Zwartowo, one of Poland’s largest photovoltaic farms with a capacity of 204 MW, has become the first solar unit in the country to successfully qualify for the balancing services market. The milestone marks a shift in how renewable energy sources integrate with the power system.
The process of entering the balancing market turned out to be more of an IT and cybersecurity challenge than a typical market operation. Karol Wolański, Head of Flexibility and Aggregation at Respect Energy, said the project required close coordination between multiple entities and a commercial approach from the start.
– We approached this as a commercial project. We see a business case in it. We see that it is financially viable – he stressed.
IT and cybersecurity at the heart of the project
According to Wolański, technical readiness for balancing services is not just about meeting regulatory requirements. It involves building sophisticated control systems that can communicate with the grid operator in real time, manage energy output, and ensure data security. The Zwartowo farm had to demonstrate it could respond to signals from the transmission system operator and adjust generation within seconds.
– The production of energy from renewables is no longer a passive delivery of electrons to the grid. It is active management of how much energy we produce and at what hours – Wolański explained.
Why balancing services are becoming essential for renewable players
The market environment in Poland is changing rapidly. As more intermittent sources like solar and wind enter the system, the ability to provide balancing services becomes a competitive necessity. Wolański noted that any electricity off-taker, whether Respect Energy or another trading company, will need technical capabilities to offer these services to clients who are legally obliged to qualify their units and designate a Balancing Service Provider.
Without such capabilities, he warned, it will be impossible to serve a growing segment of customers. The shift is driven by both regulatory pressure and market logic: balancing services create new revenue streams and improve the stability of the entire grid.
Zwartowo’s success opens the door for other large solar farms to follow. The project was presented during the Polish Wind Energy Association conference held in Świnoujście from 8 to 10 June 2026.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PSEW
