Photovoltaic development is progressing rapidly in Poland. The Polish grid operator Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne reported that the total installed capacity of all systems jumped by about ten percent in July alone. In contrast to the end of 2019, when 1.29 gigawatts (GW) were installed, this figure reached 2.26 GW in July, almost double the amount at the beginning of the year.
The development of photovoltaics in Poland is progressing at a rapid pace. For example, the Polish grid operator Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne reported that in July alone, the total output of all installed systems shot up by around ten percent. In contrast to the end of 2019, when 1.29 gigawatts (GW) had been installed, this figure was 2.26 GW in July, almost twice as high as at the beginning of the year.
Photovoltaics in Poland – @shutterstock | Anton_Medvedev
Smaller producers are driving the development
The development of renewable energy in Poland is not driven by large-scale installations. Instead, according to the Institute for Renewable Energy (IEO), the focus of the expansion is primarily on smaller installations operated by prosumers (combining producers and consumers). This is mainly due to government incentives in the form of a subsidy program to increase self-consumption, as well as tax incentives and low-interest loans for photovoltaic projects.
If current trends continue, experts at the IEO anticipate that an estimated 2.5 gigawatts of additional capacity will be installed in Poland this year. Furthermore, they expect that the target of 7.8 GW of installed capacity for 2030 could be achieved in the coming years.
Poland fares well in a Europe-wide comparison
Poland is not alone in this development. A look across its borders to its European neighbors confirms this. Besides solar energy powerhouses Spain and Germany, countries like France and the Netherlands are also strongly promoting photovoltaics. The small Netherlands expanded its capacity by an impressive 2.5 GW last year. But the sector also grew disproportionately in France, with an additional 1.1 GW added in 2019.
And the future looks bright. Both countries, as well as Poland, are planning to implement further plants, which should increase the total capacity annually by the gigawatt range. With 2.5 GW planned for this year, Polish producers have nothing to be ashamed of. This shows that photovoltaics will continue to boom in our eastern neighbor.
Smaller producers are driving the trend
The development in Poland is not being driven by large-scale plants. Instead, according to information from the Institute for Renewable Energy Instytut Energetyki Odnawialnej (IEO), the main focus of expansion is on smaller prosumer plants (combination of producers and consumers). This is mainly due to government incentives in the form of a subsidy program to increase own consumption as well as tax incentives and low-interest loans for photovoltaic projects.
If the trend continues, the experts at IEO expect an estimated 2.5 gigawatts of additional capacity to be installed in Poland this year. They also expect that the target formulated for 2030 of 7.8 GW of capacity could already be achieved in the coming years.
Poland doing well in a Europe-wide comparison
Poland is not alone in this development. This is shown by a look across the borders to its European neighbors. In addition to the solar energy heavyweights Spain and Germany, countries such as France and the Netherlands are also pushing photovoltaics. The small Netherlands expanded its capacity last year by an impressive 2.5 GW. But the industry also grew disproportionately in France, with an additional 1.1 GW to be added in 2019.
And the future prospects seem rosy. The two countries, like Poland, are planning to implement additional plants, which should lead to annual growth in total output in the gigawatt range. With the 2.5 GW planned for this year, Polish producers need not hide behind their plans. This shows that photovoltaics will continue to boom in our eastern neighboring country.
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