The large-scale deployment of solar power plants and battery energy storage systems could reduce the total operating costs of electric power systems by 40% in the 2030s, provided that equipment costs continue to fall and electricity consumption grows simultaneously, according to a study by the Schneider Electric Research Institute (SERI), published by the international energy technology company Schneider Electric on November 10, 2026.
As noted in the company’s official press release, the report System Costs of Electricity: A New Baseline for the 21st Century Economy analyzes 40,500 energy system development scenarios with various combinations of costs for solar generation, batteries, and grid infrastructure.
The aim of the study was to determine how the proliferation of distributed energy resources—specifically rooftop solar power plants and batteries—will affect the overall costs of the power system, including centralized generation and grid operation.
According to the researchers’ estimates, even at current global average installation costs for solar panels and batteries, an optimal combination of these technologies could reduce total system costs by approximately 10%. With the projected decline in equipment costs in the 2030s, potential savings could reach 40%.
At the same time, the company emphasizes that the realization of such a scenario depends on the synchronized development of solar generation, energy storage, and the electrification of the economy. According to Schneider Electric’s estimates, these savings could contribute an additional 0.8% of global GDP to the world economy by 2030.
Researchers cite the development of battery capacity as one of the key factors in the efficiency of the power system. Under average global price conditions, a mismatch between the characteristics and operating duration of storage systems and the needs of various facilities could, conversely, increase total system costs by 35% compared to the current baseline.
The study also showed that not only the pace of renewable energy deployment is important, but also the sequence in which generation, storage, and consumption are developed. If the pace of electrification lags behind or outpaces the deployment of new power generation capacity, grid costs may temporarily rise.
Schneider Electric notes that increased electricity consumption by electric vehicles, heat pumps, data centers, and industrial facilities will allow for more efficient use of the existing grid infrastructure. Rising consumption levels, combined with load balancing, will help spread fixed costs across a larger volume of electricity sold and reduce its system-wide cost.
“Over the past decade, solar energy has been viewed as an intermittent energy source. But we’ve been looking at this generation asset the wrong way: solar energy is the fuel, and the battery is the power plant,” said Laurent Bataille, Executive Vice President of European Operations at Schneider Electric.
According to him, battery systems significantly expand the possibilities for using solar generation; however, reducing the costs of the entire electricity system is only possible through the coordinated development of generation, storage, and demand.
“Thanks to the significantly faster scaling of solar energy and batteries, Europe can set itself on the path to energy sovereignty and competitiveness. The pieces are falling into place; now we need acceleration and coordination,” Batay emphasized.
Esther Finidori, Chief Sustainability Officer at Schneider Electric, also stressed the need to align the energy transition with economic efficiency.
“This study shows that sustainability and affordability can reinforce each other, but coordination is critically important. The priority now must be to turn ambitions into action by accelerating demand for electrified energy, ensuring more flexible energy use to smooth the load curve and free up capacity, and removing barriers to the deployment of solar power and batteries,” she said.
Researchers have identified three key areas of public policy that can accelerate the reduction of electricity costs. These include introducing incentives to balance daily consumption patterns, simultaneously supporting the development of renewable generation and electrification, and reducing equipment costs by improving supply chains, streamlining permitting procedures, and training qualified specialists.
The company believes that regulatory policy should, first and foremost, create conditions for the development of distributed generation and energy storage systems, rather than imposing strict requirements on the volume of their use by individual consumers.
For Ukraine, the study’s findings are particularly significant given the need to enhance the resilience of the power grid, develop distributed generation, and ensure an uninterrupted power supply to businesses and critical infrastructure. The combination of solar power plants, batteries, and digital energy management systems can reduce individual consumers’ dependence on the centralized power grid and increase the flexibility of the energy infrastructure.
Schneider Electric is a French multinational energy technology company whose history dates back to 1836. It specializes in energy management, industrial automation, and the digital transformation of buildings, data centers, infrastructure, and industrial facilities. The company’s portfolio includes low- and medium-voltage electrical equipment, automation systems, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), the EcoStruxure software platform, and digital services. Schneider Electric operates in over 100 countries and employs approximately 160,000 people. As of 2025, the group’s revenue reached EUR 40.15 billion, an increase of approximately 5.2%, while net income amounted to EUR 4.2 billion.
Schneider Electric began operations in Ukraine in 1994, registered a representative office in 1996, and established Schneider Electric Ukraine LLC in 2000. The company supplies electrical equipment, automation systems, energy management solutions, and uninterruptible power supplies for the industrial, commercial real estate, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Its Ukrainian subsidiary has commercial divisions as well as logistics, engineering, and service support teams.
