• Poland reported 12,518 residential PV installations in 2017, representing 81.3 MW of capacity
  • The 12,518 systems connected reportedly have the potential to generate more than 163 GWh of clean energy annually
  • This 81.3 MW is an increase of 24% year on year (YoY), compared to 65.6 MW reported in 2016
  • PV accounts for 0.4% of the total energy mix in Poland

The Polish residential solar market connected 81.3 MW of PV to the grid in 2017. Most of this capacity was installed in eastern and southern Poland. The country’s PV industry association, Stowarzyszenie Branży Fotowoltaicznej – Polska PV (SBF Polska PV), has compiled its statistics from local utilities, PGE, Tauron Dystrybucja, Enea and Energa Operator.

Out of the four, PGE claimed the highest number of installations, amounting to 4,158, followed by 4,096 in Tauron’s region. The total number of installations increased to 12,518 to represent 81.3 MW of capacity in 2017. All of this capacity reportedly accounts for potential annual energy production of more than 163 GWh.

The total number of installations at the end of 2017 reached 27,310, accounting for 172.5 MW. In that sense, capacity added in 2017 is the highest ever recorded in the Polish residential market. In 2016, it added 65.6 MW, while only 22 MW of capacity was connected the year prior, according to SBF Polska PV.

The association also points out that the capacity added to the grid through residential installations between 2014 and 2015 increased by 770%. The annual increase in 2016 was 187%. In 2017, the year-on-year (YoY) capacity increase was almost 24%.

PV accounts for just 0.4% of the total energy mix of Poland which, according to SPF Polska PV, is 43.3 GW. The country aims to have a 15% share of renewables by 2020.

Recently, Lithuania-based Modus Energy announced its plans to develop 12 new solar power plants in the country (see Lithuanian Company Plans 12 PV Projects In Poland).

Poland added around 100 MW PV capacity in 2016, according to SolarPower Europe.