The RE-Source Poland Hub Foundation presented Poland’s first comprehensive concept for a “Correlation Mechanism for Energy-Intensive Industries”—a new solution designed to establish a lasting link between the development of new renewable energy investments and the needs of industry. Based on long-term cPPA contracts, the solution is designed to provide companies with access to cheaper, green, and price-predictable energy, while simultaneously accelerating the development of new renewable capacity, increasing Poland’s investment attractiveness, and strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy.
High energy prices are now one of the most serious challenges facing Polish industry and are increasingly a deciding factor in the location of new investments. Energy-intensive industries—ranging from steelmaking and the chemical industry to cement, glass, and paper manufacturers—cite energy costs as one of the main barriers to further growth and maintaining competitiveness in international markets. At the same time, renewable energy sources are currently among the cheapest technologies for generating electricity. Despite the natural complementarity of both sectors, Poland still lacks a mechanism that would systematically link the needs of industry with the development of new renewable energy investments.
The proposed concept involves creating a mechanism that would enable the conclusion of long-term corporate Power Purchase Agreements (cPPAs) between industrial consumers and new renewable energy projects. This would allow companies to gain access to green electricity at predictable prices, while renewable energy investors would benefit from stable conditions enabling the financing and implementation of new projects. The government would primarily serve as a guarantor of contract security, rather than as a financier of the support system.
“For the first time, we are proposing a solution that, in a market-driven way, links the development of new renewable energy sources with the needs of industry, laying the foundation for cheaper energy and new investments. This marks a break from the existing market development model, in which the expansion of renewable energy sources will directly respond to consumers’ actual needs,”— Szymon Kowalski, Vice President of the Board of the RE-Source Poland Hub Foundation
The mechanism was designed as a tool to meet the needs of both existing industrial facilities and new investments planned in Poland. The first pillar aims to enable companies to secure energy supplies from new renewable energy installations through dedicated auctions and long-term cPPA contracts. The second pillar focuses on attracting new industrial investments by simultaneously planning the development of renewable energy sources, grid infrastructure, and investment sites. This approach could increase Poland’s attractiveness to modern sectors of the economy, such as data centers, the high-tech industry, and new manufacturing facilities.
“This is the first concrete mechanism that meets the industry’s expectations and points the way toward the right changes. Today, we need market-based solutions that will translate into new investments and greater competitiveness for the Polish economy as soon as possible.” – says Henryk Kaliś, President of the Board of the Chamber of Industrial Energy and Energy Consumers
Another key element of the concept is active cooperation among power system operators, public authorities, and investors. The authors propose, among other things, giving priority to projects implemented under this mechanism in grid development planning processes, utilizing industrial and post-industrial sites for new investments, and better coordinating the location of industrial consumers with the development of new renewable energy sources. As a result, it would be possible to make more efficient use of existing power infrastructure and reduce investment risk.
“It is crucial today to increase energy consumption in areas where we have the highest concentration of renewable energy sources and surplus production. I view the correlation mechanism positively in principle, as it initiates a necessary discussion about linking the development of new renewable energy sources with energy consumers.” – emphasized Karolina Lipińska, Vice President of the Management Board of Energa Operator
According to the authors of the concept, the development of the market for long-term cPPA contracts could become one of the most important drivers for the further development of renewable energy sources in Poland. For investors, this means greater revenue predictability and easier access to financing, while for industry, it offers the opportunity to limit the impact of energy price fluctuations on operations. The mechanism is also intended to enhance the country’s economic security by developing new renewable energy capacity aligned with actual consumer demand.
The RE-Source Poland Hub Foundation announces that the concept presented serves as a starting point for a broad debate involving public administration, regulators, power system operators, and representatives of industry and the renewable energy sector. The goal is to develop legislative solutions that will enable the effective implementation of the mechanism and strengthen the competitiveness of the Polish economy amid the ongoing energy transition. Further discussion of the concept’s principles will continue during the RE-Source Poland Hub conference, which will take place September 15–16, 2026, in Warsaw.
The full document, “Correlation Mechanism for Energy-Intensive Industries,” is available at the following link:
https://www.resourcepoland.pl/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Re-Source-Mechanizm-korelacji.pdf