Poland's next renewables auctions expected in Q4

Poland’s next renewable energy auctions will most likely take place in the fourth quarter of 2020, the Energy Regulatory Office (URE) said on Tuesday.

The auctions are expected to award 15-year offtake contracts to more than 2.4 GW of new capacity.

The Minister of Climate has set the maximum bidding prices for the separate technologies. For wind and solar projects they are slightly lower than in the 2019 auctions. Details are available in the table and here.

The lowest successful bids in the 2019 auction for large wind and solar reached PLN 163/MWh, while the highest stood at PLN 233/MWh, URE noted.

The maximum bidding prices will be higher for bioenergy projects involving the use of biomass, biogas and other sources.

Poland will use a new online auction platform this year. URE said the developer for the platform will be selected in the coming weeks.

In April, the Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA) called on the Minister of Climate, Michal Kurtyka, to extend the auction support scheme for renewables by five years at least to 2026. The association's president, Janusz Gajowiecki, said in a letter to the minister that such a move would allow for maintaining continuity of investments in renewable energy, which will help reduce emissions and increase energy security in Poland. He also said renewables activity can support the recovery of the economy after the slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The auctions carried out in 2016-2019 are expected to result in the construction of 3.4 GW of wind farms, 1.7 GW of solar parks and less than 70 MW of other renewable energy capacities.

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