In August 2026, Schneider Electric announced its participation in the modernization of heating systems in 26 Ukrainian cities, which received equipment to improve the energy efficiency and operational reliability of their municipal infrastructure. In addition, in July, the company announced its support for Ukrainian universities by providing software for power grid design and training more than 200 faculty members from 30 higher education institutions.
BATTERY, ELECTRICITY, ENERGY, INVESTMENT, Schneider Electric, SOLAR
As of now, Oschadbank has signed loan agreements in the energy sector totaling 11 billion UAH, which is more than 1.5 times the amount for all of 2025, when such agreements totaled 6.77 billion UAH, said Yuriy Katsion, Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank.
“Investors in the energy sector can still be called the biggest optimists in the country today. It is they who, despite all the risks, are investing in the country’s future. Lending trends confirm growing business interest in this sector: while Oschadbank concluded energy sector loan agreements totaling 6.77 billion hryvnias for the entire year of 2025, their volume reached 11 billion hryvnias in 2026,” said Katsion during the first annual forum of the Ukrainian Renewable Energy Association, UKRAINE RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENDA 2027, which took place recently in Kyiv.
According to him, these figures demonstrate the business community’s readiness to invest in the country’s energy independence and implement long-term projects.
As Oschadbank clarified in a press release following the forum, of the total volume of loan agreements concluded by Oschadbank to finance the energy sector in 2026, 8.83 billion UAH went to corporate clients, and another 1.94 billion UAH went to micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. At the same time, half of the agreements in the MSME segment were concluded with the support of government and international programs. For comparison: in 2025, the volume of loan agreements in the energy sector amounted to 5.64 billion UAH for large corporate clients and 1.13 billion UAH for MSMEs.
At the forum, Katsion noted that for certain projects, the payback period can now be as short as three years, which increases the investment attractiveness of the energy sector and encourages businesses to invest more actively in new capacity.
At the same time, he noted that a key factor for continued growth in energy lending will be the reduction of the corporate income tax rate for banks to at least 25%, down from the current 50%.
According to the banker, such a high tax rate critically affects capital adequacy and limits the banking system’s ability to lend to the real economy.
The chairman of Oschadbank’s board identified forecasting medium- and long-term electricity prices as one of the key challenges for further attracting investment; therefore, insurance and hedging instruments for price risks should also become an important area of market development.
At the same time, Katsion noted that the bank has been granted the status of an active electricity consumer and is developing its own energy consumption management system.
As he told reporters on the sidelines, the entire branch network is equipped with inverters and battery systems that provide at least four hours of autonomous operation, and in most cases, up to eight hours.
Automated commercial electricity metering systems (ASKOE) have also been installed in branches and regional offices.
To manage this infrastructure, Oschadbank has established its own control center, which, among other things, tracks hourly electricity prices and determines the optimal times for charging and discharging the battery systems. According to him, this not only ensures the uninterrupted operation of the bank’s network during power outages but also generates economic benefits through optimized energy consumption.
Andorra and the European Union have prepared an agreement that will allow foreigners holding residence permits in the principality to visit all countries of the Schengen Area without obtaining a separate visa. The new rules will apply to citizens of countries outside the EU and provide for the possibility of short-term stays in the Schengen Area of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
This was announced by the government of Andorra on November 6, 2026, following the presentation of the agreement to the parliamentary committee on international relations.
Andorra’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Imma Tor, Minister of Justice and Interior Ester Molné, and Secretary of State for Relations with the EU Landry Riba presented the main provisions of the document regulating the crossing of the principality’s borders with Spain and France.
Negotiations on the agreement were completed in January 2026, and on March 26 the parties agreed on its text. On September 7, the European Commission published proposals for signing the agreement and its subsequent approval.
However, the new provisions have not yet entered into force. Before they can be applied, the required procedures in the EU and Andorra must be completed, including the signing and ratification of the document or the agreed provisional application of its provisions.
The specific date on which the new rules will take effect has not yet been announced.
The main innovation will be the expansion of opportunities for foreign nationals legally residing in Andorra.
At present, Andorra is neither a member of the European Union nor part of the Schengen Area. The principality is located between Spain and France, and the specific features of the border regime allow foreign residents to cross the borders with these countries under special conditions.
The new agreement provides for the extension of the simplified travel regime to all Schengen Area countries.
To travel, a foreign resident will need a valid passport and an Andorran residence permit that meets the established requirements. The right to visa-free entry will be granted for short-term trips lasting no more than 90 days within any 180-day period. However, possession of an Andorran residence permit will not automatically entitle a foreigner to employment or permanent residence in Spain, France, Germany, or other Schengen Area countries. For this purpose, the national immigration legislation of the respective country will have to be observed.
