KER-2025 3rd National Congress on Distributed Energy – through the eyes of a design engineer
Krzysztof Starczak, Design Engineer at VOLTAGE Polska, attended the 3rd National Congress on Distributed Energy (Kongres Energetyki Rozproszonej – KER-2025) in Kraków. This event, considered one of the most important forums for Poland’s energy transition, gathered experts, policymakers, business leaders, and local communities to discuss the future of distributed energy and renewable integration. Krzysztof shares his insights from the perspective of a PV project designer.
“I went to KER-2025 to confront our daily design work with the real challenges of today’s power system. The event clearly showed that a modern PV farm must be designed grid-first – with the network’s constraints and the operator’s requirements at the very center of the process.” — Krzysztof Starczak, VOLTAGE Polska
Key insights from the event
1. Grid flexibility and energy storage (BESS)
“The strongest theme was the need for grid flexibility and energy storage systems. With the increasing curtailment of PV farms in Poland, storage is no longer an ‘add-on’ — it’s a core component of every project. We need to plan for PV + BESS as one system right from the concept stage.”
2. Control and forecasting
“Effective SCADA/EMS systems and reliable production forecasting directly reduce the number of curtailments. This is becoming essential for both investors and operators.”
3. Local cooperation
“Involving DSOs, municipalities, and energy communities early in the process shortens decision-making paths and helps with grid connection approvals. Without this cooperation, even the best project can face unnecessary delays.”
4. Repowering and decommissioning
“Every PV farm has a lifecycle. Repowering and safe decommissioning should be included in project documentation just as naturally as construction. It’s not just about building new projects but also about managing existing assets responsibly.”
Conclusions for investors and EPC contractors
“In practice, PV + BESS + intelligent control, designed for specific grid conditions, is today’s standard. It reduces curtailment risk, makes it easier to secure grid connection, and ensures stable investment returns.”
About VOLTAGE Polska
VOLTAGE Polska specializes in designing and delivering utility-scale PV farms, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and MV/HV substations. We support investors and EPC contractors through every stage: from concept and permitting, through detailed engineering and construction, to commissioning, repowering, and decommissioning.
Contact for collaboration:
PV and BESS design, grid integration, repowering/decommissioning:
VOLTAGE Polska • voltageg.com • europe@voltageg.com
