DRI, the European subsidiary of Rinat Akhmetov’s energy holding DTEK, has started construction of a 133 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Polish town of Trzebinia. The company has secured around PLN 470 million, or more than $128 million, in bank financing for the project under guarantees from Poland’s export credit agency.
DRI, or DTEK Renewables International, which develops renewable energy projects in European Union countries, has begun construction of the Trzebinia BESS energy storage system in southern Poland, near Kraków.
The project will become one of the largest electricity storage facilities in the country. Its installed capacity will be 133 MW, allowing it to provide balancing services for the power system and support electricity supply stability during periods of increased load or peak consumption.
According to DRI, once commissioned, the facility will provide balancing services to the Polish power system, increasing its flexibility, reliability and ability to integrate growing volumes of electricity from renewable sources.
To implement the project, the company has secured around PLN 470 million, or approximately $128.55 million, in financing. The loan financing was provided by Erste Bank Polska, PKO Bank Polski and UniCredit with support from Poland’s export credit agency.
The project’s history began in March 2024, when DRI signed an agreement with Polish company Columbus Energy to build a battery storage facility in Trzebinia. Later, in July 2024, DTEK’s European subsidiary acquired 100% of the shares in the specially created project company, gaining full control over the project.
Actual construction of the facility started at the end of May 2026. Completion of works and the start of commercial operation are expected in early 2027.
The development of the project in Poland is part of DRI’s strategy to expand its presence in the European renewable energy market. Earlier, the company formed a portfolio of four operating green generation assets in Romania with a total capacity of 299 MW, including three solar power plants and one onshore wind farm. DRI also names Italy and Croatia among its other priority markets for further investment.
