Poland has achieved a milestone in its solar energy endeavors, with 18GW of solar PV projects receiving grid connection approvals by the end of the third quarter of 2023, as reported by the Institute for Renewable Energy (IEO), a Polish research group.
The IEO disclosed that a total of 6,929 projects secured grid connection approvals by Q3 2023, marking a notable 41% increase in project numbers and a substantial 46% surge in total capacity compared to the data available at the end of Q1 2023.
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Since December 2022, the country has issued grid-connection permits for 6.6GW of solar PV projects, with 1.2GW obtaining construction permits during the same period. Additionally, over 2.5GW of building permits were issued for PV projects between December 2022 and November 2023.
Despite the overall positive trend in solar capacity expansion, some developers faced setbacks, with major companies such as Enea and Energa rejecting grid connection permits for a significant number of projects. Enea, in Q2 and Q3, declined permits for 380 projects totaling 6.28GW, while Energa rejected permits for 109 projects with a capacity of 312MW.
Of the 18GW solar capacity in Poland, nearly 6.9GW is attributed to projects exceeding 50MW, showcasing the country's commitment to both large and smaller-scale solar initiatives.
Recent developments in the Polish solar sector include Nexun, a portfolio company of infrastructure investor Marguerite, entering a co-development agreement for 206MW of solar PV with an unnamed Polish developer. The collaboration aims to secure grid connectivity for 52MW in September 2023, with an additional 60MW targeted for Q4 2023.
Furthermore, Polish renewables developer PAD RES secured PLN240 million (US$58.7 million) in financing in August for the construction of 117MW PV plants in the country, underscoring the ongoing momentum in Poland's solar energy landscape.
