Tobias Schüßler, Managing Director of GOLDBECK SOLAR POLSKA, on project development, EPC delivery and market conditions in Poland’s photovoltaic sector. ©Goldbeck Solar
Poland’s photovoltaic market is expanding rapidly, driven by large-scale projects, rising electricity demand and increasing interest in utility-scale and rooftop solar solutions, according to Goldbeck Solar.
In 2023, 4.6 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity were installed in Poland. This places the country fourth in Europe for PV expansion, behind Italy (4.8 gigawatts), Spain (8.2 gigawatts) and Germany (14.1 gigawatts). Poland is therefore an increasingly relevant market for the photovoltaic industry. GOLDBECK SOLAR develops and implements large-scale photovoltaic systems and has been active in Poland for many years. The company has established a local subsidiary, GOLDBECK SOLAR POLSKA sp. z o.o.. Managing Director Tobias Schüßler explains the strategic rationale behind this move.
Why was GOLDBECK SOLAR POLSKA established?
Tobias Schüßler: “After GOLDBECK SOLAR had already implemented photovoltaic projects in Poland over the years, the decision was made in 2021/22 to establish a dedicated company in the country.
How is your Polish organisation structured and which parts of the PV value chain do you cover locally?
The Polish sp. z o.o. is based in Poznań and, with 40 employees, covers the full value chain of photovoltaic projects, from planning and permitting to grid connection, after-sales service, maintenance and accounting. The main focus is on EPC project delivery. We also develop ground-mounted systems with capacities of 10 to 204 megawatts.
Will commercial rooftop PV systems become a stronger part of your Polish project pipeline?
This year, our Polish branch implemented a large rooftop project for the first time. We expect further large rooftop systems in Poland in the future.”
What do you see as the key challenges in the Polish PV market?
The approval and implementation processes for photovoltaic projects are highly bureaucratic in Poland. Our teams face two main challenges in every project. First, grid capacity is limited and connection approvals are constrained. Second, large-scale rooftop systems require both structural verification and a building permit in every case.
Who is investing in large-scale PV systems in Poland?
Our customers in Poland include private investors and utilities for ground-mounted systems. For rooftop systems, investors are mainly industrial companies seeking self-consumption and warehouse owners who resell PV electricity. Electricity is primarily sold via power purchase agreements (PPAs). Electricity prices in Poland have increased significantly in recent years, meaning photovoltaic electricity is typically more than five euro cents cheaper per kilowatt hour than grid electricity.
How do GOLDBECK SOLAR and GOLDBECK SOLAR POLSKA work together?
Our office in Poznań operates with entrepreneurial independence as part of the wider Goldbeck Group. GOLDBECK SOLAR acts as the parent company, providing group backing and bank guarantees, while all contracts in Poland are handled locally.
What annual PV output are you achieving in Poland?
Our entry into the Polish market was a strategic step aimed at building a sustainable team and long-term structure with stable employment. Our original target was at least 150 megawatts of annual PV capacity. We are currently already at around 200 megawatts per year.
What role does politics play in the Polish PV market?
The Polish PV market is highly bureaucratic and shaped by political dependencies. With each change of government, contacts and conditions can shift at both national and regional level. These are operational challenges for our team, which handles them extremly well. At the same time, demand for solar parks is strong, and the market for large rooftop systems is also growing.
How does coal reliance shape the long-term outlook for Poland’s PV market?
Due to the still significant share of coal in the energy mix and rising electricity prices, we expect continued market growth and positive long-term prospects. Poland is also under pressure to meet EU CO₂ reduction targets. Across Europe, photovoltaic power is now significantly cheaper than coal-based electricity. We also see a growing segment in grid-supporting battery storage systems, with increasing demand from the Polish market. This underlines the long-term growth potential of the Polish PV market.
Interview by Manfred Gorgus