Highlights

• Eight new agreements worth a total of nearly PLN 264 million have been signed for the development of energy clusters. 
• Support will go to clusters in six voivodships: Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Małopolskie, Śląskie, Wielkopolskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie. 
• The projects include the construction of over 3,700 photovoltaic installations, 2,737 energy storage facilities, 326 heat pumps, as well as photovoltaic farms and the first wind farm as part of the investment. 
• The total new generation capacity will amount to almost 40 MW (electricity and heat), and the storage capacity will exceed 47 MWh. 
• These measures strengthen the energy transition, increase local energy security and support the development of community energy. 

A new impetus for the development of community energy 
The decentralised, local energy transition must develop and accelerate. Implementing projects based on own production, storage and then consumption of electricity will relieve the burden on the power grids. The funds we invest in the modernisation and development of these grids are funds that we ultimately bear in energy costs. That is why we should focus on maximising self-consumption and energy self-sufficiency in local communities, said the Minister of Climate and Environment. 

The agreements signed on 11 December form part of an investment under the National Recovery Plan, which supports the creation of local energy communities and their own generation sources. This is already the second stage of the programme's implementation – a total of 19 agreements have been concluded, covering projects with a total value of PLN 628 million. 

The development of energy communities is one of the pillars of the modernisation of the Polish energy sector, contributing to the direction of increasing the flexibility of the national power system and the development of distributed sources. 

The decentralised, local energy transition must develop and accelerate. Implementing projects based on own production, storage and then consumption of electricity will relieve the burden on the power grids. The funds we invest in the modernisation and development of these grids are funds that we ultimately bear in energy costs. That is why we should focus on maximising self-consumption and energy self-sufficiency of local communities

–  said Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska. 

Energy clusters that received support:

• Krosno Energy Cluster – PLN 7.7 million 
• Sokółka County Energy Cluster – PLN 29.1 million 
• Nowy Sącz County Energy Cluster – PLN 41.7 million
• Myszków County Energy Cluster – PLN 50 million 
• Ropczyce-Dębica Cluster – PLN 47.9 million 
• Dynów Foothills Energy Cluster – PLN 49.3 million
• Kuyavia Energy Cluster ENERGIA KUJAW – PLN 31.9 million 
• Turek County Energy Cluster – PLN 6.1 million 

Their completed projects will include renewable energy installations, energy storage facilities, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and umbrella activities for residents. 

Concrete effects of investments 
Thanks to the funding, the following will be created:

• 31.7 MW of additional electricity capacity from RES, 
• 6.76 MW of heat capacity from RES, 
• 43.51-47.5 MWh of storage capacity,
• 3,733 PV installations, 
• 2,737 energy storage facilities, 
• 326 heat pumps, 
• 1 photovoltaic farm, 
• pilot installations, including hydrogen storage facilities. 

The investments will cover a total of over 12,000 residents. 

Thanks to funds from the National Recovery Plan, we are unlocking the potential of RES in Poland. Each agreement signed today represents specific installations, energy storage facilities and projects for residents. These investments will operate for years, strengthening the energy resilience of our communities

– emphasised Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska. 

Distributed energy as the foundation of energy security 
Developing energy clusters improves the stability and flexibility of the power system, reduces transmission losses, and gets people involved in the transition. Extra renewable energy capacity and energy storage will help to make better use of renewable energy production during periods of high generation. 

The programme also has economic significance – it supports local investment and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, creates new jobs, and contributes to the fight against energy poverty by reducing energy costs in local communities. 

The agreements were concluded as part of investment B2.2.2/G1.1.2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) ‘RES installations implemented by energy communities’.