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The Polish nuclear power sector – crucial decisions to speed up the investment process

January 24, 2025

On December 18, 2024, a draft amendment to the Act on preparation and execution investments in nuclear power facilities, accompanying investments, and certain other acts was published. The Draft aims to simplify the process of developing and implementing investments in nuclear power facilities. This is to be achieved through the possibility of dividing the investment into stages.

The inaugural round of the CfD tenders was a resounding success in Romania

January 24, 2025

The Contracts for Difference mechanism is a transformative initiative launched by Romanian authorities to bolster the development of renewable energy. Funded through Romania’s Modernization Fund, this scheme is designed to support the generation of 1,000 MW of onshore wind and 500 MW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity. Romania’s innovative approach is evidence of the country’s commitment to its green transition and the modernization of its national energy system.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) on the rise in Poland

January 24, 2025

As expected, Poland’s latest capacity market auctions have highlighted a significant shift towards the battery energy storage systems (BESS) beside the fact that the de-rating factor has been significantly decreased. The auction held by Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A. (PSE – an electricity transmission system operator in Poland and the sole operator of the country's high-voltage transmission lines, 100 percent owned by the State Treasury) on December 12, 2024, ended in the seventh Dutch auction round with a strike price of PLN 264.90/kW/year for Polish physical units and 247.87 PLN/kW/year for foreign physical units in the synchronous profile zone. As a result, the total capacity obligations secured exceed 8 GW, with over 1.5 GW attributed to contracts with foreign entities.

New Subsidy schemes for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

January 24, 2025

The MF programme is providing funding between 2024-2028 for the construction of electricity storage facilities with a power rating of not less than 2 MW and a capacity of not less than 4 MWh connected to the grid at medium or high voltage. The call for proposal is expected end of Q1/beginning of Q2 this year.

Wind industry concerns triggered by proposed amendment of the Ministry of National Defense to the draft amendment to the Distance Act

January 24, 2025

Recently, the wind industry has been strongly anticipating the enactment of amendment to the so-called Distance Act, a draft of which is currently considered by the Polish government (draft UD89). The draft amendment to the Distance Act is expected to significantly accelerate the development of onshore wind farm projects by loosening the restrictions imposed therein, and thus it is of vital importance to Poland's energy transition.

Result of Poland’s 2024 RES auctions

January 24, 2025

From 9th to 17th December 2024, seven auctions were held for the sale of electricity from new renewable energy sources (“RES”) to award double-sided contract for differences - in accordance with the size of the installations and technology baskets. Similarly to the previous years, most of the support was envisaged for the technologies that have been most active so far, i.e. solar PV and to a lesser extent onshore wind.