DRI, the European renewables company within DTEK and part of SCM, has signed approximately PLN 470 million (€110 million) in non-recourse, KUKE-backed project financing for the Trzebinia battery energy storage system in Poland. The financing was arranged with Erste Bank Polska, PKO Bank Polski and UniCredit, and is one of the first and largest standalone battery storage financings in the country. The 133MW facility will strengthen grid stability and support the integration of renewable energy when it becomes operational in early 2027.
What has DRI announced?
DRI has signed an agreement for approximately PLN 470 million (€110 million) in non-recourse, KUKE-backed project financing to support construction of the Trzebinia battery energy storage system (BESS) in Poland. The financing was arranged with Erste Bank Polska, acting in coordination and agency roles, alongside PKO Bank Polski and UniCredit. It includes a long-term facility backed by a guarantee from KUKE, Poland's export credit agency, provided on behalf of the Polish State Treasury under its energy transformation investment programme. The transaction is one of the first and largest standalone battery storage financings in Poland, and DRI's first project structured under a project finance framework.
Why does the Trzebinia project matter for Poland?
With a total installed capacity of 133MW, Trzebinia will be one of the largest battery energy storage facilities in the country. Construction began recently and the facility is expected to become operational in early 2027. Once running, it will provide fast-response balancing services that can be dispatched within milliseconds, strengthening grid stability during periods of peak demand and supporting the wider integration of renewable energy. The project will also participate in Poland's Capacity Market from 2027, contributing to energy security and more efficient system costs.
How does the project support energy security in the region?
The investment reflects the long-term strategy of SCM's shareholder, Rinat Akhmetov, to strengthen energy security in Ukraine and across neighbouring countries through sustained support for resilient, modern energy infrastructure. By expanding storage capacity in Poland, the project helps to reduce dependence on imported energy and supports a more flexible, secure power system across the wider region.
What is DRI building beyond Poland?
DRI continues to expand across Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. In Romania, it operates 299MW of installed capacity across three solar parks and one onshore wind farm. In Poland, the company is focused on battery storage, while a growing pipeline of wind and solar projects is under development in Croatia and Italy, supporting the energy transition across the region.
