The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has committed €85 million in equity to Virya Renewables Poland, a new renewable energy platform that will develop large-scale solar projects in the country, according to a press release. The investment, made alongside Belgium-based Virya Energy, will help finance the construction of two solar parks — Sidłowo and Kikowo II — that together are expected to become the largest solar photovoltaic cluster in Poland and one of the biggest in Europe.
Once operational, the two parks will generate 666 GWh of clean energy per year and avoid more than 477,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, supporting Poland’s shift away from fossil fuels and helping the country meet its EU renewable energy targets. The projects were developed from greenfield stage by Optima Wind, a Polish renewable energy company with 17 years of experience in the Polish market, and are already fully permitted and grid-connected.
Beyond financing, the EBRD will work with Virya to strengthen corporate governance and build a supply chain management system that improves oversight and cybersecurity practices. EBRD Head of Poland and the Baltic States Andreea Moraru said the investment will “unlock significant investment in Poland’s solar sector” and help accelerate large-scale renewable generation while strengthening the country’s energy security.
Virya Energy CEO Paul Tummers described the partnership as “an important step” toward the company’s long-term ambitions in Poland and globally, noting that the energy transition must be “a stabilising factor in a fast-changing world.” Optima Wind CEO Jean-Claude Moustacakis called the deal a major milestone after six years of developing the projects from scratch alongside partners who share a long-term commitment to Poland’s energy transition.
The EBRD has invested more than €16.6 billion in Poland to date and continues to prioritise clean energy and private-sector development as core pillars of its work in the country.
