Consumer (Co-)Ownership in Renewables in Poland

Abstract

The Renewable Energy Sources Act of 2015 (RES Act) introduced the definition of prosumers, and a 2016 amendment finally introduced incentives (focusing, however, on biogas) and modified net-metering for owners of micro-installations (in relation 1 to 0.8 or 0.7 depending on installation size). A 2018 amendment enables FiTs and FiPs as remunerations possibilities, increases the maximal capacity of micro-installations to 50 kW and that of small installations to 500 kW, and reduces administrative effort of new installations. Although it focuses on individual prosumers, the RES Act recognizes RE cooperatives, enumerating their possible activities with regard to RE electricity production. Additionally, the legislator introduced so-called energy clusters, that is, models bringing together diverse actors to tackle local challenges. Furthermore, consumer (co-)ownership received explicit recognition of its crucial role in the 2018 recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) as part of the Clean Energy Package. Finally, in April 2018 the Horizon 2020 project SCORE was launched with the aim to facilitate consumers to become (co-)owners of RE in three European pilot regions, one of them being the city of Słupsk employing a Consumer Stock Ownership Plan. Although RE consumer (co-)ownership projects open are not widespread in Poland yet, investments in solar collectors and photovoltaic installations on private buildings, often facilitated by municipalities making use of financing programmes offered by the state, are gaining popularity. With the exception of the limited liability partnership, participation in RE projects is possible via any available type of corporation, partnership or individual business activity, as well as cooperative activity. Municipalities attempt to attract investors to invest in RE infrastructure themselves or enter public—private partnerships.