Full Breakdown
Poland's Largest Energy Storage Facility Under Construction
9/25/2025, 12:30:03 AM
Major Development in Energy Storage
Construction has commenced on Poland's largest energy storage facility, a significant project aimed at enhancing the country's renewable energy capabilities. The facility, located in Zarnowiec, northern Poland, is being developed by the state-owned power company PGE and is designed to store surplus energy generated from renewable sources. With a capacity of 262 megawatts (MW) and 981 megawatt-hours (MWh), it is one of the largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Europe. The project is expected to be operational by 2027, with an investment of approximately 1.5 billion zloty (€353 million).
Strategic Importance and Context
The energy storage facility is strategically positioned near PGE's first offshore wind farm, currently under construction in the Baltic Sea, and the company’s largest pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant. This development is part of Poland's broader transition towards greener energy sources, which saw the share of renewables in the energy mix reach a record 29% in 2024, up from 9% in 2015. However, the intermittent nature of renewable energy generation has led to challenges, such as the need to disconnect renewable sources during periods of excess production.
Official Statements and Responses
PGE's CEO Dariusz Marzec emphasized the project's significance, stating, “We are beginning construction on the largest energy storage project in Poland and one of the largest in Europe.” Energy Minister Milosz Motyka highlighted that the facility would enhance energy security, lower costs for families and businesses, and ensure stable electricity supplies. Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska noted the government's goal to expand energy storage facilities across Poland, aiming for 200,000 homes to have their own storage systems by 2027.
Criticism and Opposition
Despite the advancements, Poland's reliance on coal remains a concern, as it generated nearly 57% of the country's electricity in 2024, the highest proportion in the European Union. Critics argue that while the energy storage facility is a step forward, the ongoing dependence on fossil fuels undermines the country's climate goals.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
While the construction of the Zarnowiec facility is underway, another significant project is also in development in Trzebinia, southern Poland. The Trzebinia BESS, led by DRI, the renewables arm of Ukraine's DTEK Group, will have a capacity of 133 MW and 622 MWh, entering the Polish capacity market in 2027. This project aims to enhance energy independence not only for Poland but for the entire European Union.
What's Next
As Poland continues to invest in energy storage, the country is projected to increase its storage capacity from 25 MWh in 2024 to over 20 GWh by 2030. This growth is essential for achieving the target of sourcing over 50% of electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade. The developments in Zarnowiec and Trzebinia mark critical steps in Poland's energy transition and its commitment to reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are beginning construction on the largest energy storage project in Poland and one of the largest in Europe,” — Dariusz Marzec, CEO of PGE
- “strengthen Poland’s energy security, lower energy costs for Polish families and domestic businesses, and ensure stable electricity supplies regardless of weather conditions” — Milosz Motyka, Energy Minister
- “We are confident that the Trzebinia BESS project will make a real difference, contributing to Poland’s energy transition and enhancing the grid’s ability to integrate renewable energy sources, while strengthening energy independence not only for Poland, but for the entire European Union,” — Murat Cinar, CEO of DRI
