Poland introduces draft feed-in tariff policy including PV plants

The government of Poland has introduced a draft policy to create a system of feed-in tariffs (FiTs), including rates of USD 0.334/kWh for solar photovoltaic (PV) plants up to 100 kW.

If approved the policy will probably not take effect until early 2013 for 15-year contracts.

The program expansion will be limited by a budget, and that the program will be reviewed every three years. The FiT will offer 15-year contract terms, which is shorter than many successful feed-in tariffs.

Poland's Deputy Minister and Minister of the Economy Mieczysław Kasprzak has also stated that the program will provide a simplified system for connecting renewable energy facilities to the grid.

As part of the European Union, Poland is required to participate in EU-wide renewable energy and carbon reduction goals, and has set a new goal to reach 15.5% renewables in its final energy mix by 2020.

Poland, which is heavily dependent upon coal-fired generation, has not been supportive of such goals in the past. The nation was the only EU member state to oppose a commitment for a greater share of renewables in the EU in advance of the Rio+20 conference in June 2012.