The agreement also provides for the exemption of foreign residents of Andorra from registration in the European Entry/Exit System (EES).
This system is designed to electronically record the crossing of the Schengen Area’s external borders by third-country nationals. Since Andorra is not part of the Schengen Area and does not have an airport with regular international passenger services, the characteristics of its geographical location create difficulties in applying standard border control mechanisms. In the absence of a special agreement, foreign residents of the principality risk encountering incorrect calculations of the duration of their stays in the Schengen Area.
The new document is intended to eliminate this problem while preserving the existing model of selective police checks at Andorra’s borders with France and Spain.
In addition, foreign residents of the principality will be exempt from the requirement to obtain European electronic travel authorization under ETIAS in cases provided for by the agreement.
Thus, once the agreement enters into force, an Andorran residence permit will provide broader opportunities for travel across Europe.
The expansion of freedom of movement will be accompanied by stricter security requirements for obtaining an Andorran residence permit.
Under the agreement, third-country nationals applying for or renewing a residence permit will have to undergo additional checks by the competent authorities of Spain or France.
The checks will include the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS) and other European databases. The presence of alerts concerning a possible threat to the security of Schengen Area countries may serve as grounds for refusing to issue a residence permit.
The government of Andorra also plans to bring its national immigration legislation into line with the new requirements.
Certain changes will concern the format of documents. The authorities intend to gradually switch to standardized residence permit cards compatible with European Union requirements.
A transitional period is envisaged for foreigners who already hold residence permits, during which the necessary checks will be carried out and documents replaced.
The specific dates for the start of the replacement of existing cards have not yet been determined. The changes will affect not only foreign residents but also tourists visiting Andorra. Under the agreement presented, the time spent by third-country nationals in the principality will be taken into account when calculating the permitted duration of short-term stays in the Schengen Area.
Thus, tourists will not be able to automatically use a trip to Andorra to reset the period of their stay in Schengen countries.
The maximum duration of a short-term stay will be determined according to the rule of 90 days within any 180-day period.
At the same time, Andorra will retain its independent immigration regime and will not become a member of the Schengen Area.
For Ukrainian citizens holding biometric passports, the new provisions will not represent a fundamental expansion of visa-free travel opportunities. Ukrainians already have the right to visit Schengen Area countries without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The corresponding regime has been in effect since June 11, 2017. However, the agreement may be of practical importance for Ukrainians permanently residing in Andorra with regard to border control rules, the application of EES and ETIAS, and confirmation of resident status.
The most significant benefit will be received by citizens of countries whose nationals normally require a visa to visit the Schengen Area.
Once the agreement takes effect, they will be able to use a valid Andorran residence permit for short-term trips throughout the Schengen Area without the need to obtain a separate Schengen visa. At the same time, all foreign residents will have to meet the new security requirements.
The proposed changes are significant for the real estate market and residence permit programs in Andorra. The principality offers various grounds for residency, including those related to economic activity, investments, and residence by financially independent foreigners.
Until now, one of the limitations of an Andorran residence permit has been the absence of a full right to visa-free movement throughout the Schengen Area for citizens of countries subject to visa requirements.
Once the agreement enters into force, this restriction will be partially removed. As a result, Andorran residency programs may become more attractive to foreign entrepreneurs, investors, and affluent third-country nationals interested in living in the principality while being able to make short-term trips across Europe.
At the same time, the new rules do not imply an automatic easing of the requirements for obtaining a residence permit, purchasing real estate, or starting a business. On the contrary, enhanced security checks may complicate the permit application process for certain categories of applicants.
The government of Andorra continues to coordinate with Spain and France on the practical mechanisms for conducting checks, exchanging information, and ensuring cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
According to Fixygen, the total value of tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds worldwide reached $3.91 billion as of September 30, 2026, an increase of 842% year-over-year. These figures are cited in a study by CoinShares and Token Terminal, published on November 5.
According to the Hybrid Finance Q3 2026 Update report, tokenized stocks have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the digital financial instruments market.
By comparison, over the same period, the value of tokenized commodity assets rose by 267%, and that of tokenized investment funds by 97%.
Tokenized stocks are blockchain-based digital instruments whose value is pegged to the shares of public companies or traditional exchange-traded funds.
At the same time, the structure of investor rights depends on the specific issuer and the legal model of the instrument. Ownership of a token does not always imply direct ownership of the corresponding stock.
According to the study, approximately 87.2% of the value of tokenized stocks is linked to U.S. securities and ETFs.
At the same time, approximately 85.4% of these instruments were issued under terms that exclude participation by U.S. investors.
This indicates high demand from foreign investors interested in gaining access to the U.S. stock market through blockchain infrastructure.
