiXi Group, within the framework of the project “Municipal Energy Planning for the Energy Transition” supported by the European Climate Foundation (ECF), jointly with the project “Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive,” implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with the support of the Governments of Germany and Switzerland, and in partnership with the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine and the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, conducted a nationwide survey of communities in September-October 2025.
The purpose of the study was not only to document the current state of development of Local Energy Plans (LEPs) in communities, but also to better understand the practical aspects of this process – the challenges communities face, the factors influencing the pace of document preparation, and the types of support they consider most necessary. Special attention was given to analyzing proposals for improving the Methodology for the Development of LEPs, approved by the Order of the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine in December 2023.
The survey covered two thematic areas. The first concerned the current state of local energy planning in communities – stages of development, the existence of approved documents, duration of the process, and key barriers. The second area focused on respondents’ experience and their assessment of the practical application of the Methodology, including the need for amendments and proposals to enhance its usability.
Summary
The survey, which involved 670 respondents from all regions of Ukraine, provided a comprehensive assessment of the state of local energy planning (LEP), identified key challenges, and outlined community expectations regarding improvements to the current Methodology. The vast majority of participants (97.9%) represented local self-government authorities, demonstrating strong engagement at the municipal level in shaping energy planning practices.
Approximately one quarter of respondents already have practical experience in developing LEPs, while nearly two thirds have not yet been involved in the process. Among the 216 communities that responded to the question regarding the status of LEP development, at the time of the survey 29 communities had already approved their LEPs, 19 had completed their preparation, and 112 were in the process of drafting them. The average preparation time was approximately 10 months, and in most cases LEPs were approved within 1-2 months after completion.
Among the main reasons why communities have not developed LEPs, respondents most frequently cited a lack of qualified specialists (29 responses), lack of funding (24), insufficient knowledge (20), lack of baseline data (16), and lack of time (16). On a five-point scale, the most significant challenges during LEP preparation were identified as a shortage of specialists (3.7 points), insufficient baseline data (3.6), and time constraints (3.4).
Regarding the necessity of developing LEPs, 63% of respondents answered “yes,” 33% selected “difficult to answer,” and 4% answered “no.” This demonstrates a general understanding of LEPs as strategic documents, although some small rural communities emphasized the difficulty of preparing such documents due to limited resources.
When asked about the need to amend the Methodology, the majority of respondents (74%) selected “difficult to answer,” while 13% expressed support for amendments and 13% opposed them. Comments from those supporting changes indicate a demand for adapting the Methodology to different types of communities, centralized access to data, and integration of digital tools. Those who do not see a need for amendments consider the document sufficiently comprehensive and suggest first accumulating practical implementation experience.
A trend observed in the survey indicates that respondents who participated in LEP preparation were less likely to select “difficult to answer” – approximately one third compared to half among those not involved. This confirms that hands-on experience directly influences confidence in responses.
With regard to specific provisions of the Methodology:
- 37% support clarifying the sectors of final consumers, 43% are undecided, and 10% oppose;
- 34% support introducing recommended minimum sustainable development targets, 22% support mandatory targets, and 38% are undecided;
- 56% support flexibility in setting targets, 22% favor an incentive system for ambitious communities, and 19% support allowing lower targets with justification;
- 29% support mandatory inclusion of climate targets in LEPs, 31% prefer a recommendatory format, and 19% suggest including them within other strategic documents;
- 39% support integrating LEPs into broader strategies, while 21% oppose;
- 30% support removing the annex “Forecast of Price and Tariff Changes,” while 53% have no position;
- 56% support including references to other local programs;
- 41% support updating LEPs every three years, although some propose a five-year period;
- 56% agree that the energy management unit may initiate updates;
- 41% support simplifying benchmarking, while 54% are undecided.
In open comments, respondents emphasized the need to:
- simplify the structure of the Methodology and avoid duplication with other documents;
- develop sample documents, templates, and examples of completion;
- differentiate requirements for various types of communities;
- ensure access to a unified database and digital tools;
- improve monitoring, reporting, and methodological support;
- take into account the wartime context and limited resources.
Among the factors most frequently mentioned as potentially accelerating LEP development were expert support, practical training, clear methodological guidance, and the possibility of postponing the obligation to develop LEPs for communities operating under difficult conditions.
Overall, the results indicate a high level of awareness of the importance of local energy planning, alongside a significant need to improve data accessibility and strengthen methodological and human resource support. Most respondents view LEPs not as a formal requirement, but as a genuine development tool – provided that the state creates favorable conditions for their practical implementation.
The document is available in Ukrainian
This material was developed by DiXi Group within the framework of the project “Municipal Energy Planning for the Energy Transition,” implemented with the support of the European Climate Foundation (ECF). The information contained in this material is the sole responsibility of DiXi Group and under no circumstances can be interpreted as reflecting the position of the ECF.