Polish solar output reaches record high

Polish solar generation has reached record highs two days in a row this week, as the country intensifies a push to expand its renewable capacity.

Solar power generation surpassed 3.4GW over 13:00-14:00 local time today, according to preliminary figures published by grid operator PSE, up from the previous record of 3.3GW yesterday. Wind power generation rose to around 7GW at 13:00-14:00 today, accounting for about one-third of Polish demand, PSE data show.

Poland's total installed solar capacity rose by more than 250MW in March to nearly 4.47GW, according to PSE. Solar power is the country's fastest growing renewable source, with solar units accounting for approximately 9pc of Poland's total installed capacity at the end of March.

Wind power

Polish wind farm association PSEW expects onshore wind capacity to reach more than 10GW in the next three years, from 6.4GW currently, following the results of subsidy auctions held in 2018-20.

Wind is the country's largest renewable sector and there is potential to develop more onshore wind farms if the Polish government liberalises its wind farm location law, lifting the 10h rule as intended. The rule requires wind farms to be built at a distance from housing of at least 10 times the height of the turbines. The Polish development ministry said today that it expects the Polish government to approve liberalisation next month, paving the way for parliamentary approval in July-August. PSEW said that without lifting the 10h rule, Poland has limited capacity to continue building new wind farms. The association estimated that total capacity of projects suitable for development, if the location restrictions remain in place, is about 1GW. If the restrictions are lifted, a pipeline of projects of about 4GW of capacity can be developed.