A new version of a probably renewable energy law has been drafted in the Polish Government. The changes concern the proposed solar feed-in tariffs. If passed, under the new law, support will only be given to photovoltaic plants up to 2 MW in size.
Unfortunately, this new draft by the Ministry of Economy is less appealing for large photovoltaic system developers. Support for photovoltaic plants up to 10 MW was originally intended.
To further guard against large-scale installations getting built, the government is looking to limit installations by developers to being no less than two years apart. (Not exactly solar developer friendly.)
On top of the cuts to larger photovoltaic plants, the new draft law is also reducing the technology-dependent correction factor for installations by adjusting 500 MW and 800 MW capacities down by 25% and 50%, respectively.
“Under the previous plans, the correction factor for photovoltaics was supposed to be up to 2.85 in the first two years after taking effect. Up to now there has been a certificate for a renewable energy installation per kWh, regardless of the technology employed,” PV Magazine writes.
Commenting in January, Christian Schnell, partner in the law office DMS DeBenedetti Majewski Szcześniak, in Warsaw said, “At the moment the correction factors are not the subject of discussion, which is very positive.”
Further proposed changes would mean, if adopted, that photovoltaic parks would have to be installed at least 2 km apart. Such a rule – which is also available in Germany – is to stop operators from dividing their projects into small, individual installations, in order to obtain more support.
The new feed-in tariff planned for small rooftops systems and medium-scale solar power plants will participate in the trading of green certificates.
The new renewable energy draft will soon go from the Ministry of Economy to the Cabinet. If approved then it will proceed to the Parliament.
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