Poland’s capacity market payouts rose to 7.61 billion zloty in 2025
Polish capacity providers received 7.61 billion zloty in 2025, up from 6.22 billion zloty in 2024, according to data reported by WNP.PL from the national report of the president of the Energy Regulatory Office. Total payments under capacity contracts reached 29.92 billion zloty in 2021-2025.
Annual payments increase by 1.39 billion zloty
Payments to Polish capacity providers reached 7.61 billion zloty in 2025, compared with 6.22 billion zloty in 2024. The figures were reported by WNP.PL, citing this year’s national report by the president of Poland’s Energy Regulatory Office, known as URE.
The annual increase amounted to 1.39 billion zloty. For electricity producers and other contracted capacity providers, the payments represent remuneration for maintaining resources that can supply the power system when requested by the system operator.
Cumulative payments for the performance of capacity contracts reached 29.92 billion zloty between 2021 and 2025, according to the URE report. The total shows the scale of expenditure committed to securing available capacity alongside revenues earned from electricity sold in the wholesale market.
Payments cover readiness, not only electricity generation
Poland’s capacity market pays participants for remaining ready to provide capacity and support electricity supplies when instructed by the operator. The mechanism covers power producers, but capacity obligations can also apply to contracted consumers that agree to reduce demand when the system requires it.
During a capacity-market call period announced by transmission system operator Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne, all entities subject to capacity obligations must deliver their contracted response. Generators must make the required capacity available to the operator or feed electricity into the grid. Contracted consumers must lower their power demand.
This distinction matters for market participants because capacity-market income is tied to availability and performance during stressed system conditions rather than solely to the volume of electricity generated over the year. The mechanism therefore gives contracted assets an additional revenue stream while imposing a specific obligation to respond when called.
Heat, weak wind output and unavailable conventional units test the system
PSE announced a capacity-market call period on a Tuesday between 17:00 and 19:00. WNP.PL said the decision reflected high electricity demand associated with hot weather, low forecast wind generation and unavailable capacity at conventional generating units. The measure had also been used on 30 June.
The call illustrates the operational role behind the payments. When demand is high and expected wind output is low, unavailable conventional capacity can narrow the system’s reserve margin. Capacity providers are then required to make contracted resources available, while participating consumers can contribute by cutting demand.
The European Commission approved Poland’s capacity market as a state-aid programme in 2018. The mechanism was approved for 10 years, but capacity contracts can run for as long as 17 years. As a result, contracts awarded through capacity auctions may remain in force until 2047, extending the financial and operational impact of the programme well beyond its original approval period.
