Development of Energy Clusters in Poland – General Remarks

Abstract

Energy clusters are a civil law agreement that can include natural and legal persons, research institutes and entities, or local government units. According to the legislator, their purpose is to produce and balance the demand, distribution, or trade in energy within a distribution network with a rated voltage of less than 110 kV. The task of the clusters is to create self-sufficient energy circuits that would have access to the network and could be powered externally, if necessary. In this sense, the clusters differ from the concept of so-called energy islands, which are completely isolated from the publicly accessible network. The practical functioning of the clusters still requires further regulation. An analysis of the energy clusters should be based on the results of an expert opinion commissioned by the Ministry of Energy. As regards energy clusters, it is necessary to analyse the agreement between the entities wishing to create a cluster, which leads to the appointment of a coordinator. The clusters will help to reduce infrastructure development and balancing costs, capitalise on the entrepreneurial potential and available resources, and they will facilitate the deployment of state-of-the-art technologies or new business models at the local level. The clusters should be developed as an integral part of the state power system. They aim at developing generations from renewable sources and modern technologies, and, above all, they will help to create equal chances for regions. The clusters are an initiative of a local nature. Therefore, their basic objectives are based on local needs. At the same time, the realisation of basic local goals has several positive consequences, reaching far beyond the boundaries of a municipality.