The number of issuers with tokenized shares exceeding $1 million increased from 10 to 25 over the course of the year.
At the same time, the number of underlying shares and ETFs with a tokenization volume exceeding $1 million rose from 83 to 172.
The number of tokenized instrument holdings on the blockchain reached 4.88 million, an 8.5-fold increase compared to the end of June 2026.
At the same time, CoinShares analysts point to the high concentration of the market.
According to the study, the U.S. brokerage firm Alpaca Securities provides custody for underlying securities, which account for 81.3% of the value of tokenized stocks.
Although this figure has decreased from 94.6%, the dependence of a significant portion of the market on a single infrastructure provider remains a substantial operational risk.
Analysts also note that the further development of tokenization will depend on the stance of U.S. regulators and the ability to use such instruments within the traditional financial infrastructure.
At the same time, even after rapid growth, the tokenized equity segment remains relatively small compared to the global securities market.
According to CoinShares, foreign investors hold approximately $24.3 trillion in U.S. stocks, while the value of tokenized instruments accounts for only a small fraction of that amount.
The Ukrainian full-cycle molecular genetics laboratory “GenCode Diagnostics” invested approximately $1.3 million in the company’s development between 2023 and 2026, including $600,000 this year, according to Oleksandr Vlasyshen, co-founder and CEO of the Ukrainian laboratory “GenCode Diagnostics.”
“We are growing with the ‘gold standard’ in mind and are currently purchasing the latest equipment. Specifically, in 2026, over $500,000 was invested in the acquisition of two state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing systems—the Illumina NextSeq 1000 and the MGI DNBSEQ-G400. Together, they enable the processing of approximately 480 samples for non-invasive prenatal testing in a single full run cycle,” Vlasyshen told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
At the same time, the company is investing in the development of laboratory infrastructure and the training of specialists. Over the company’s three years of operation, approximately $100,000 has been allocated to team training, method validation, and certification.
In light of current challenges, the company has also invested in power equipment.
“Some tests last up to 28 hours. That’s why our system (inverters + batteries + generator) has a 64-hour power reserve,” he said.
In 2027, GenCode Diagnostics plans to complete accreditation under the international ISO 15189 standard, automate DNA extraction and sample preparation processes, and increase NIPT capacity to 1,000 tests per month. In the coming years, the company plans to further expand its equipment fleet, develop oncogenetics and exome sequencing, and create its own bioinformatics platform. The company plans to enter Eastern European markets by 2029.
“The long-term goal by 2030 is to establish a leading national reference center for genetic diagnostics capable of providing a full cycle of modern genetic testing in Ukraine,” Vlasyshen said.
“GeneCode Diagnostics” is a Ukrainian full-cycle molecular genetics laboratory founded in 2023. All tests are performed in accordance with international standards for genetic testing, while complying with Ukrainian and international data protection regulations. The CEO and co-founder is Oleksandr Vlasyshen. According to YouControl, the company’s authorized capital is 8 million UAH, and its net profit in the first half of 2026 was 738,500 UAH.
As part of the large-scale WINHUB project to develop European Class A logistics facilities in Ukraine—implemented by TERWIN Corporation—the company has received a permit to begin construction of the Class A Winhub Kyiv Airport logistics park, located in the Boryspil district of Kyiv Oblast, according to the company’s press service.
“WINHUB is consistently implementing its strategy to develop a network of next-generation logistics parks and continues to prepare for the construction of new facilities. Today, we are focused on the necessary preparatory processes: project design, expert reviews, and obtaining permits. We are convinced that under current conditions, this is the most effective operational model. Our goal is to prepare the sites as thoroughly as possible today so that we can begin construction without delay as soon as security conditions in the country allow,” said Yana Levitan, CEO of WINHUB.
The permit was obtained on November 2, 2026, through the Unified State Electronic System for Construction (USESC) within the ten-day period established by law. The permit provides for the construction of the first building of the production and warehouse complex with a total area of 48,167 square meters, which will consist of two initial phases with areas of 24,954 square meters and 23,213 square meters, respectively. Project Line LLC serves as the general designer of the project, and Base Bud LLC has been designated as the general contractor. According to the website, the total area of Winhub Kyiv Airport is planned to be 160,580 square meters.
The overall concept of WINHUB involves creating a network of LEED-certified Class A logistics parks totaling 1 million square meters in strategic logistics locations across Ukraine. Currently, according to the project’s website, the portfolio includes three sites—one in the Odesa region and two in the Kyiv region. According to the announced plans, by 2032, thanks to WINHUB, modern logistics parks with a total area of 1 million square meters will be operational in Ukraine. The estimated investment volume is $700 million.
