Orlen Wind 3 has entered into a preliminary agreement with EDP Renewables Polska to acquire PV projects with a combined capacity of 280MWp, along with a 26MW wind farm, in Poland.
The wind farm is in the Province of Łódź, while the solar sites are located in the Provinces of Zielona Góra and Poznań.
Valued at approximately PLN 1.15bn (€0.26bn), the transaction stands out as one the largest deals in terms of installed capacity made in recent years within the Polish renewable energy sector, Orlen said.
Upon completion, this acquisition will elevate the Orlen Group’s renewable generation capacity by nearly 30%, it added.
Ireneusz Fąfara, chief executive and president of the management board of Orlen, said: “We promised to accelerate our efforts, and we’re delivering on that promise.
“This new agreement will add over 300MW to our renewable energy portfolio, which is nearly a third of what we’ve built in renewables over the recent years.
“But it’s not just about the scale – this deal also makes strong economic sense for us and offers a real chance of enhancing the Orlen Group’s value.
“Our goal is to be a key player in Central and Eastern Europe’s energy transition. That’s why we’re not stopping here, actively looking for further attractive projects on the renewable energy market to seize every business opportunity that comes our way.”
The agreement provides for the purchase of two solar PV farms.
The first one, situated in the village of Chotków, County of Żagań, Province of Zielona-Góra, was commissioned in January 2024. It spans 45 hectares featuring over 61 thousand solar panels with a total capacity of 40MWp.
The farm is designed for minimised environmental impact, allowing free movement of small animals through appropriately raised fencing, without disturbing their natural migration paths.
The second farm is located on the site of a former lignite strip-mine in the municipality of Przykona, Province of Poznań.
In its vicinity, the Orlen Group already operates several solar and wind power assets with a total capacity of 57MW, with further units totalling approximately 68MW still under development.
Currently, the acquired PV farm has a capacity of 200MWp, with an expansion project underway to add another 40MWp, scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
Once the additional capacity comes on-stream, it will be the largest solar PV farm in Poland, with the Orlen Group as its sole owner.
Under the agreement, the Orlen Group also acquires Warta, an onshore wind farm built in May 2023 west of Sieradz, in the Province of Łódź.
It consists of 13 turbines capable of generating 26MW. The site benefits from high wind intensity, ensuring optimal utilisation of the installed capacity, Orlen said.