Equinor, an energy company, has announced the successful initiation of test production at its second solar plant in Poland. The Zagórzyca solar plant, boasting a capacity of 60MW, is situated in the Damnica municipality and was developed and will be operated by Wento, a Polish renewable power producer and Equinor's wholly-owned subsidiary.
Equinor's acquisition of Wento in 2021 included a substantial solar project pipeline, totaling 1.6GW. Demonstrating their commitment to Poland's energy transition, Equinor has made significant strides in the solar sector within two years of the acquisition, with two plants already operational and another one currently under construction.
Michał Jerzy Kołodziejczyk, Equinor's country manager in Poland, expressed the company's dedication to becoming a reliable energy partner for Poland and supporting its transition to cleaner energy sources. Equinor aims to establish a diverse energy portfolio in the country, encompassing both onshore and offshore renewables, as well as gas supplies through the Baltic Pipe.
Equinor's senior vice president for onshore and markets within renewables, Olav Kolbeinstveit, proudly noted the inauguration of the Zagórzyca solar plant, which effectively doubled their solar capacity in Poland to approximately 120MW. Additionally, he revealed that Equinor's first solar plant, Stępień, is already in commercial production, with another plant named Lipno scheduled for commissioning in 2024. Equinor remains committed to exploring further opportunities in onshore renewables and battery storage in Poland, aligning with their market-driven power producer strategy.
The responsibility for marketing and delivering the electricity generated at the Zagórzyca plant to the Polish power market lies with Danske Commodities, Equinor's fully-owned energy trading house. With a workforce of around 500 individuals involved in its construction, the Zagórzyca solar plant covers an impressive area of approximately 55 hectares and boasts 111,000 solar panels.
Equinor continues to demonstrate its commitment to renewable energy development and its pursuit of sustainable solutions, positioning itself as a key player in Poland's energy landscape.
