The Orlen Group’s Energa Green Development has obtained a set of permits for the construction of a new “Mitra” photovoltaic farm with a capacity of 65 megawatts, the Group announced on Monday (13 February).
The Mitra solar farm is the largest project implemented by Energa, the business segment responsible for green energy in the Polish Orlen Group. The project will be built on revitalised post-mining areas in Przykona, a village in the west of Poland. With the procedure to select a contractor for the solar facility currently underway, the start of the construction is planned for the middle of this year.
Once completed, the solar farm is estimated to power 30,000 households per year, Orlen said. In total, the ORLEN Group’s renewable capacities, which are being built and/or are already operating in this location, will be able to supply clean energy to nearly 70,000 households.
“We are consistently developing a modern energy sector based on renewable energy sources, supported by low-emission gas sources and the technology of small nuclear reactors. Already today, we are one of the largest energy producers in the country, and more than half of our production comes from low- and zero-emission sources. We will continue to invest in this segment because it allows us to become truly independent from fossil fuels and strengthens Poland’s energy security,” said Daniel Obajtek, President of the Management Board of PKN ORLEN.
“The Mitra photovoltaic farm is Energa’s third large photovoltaic investment after the incorporation of the Gdańsk group into the structures of the ORLEN concern. We are entering the next stage of this investment, and we expect that after concluding the contract with the contractor, the construction of its first stage will take just over a year,” he added.
In addition to the construction of the Mitra farm itself, the selected contractor will also be responsible for the construction of the power output infrastructure to the power grid. The contractor will also be responsible for preparing the application for obtaining the occupancy permit for the investment and putting it into operation. For two years from the completion of the investment, the selected company will also provide maintenance services.
“The Mitra farm is the largest photovoltaic farm implemented by Energa so far. However, its implementation is only a small part of the extensive plan implemented as part of the ORLEN Group strategy. Our portfolio currently includes photovoltaic projects with a total installed capacity of up to 500 MW. Other projects are at the initiation stage. Thanks to this, we will measurably increase not only the RES capacity potential in the ORLEN Group, but also strengthen our participation in the transformation of the national electricity generation system,” said Szymon Wojnicki, President of the Management Board of Energa Green Development.
Later this year, Energa will also fully launch two other photovoltaic farms. This includes the Gryf farm with the target installed capacity increased from 20 to around 26 MW. This facility is being built near the Przykona wind farm, on the same land where the Mitra wind farm will be constructed. The second project is the Wielbark wind farm in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship with a total capacity of 62 MW.
