“SWB Słupsk Bioenergy Island – Developing the energy competences of the SKB cluster coordinator”
The project is implemented by “Wodociągi Słupsk” Sp. z o.o. as the Final Beneficiary of Support (OOW), who is simultaneously the Leader of the Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster.
On October 30, 2025, in Warsaw, an agreement was signed with the State Treasury – Minister of Climate and Environment to cover the project with non-repayable support from the development plan under investment B2.2.2/G1.1.2 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO): RES installations implemented by energy communities, Part B: investment support for energy communities, Activity B.1: Demonstration investment projects implemented by energy communities.
Total planned project cost: PLN 53,248,242.00
Maximum amount of eligible expenditures: PLN 43,400,608.00, including:
- Direct expenditures: PLN 43,015,800.00
- Indirect expenditures: PLN 384,808.00
Total value of support from the development plan: PLN 37,247,778.00
Project Idea and Scope:
The subject of the project is to develop the energy competences of the coordinator of the Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster, i.e., the company “Wodociągi Słupsk” Sp. z o.o. Building the energy competences necessary to launch operations within a stable legal framework can be spread over time, which represents an appropriate response to this type of risk. With the introduction of new regulations, the project will evolve in a secure manner, analyzing the current business and legal environment. As a result of numerous activities and projects, an entity is to be created that is conceptually and technically prepared to balance the energy and fuel demand of the entire Słupsk region, using the maximum amount of local resources and RES potentials, while considering intergenerational compromise, spatial order, and the principles of social coexistence. The project supports its members in achieving energy efficiency, securing funds for investment tasks, and creates synergistic effects resulting from matching the needs of multiple stakeholders.
Therefore, Phase I was planned in such a way that the technical and competency base of the cluster project will be built at the level of synergy with an energy-intensive and capital-intensive industry, which is the water and sewerage sector. The selection of individual investments for the project was adapted to the existing energy potential of the SKB coordinator and its real needs, so as to achieve the highest possible level of self-consumption, and to ensure that the implemented scope of the project has a positive impact on the operating costs of a public purpose activity, which is not profit-driven. Having the time and resources of a mature organization, the coordinator can gradually implement and test various business models, starting from its own facilities. The organizational and legal model was designed accordingly. Business models that have not yet been fully developed or tested in practice – such as the cluster agreement (Article 184k of the RES Act), peer-to-peer energy trading, PPAs utilizing local distribution networks and direct lines, or the well-known distribution grid operator (GUD) frameworks – can be verified in practice to develop ultimate solutions.
To mitigate legal risk, the project includes expert support and legal guidance for the implementation of new solutions in energy trading and distribution. Thanks to the execution of this venture, it will also be possible to develop cooperation models between the energy community and the DSO (Distribution System Operator), as well as products that improve the flexibility of the local, capacity-constrained power grid (where connecting new RES installations is currently restricted).
All tasks planned within the project will be implemented in the city of Słupsk and include, among others:
- Construction of stable RES installations for thermal energy generation along with accompanying infrastructure, including the construction of a heat recovery system from treated wastewater with the necessary infrastructure for the lower source supply and heat exchange for the purpose of fermentation and biogas production (purchase and installation of a heat pump with a minimum capacity of 0.5 MW), as well as the purchase and installation of an electrode boiler to balance surplus energy from RES and cover heat deficits;
- Purchase and installation of a cogeneration unit with a target capacity of 1 MWe powered by biogas, including its connection to the existing energy, biogas (BG), and natural gas (GZ) infrastructure at the wastewater treatment plant in Słupsk;
- Construction of energy storage facility ME1, i.e., an electrical energy storage system with a capacity of 1 MW and a capacity of 2.4 MWh coupled with own PV and CHP installations, including connection to the electrical power system of the wastewater treatment plant for self-consumption needs;
- Expansion of power grids and components within the city of Słupsk with a total network length of approximately 2.7 km;
- Utilization of biogas for the storage and balancing of thermal and electrical energy using cogeneration, including the construction of a new membrane biogas tank with a minimum capacity of 2,500 m³ with the necessary fittings and equipment, expansion of the biogas network connecting fermentation installations with the storage facility and the cogeneration unit, as well as the construction of a sludge and bio-waste hydrolysis system to increase biogas productivity;
- Construction of a heat storage facility for the purpose of balancing generation sources along with the necessary infrastructure on the premises of the wastewater treatment plant;
- Implementation of an IT/OT system for energy management, consisting of the expansion of the Integrated Energy Resource Management System (ZSZZE), including: expansion of the existing ZSZZE to include comprehensive software enabling the management of the local closed distribution system operator (OSDn) as an element of operation, settlement, and balancing for internal needs within a designated energy balancing area, taking into account various operational models, fields of activity, storage charging systems, and electric vehicles, as well as the purchase of intelligent tools for monitoring and managing infrastructure at the level of own electricity metering points (PPE).
The investment tasks included in the project constitute a complementary whole, and their implementation aims to enable Wodociągi Słupsk to achieve the maximum level of energy self-sufficiency.
The demonstration-type project will be supplemented by non-investment activities, including educational, informational, and promotional activities for the project, hiring a project assistant, as well as substantive and legal consulting.
Project Objectives:
The objective of the project is the development of local renewable energy sources implemented by energy communities, such as the Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster. The implementation of the project will contribute to increasing energy efficiency, growing local acceptance for RES, actively engaging citizens in the energy transition, and combating energy poverty.
Furthermore, the implementation of the venture will contribute to:
- supporting the energy transition of Słupsk and the region by creating better development conditions for local RES and establishing an integrated local energy balancing system within the city of Słupsk, enabling full self-consumption of locally produced energy, which will also have a positive impact on tariff structures;
- reducing total energy and fuel costs for cluster members, including improving the economics of energy generation from RES;
- increasing the reliability and energy security of the region;
- improving the situation of local district heating;
- reducing the emission intensity of the local economy and government by obtaining clean, low-emission energy with “RES guarantees of origin”;
- building local business models that can be replicated in other local governments and communities;
- creating lasting economic and social ties;
- and fulfilling other environmental and social objectives in line with the RED II Directive and the European Green Deal.
Benefits of Implementation:
The socio-economic benefits resulting from the implementation of the project have been identified below:
- increased share of low-emission energy in the local energy mix;
- reduction of energy costs and improvement of energy efficiency;
- increased tourism and investment attractiveness of the region by creating favorable conditions for regional development;
- benefits resulting from the reduction of pollutants entering the environment due to outdated infrastructure, failure rates, and obsolete technologies;
- development of the competences of the SKB personnel and establishing Słupsk’s position as a leader in the energy transition;
- strengthening the role of Wodociągi Słupsk as an innovation center and an aggregator of energy services;
- preparing the ground for the development of electromobility and the hydrogen economy;
- supporting the sustainable development of the local economy and mobilizing the community regarding efficient energy use.
The implemented project will also generate a number of non-financial benefits:
- health benefits for the residents of the region;
- creation of a friendly environment;
- benefits caused by the improvement of the natural environment, particularly air, groundwater, surface water, and soil quality;
- improvement of the living conditions of the residents;
- reduction of developmental disparities between regions.
Project implementation period: from 01.09.2024 to 31.08.2026.
Report Malpractice
Any person who considers that potential irregularities or financial fraud may have occurred during the implementation of the above project can submit such information via the following email address: sygnalista@klimat.gov.pl
Detailed information on combating fraud and malpractice can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.pl/web/klimat/zgloszenia-zewnetrzne
Implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan
