Public-private partnerships in renewable energy: international approaches of legal regulations

The article systematizes international approaches to the legal regulation of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the field of renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on off-grid solutions. The authors conduct a comparative legal analysis of regulatory documents of UNECE, the European Commission (CEAP, Buying Green), as well as analytical reports by IRENA, UNDP/ETH Zurich, ESMAP/World Bank, and case studies from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Special attention is paid to PPP models (BOO/BOOM/ DBO/JV), the concepts of “Value for Money/People/Planet” and PIERS, as well as practices of scaling mini-grids (India, Kenya), establishing community energy schemes in Germany, and institutional models in Uganda and the Solomon Islands. The study highlights that the integration of UNECE standards with European approaches to Green Public Procurement (GPP) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) contributes to greater transparency, investment attractiveness, and sustainability of energy projects, especially for remote communities. Practical checklists are proposed to incorporate environmental criteria at all stages of the PPP life cycle – from planning and technical specifications to bid evaluation and contract implementation. The article also explores the Ukrainian context: current legislation in the field of PPPs and energy, strategic documents, as well as existing challenges – fragmentation of the regulatory framework, absence of sectoral by-laws, weak institutional support, and limited practice of PPP implementation in renewable energy. The authors emphasize the necessity of digitalizing processes, expanding access to international financing, and strengthening the role of local self-government. The practical value of the research lies in creating a roadmap for integrating off-grid PPP projects into Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, with an emphasis on environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic efficiency.