Tomasz Bodetko, Vice President of Projekt Solartechnik Group, responsible for energy trading and project sales, sees storage as a key asset for large-scale PV systems in Poland. © PTS
Munich, 24. September 2024
Poland’s PV market needs faster rollout of battery storage to avoid curtailments and secure project viability, says Tomasz Bodetko of Projekt Solartechnik Group.
Projekt Solartechnik Group is a Polish renewable energy developer active in large-scale photovoltaic and wind projects as well as energy trading across Europe. The company began operations in 2012 in Germany with one of Europe’s then-largest solar farms, a 38 MW installation in Bautzen, before expanding into multiple European markets including Poland, Germany, the UK, Belgium, France, Romania and Hungary. Today, the group operates from two locations in Poland and one in Germany. Vice President Tomasz Bodetko is responsible for the group’s energy trading activities as well as the sale of photovoltaic projects and power purchase agreements, including PPAs and corporate PPAs (cPPAs).
Mr. Bodetko, how is the role of PTS described best in the Polish PV industry?
Projekt Solartechnik Group is among the leading renewable energy developers in Poland. We have secured grid connection conditions for over 1 GW of photovoltaic (PV) projects and nearly 400 MW of battery energy storage projects. Currently, more than 250 MW of our PV farms are operational. We are also developing wind energy projects in an early phase. The group also includes PST TRADE, an energy trading entity that optimises returns from our assets and provides green energy solutions for businesses.
What role does PST TRADE play within the group structure?
PST TRADE enables us to commercialise renewable energy through trading activities and long-term supply agreements. It also supports external sourcing of green energy from other producers. In addition, we are active in the sale of renewable energy projects and turnkey PV farms.
What is your position within the company?
I serve as Vice President. I am responsible for growing our trading subsidiary and overseeing the sale of renewable energy projects.
How would you describe your main responsibilities in practice?
My role focuses on expanding our energy trading activities and structuring project sales across different stages of development.
What services and products does Projekt Solartechnik offer?
Our focus is on renewable energy solutions for businesses, particularly through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Corporate PPAs (cPPAs). We can provide fully operational PV farms, which is still rare in the market. Through cPPAs, we tailor energy supply to specific business needs. This allows companies to become active energy users or producers, in line with ESG requirements.
Who are your main investor or buyer groups?
We work with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), large corporates and investment funds. We also sell renewable energy projects at different development stages, allowing faster market entry for investors.
Is your focus primarily national or international?
Our primary focus is currently Poland. At the same time, we are active in Germany, where we are developing PV farm projects.
What developments in the Polish PV market do you expect over the next 4 to 12 months?
The key development is the expansion of energy storage capacity to stabilise the grid. Without Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), we expect increasing curtailments of PV generation. This could also lead to downward pressure on project economics and pricing.
What role will storage play for your business going forward?
Storage will be essential for enabling further PV expansion in Poland. It will improve grid stability and support the long-term viability of large-scale solar projects.
Interview by Manfred Gorgus