Grants, funding, and support

Ongoing programs of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management that allow for the inclusion of costs for purchasing and installing energy storage systems;

• My Power 6.0
• My Wind Power Plant
• Energy for the Countryside
• RES – Heat Source for District Heating

• County cogeneration
• Cogeneration for district heating
• Cogeneration for energy and industry

My Power 6.0

Under the “My Power 6.0” program, which started on September 2, 2024, prosumers will be able to receive up to PLN 28,000 in funding from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management for a photovoltaic microgeneration system, an energy storage system, and a heat storage system.

Scope of the program:

For PV microgeneration systems registered for connection by July 31, 2024 (connection can be accomplished at a later date), energy/heat storage as an additional device, but not mandatory:

• microgeneration system power from 2 kW to 10 kW,
• funding amount – up to 50% of eligible costs, not exceeding:
• PV microgeneration systems – PLN 6,000;
• PV microgeneration systems + additional component – PLN 7,000 + funding for the additional component;
• energy storage – PLN 16,000;
• heat storage – PLN 5,000;

For PV microgeneration systems submitted for connection from 01.08.2024, along with energy storage/heat storage (mandatory requirement):

• microgeneration system power from 2 kW to 20 kW;

funding amount – up to 50% of eligible costs, not exceeding:

• PV microgeneration systems + additional component – PLN 7,000 + funding for the additional component;
• energy storage – PLN 16,000;
• heat storage – PLN 5,000.

All of the aforementioned photovoltaic systems must be connected to the power grid, and energy storage systems must be reported to the distribution network operator;

The minimum capacity of the energy storage system eligible for funding is 2 kWh, as in previous editions of the program;

The minimum capacity of the heat storage system eligible for funding is 20 dm³, which corresponds to the hot water demand for one person;

The total capacity of all renewable energy systems owned by the prosumer, including the photovoltaic microgeneration system and energy storage, must not exceed a total capacity of 50 kW.

Funding will be granted exclusively to prosumers who settle in the net-billing system or document the transition to the new settlement system if the microgeneration system is settled in the net-metering system.

My wind power plant

For individuals who are owners or co-owners of a residential building or a residential unit in a residential building, who generate electrical energy for their own needs, there is an option to receive support for the purchase and installation of a household wind turbine along with energy storage. The purchase of energy storage is optional; however, there is an opportunity to receive funding in the form of a grant covering up to 50% of eligible costs, but not more than PLN 17,000 per energy storage system. The minimum battery capacity is 2 kWh, and the maximum funding amount is PLN 6,000 per kWh.

Energy for the Countryside

The “Energy for the Countryside” program is aimed at farmers, energy cooperatives, and other entities such as individuals, legal entities, or organizational units without legal personality. Farmers wishing to participate in the program must meet the requirement of running a farm for at least 12 months prior to the application date. The farm must be located within a farmstead or operate within a special branch of agricultural production.

The form of funding within the program depends on the type of project. For biogas plants and hydroelectric power plants, there is an option to receive a grant and/or a loan. In contrast, for photovoltaic systems and wind turbines, support is offered in the form of a loan. Energy storage systems can be financed through a grant, but the precondition for obtaining funding for this purpose is the integration of the storage system with an energy generation unit, which must be implemented simultaneously within the project.

The program includes support for the purchase and installation of systems with a specified capacity.

• Biogas plants and hydroelectric power stations:
• For farmers: installations with a capacity from 10 kW to 1 MW.
• For energy cooperatives: installations with a capacity up to 10 MW.
• PV installations and wind turbines:
• For farmers: installations with a capacity from 50 kW to 1 MW.
• For energy cooperatives: installations with a capacity from 10 kW to 10 MW.

RES – heat source for district heating

The conditions for joining the project in the field of renewable energy sources in the heating sector include several important requirements for applicants and types of projects that can be qualified for the program. First and foremost, the project must be implemented within a heating system with an ordered thermal power below 50 MW, and at least 70% of the generated heat must be intended for the public heating network.

Qualified projects must involve the construction or reconstruction of sources with a total installed capacity of at least 2 MWt. These sources must utilize energy derived from renewable energy sources:

• heat pumps;
• solar collectors;
• geothermal;

As part of the project, it is possible to include a connection to the heating network owned by the beneficiary (generator) and an energy storage system.

The program is implemented until December 31, 2030, whereas contracts can be signed until December 31, 2027. The application process is open until December 17, 2024.

County cogeneration

The conditions for the applicant stipulate that the project must be implemented within a heating system with an ordered thermal power below 50 MW, and at least 70% of the heat generated as part of the project must be allocated for the needs of the public heating network.

Types of projects include the construction or reconstruction of cogeneration units with a total installed capacity of not less than 1 MW, where the following are used for energy production:

• waste heat,
• renewable sources energy,
• gas fuels, gas mixtures, synthetic gas or hydrogen.

Elements of the project can include connections to the district heating network, gas connections, connections to the National Power System (NPS) and energy storage.

The program will run until December 31, 2030 and contracting will continue until December 31, 2028. A second call for funding applications is planned for Q4 2024.

Cogeneration for district heating

The conditions for the applicant stipulate that the project must be for a district heating system with an ordered thermal capacity of not less than 50 MW, with both installed thermal and/or electrical capacity of at least 50 MW. In addition, at least 70% of the heat generated must be dedicated to the public district heating network.

Types of projects include the construction or reconstruction of cogeneration units with a total installed capacity of not less than 10 MW, where the following are used for energy production:

• waste heat,
• renewable sources energy,
• gas fuels, gas mixtures, synthetic gas, or hydrogen.

Elements of the project can include connections to the public district heating network belonging to the project beneficiary and heat storage facilities.

The program will run until December 31, 2030 and contracting will continue until December 31, 2025. A second call for funding applications is planned for Q4 2024.

Cogeneration for energy and industry

The types of projects supported include investments in the construction or reconstruction of generating units with a total installed capacity of not less than 0.5 MW or at least 10 MW that operate under high-efficiency cogeneration conditions. However, coal-fired cogeneration units are excluded from support. These projects must also include a connection to the transmission network and use the following for energy production:

• waste heat,
• renewable sources energy,
• gas fuels, gas mixtures, synthetic gas or hydrogen.

Also qualified is support for the purchase and installation of an energy storage system, provided that this storage system is integrated with the generating unit, which will be implemented concurrently as part of the same project.

Installations are eligible for funding if no more than 50% of the produced usable heat is introduced into the public heating network. Excluded from support eligibility are installations for co-firing solid fossil fuels with other fuels (e.g., biomass) in multi-fuel combustion installations, dedicated multi-fuel combustion installations, and installations for the thermal conversion of waste or other alternative fuels produced from municipal waste.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above matter, please do not hesitate to contact our experts:

Piotr Włodawiec: wlodawiec[at]prokurent.com

Łukasz Moczydłowski: moczydlowski [at] prokurent.com

Paweł Wróblewski: 'p.wroblewski [at] elbudbis.pl

Authors:

Piotr Włodawiec – Attorney-at-law / Senior Partner

Łukasz Moczydłowski – Attorney-at-law / Senior Partner

Paweł Wróblewski – CEO ElbudBis

Relkonds

Material prepared in collaboration with: