Construction of Poland’s largest solar collector farm integrated with a district heating system is nearing the halfway mark. Located at the premises of Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej (PEC) in Gliwice, the installation is part of the broader Park Zielonej Energii (Green Energy Park) project, which also includes a heat storage tank and a multi-fuel energy block. The entire investment is valued at over PLN 475 million and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
The solar farm is designed to ultimately consist of 1,135 collectors. As of late July 2026, 497 units had been installed, with another 50 expected by the end of the month. Parallel work is underway on pre-insulated pipelines on the solar fields and main supply lines leading from the technological pump room building, which will transfer the captured heat to the municipal heating network. The steel structure of the pump room building has been completed, and electrical work is ongoing. Foundations for the elevated pipe bridges have been laid, with the actual piping installation on the bridges planned for September.
According to PEC-Gliwice, a scheduled heating network shutdown for the first half of August is planned to allow connection of the new installation and installation of shut-off valves. This solar farm is one of three key elements of the Green Energy Park, which aims to transform the city’s heat production by combining renewable sources, heat storage, and modern energy recovery technologies. The project is expected to reduce fossil fuel consumption and significantly lower CO₂ emissions while increasing supply security.
Heat storage tank takes shape
The heat storage tank, standing 37 meters tall with a capacity of 12,000 m³, is also progressing. Its foundation and bituminous layer have been completed and accepted. The tank structure has been erected to a height of 10 meters, with overflow, drainage, and technological pipelines installed. The upper nozzle, part of the internal equipment, has been mounted. All steel components for the tank shell and nearly all technological equipment have been delivered to the site.
The tank shell is being assembled using a spiral method, where steel strips are formed and welded at ground level, then lifted by hydraulic actuators. This technique improves worker safety, reduces work at height, and minimizes heavy crane use. Completion of the heat accumulator assembly is planned for September 2026. Krzysztof Szaliński, president of PEC-Gliwice, stressed the importance of the unit: “The heat storage tank will be one of the most crucial elements of the entire system. It will allow efficient use of heat produced by the solar installation and increase the flexibility of the heating network.”
Multi-fuel block and timeline
The heart of the installation will be a multi-fuel energy block featuring high-efficiency cogeneration with a thermal capacity of about 21 MWt and electrical capacity of 4 MWe. It will use municipal waste unsuitable for segregation or further recovery. Recent work includes excavation of part of the fuel storage area, construction of the separation wall, and the boiler house floor. Underground technological networks are being laid in the machine and pump room sections, and prefabricated reinforced concrete elements for the fuel storage building—columns, beams, and walls—are being installed.
Next steps include mounting the support structure of the fuel storage hall crane and the chimney support structure, one of the most recognizable features of the future facility. Water and sewage networks around the block are being built, and preparations are starting for the social facilities. Off-site, production of key boiler components continues; since May, welding of the boiler drum shell has been carried out under the supervision of the Technical Inspection Office. Delivery of this element to the construction site is planned for mid-September. PEC-Gliwice confirms that all three components of the Green Energy Park are proceeding according to schedule, with full completion expected by the end of 2028.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. Materiały prasowe / PEC Gliwice
