During the Economic Forum in Krynica, KGHM Polska Miedź and the PGE Group signed a letter of intent regarding cooperation in the advancement of photovoltaic projects.
The planned investments are to arise on terrain belonging to the KGHM Polska Miedź Group. This will enable one of the world’s largest producers of refined copper and silver to purchase energy directly from the PGE Group. KGHM Polska Miedź is one of the largest consumers of electricity in Poland. Annual usage is over 2.5 TWh, second only to the Polish State Railways.
Krzysztof Tchórzewski, Minister of Energy: “The future and development of energy generation capacity is a top priority for Poland’s national policy. The cooperation which began today between PGE and KGHM will lead to further development of the RES sector in Poland. These actions are exceptionally fortuitous, as they show that the commitment and efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Energy aimed at creating favourable legal conditions for the creation of renewable energy generating sources are being positively received. I hope that the program presented by the government called „Mój prąd” (My electricity) will be a strong impulse for the development of distributed energy and will lead in a substantial way to meeting our obligations as regards the development of renewable energy generating sources.”
Krzysztof Kubów, Vice Minister of Energy: “Today’s events are a further step towards the achievement by Poland of its goals related to increasing the share of renewable energy generating sources in energy consumption, as well as developing a low-emissions-based economy, where photovoltaics play a leading role. This cooperation is moreover an advancement of the concept and vision of both companies, and at the same time is an integral part of the national energy strategy.”
The photovoltaic projects are to be advanced by PGE and KGHM under a joint venture comprising the stages of preparation, construction and operation of PV installations.
Marcin Chludziński, President of the Management Board of KGHM: “One of our strategic goals is to satisfy 50% of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.’s demand for electricity from its own sources of energy generation by the end of 2030, including of course renewable energy sources. The cooperation we are planning with PGE will enable us to achieve one of the most ambitious objectives which KGHM Polska Miedź is facing over the next decade. By becoming a global leader in the utilisation of RES we will secure cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly sources of electricity to drive our business.”
The final form of cooperation between PGE and KGHM Polska Miedź will be worked out over the coming months. The project team will assess the terrain and will identify the most advantageous locations for investment.
Henryk Baranowski, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna: „We are witnesses to a very important event on the Polish renewable energy generating sources market. Thanks to cooperation between the leader of the energy sector in Poland and KGHM, the opportunity exists for the establishment of additional photovoltaic-based power facilities under our general PV program. The overriding strategic goal of this program is to ensure that the PGE Group remains the leader in developing photovoltaic-based power facilities in Poland, in particular large-scale projects. The PV power facilities will be located throughout Poland, on land belonging to the PGE Group as well as to external partners, with whom we are continuously expanding our relationships.”
These ventures being undertaken by KGHM are included in the PGE Group’s PV Program, the goal of which is to achieve by 2030 approx. 2.5 GW of its power generation using solar energy. It is also included in the project prepared by the Minister of Energy called „Energy policy for Poland to the year 2040”, which assumes that by 2030 PV installations in Poland will supply 10.2 GW, and 20.2 GW by 2040. The PGE Group, as the largest power company in Poland, wants to be a leader in the realisation of these plans.
The company PGE Energia Odnawialna, which is part of the PGE Group and is responsible for advancing the PV Program throughout the PGE Group, is at present the largest producer of ‘green’ energy in Poland. The company owns 14 wind farms, 29 hydropower plants, 4 pumped-storage hydroelectrical facilities and one photovoltaic farm on Góra Żar. The combined power of all of these facilities is 2,188.9 MW.
KGHM is consistently implementing its development strategy for the years 2019-2023. It calls for the advancement of projects aimed at providing 50% of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.’s demand for electricity from its own sources of energy generation and renewable energy sources by the end of 2030
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