The photovoltaic market in Poland has undergone enormous changes over the past few years. From the 1:1 net-metering scheme, through net-billing, to the current settlement rules — each change raised questions about the profitability of investing in solar panels. In 2026, the situation is stabilising, and new subsidy programmes combined with falling energy storage prices are opening up entirely new possibilities for prosumers.
In this article, we analyse whether photovoltaics in Silesia are still worthwhile and what conditions must be met for the investment to deliver real savings.
The Current Settlement System — Net-Billing in 2026
Since 1 July 2022, new prosumers have been settling accounts under the net-billing system, which replaced the favourable net-metering scheme. Under net-billing, energy exported to the grid is valued at the market price (RCE — Market Energy Price), while energy drawn from the grid is purchased at the standard retail price.
Key net-billing rules in 2026:
- Surplus energy is credited to the prosumer’s virtual deposit
- The deposit value is calculated based on monthly market prices
- Deposit funds can be used to offset bills for energy drawn from the grid
- Unused funds expire after 12 months
In practice, this means the prosumer “sells” energy at a lower price than they “buy” it. The net-billing profitability ratio hovers around 0.5–0.7, meaning that for every kWh sent to the grid you receive 50–70% of the value of a kWh drawn.
Cost of a Photovoltaic Installation in 2026
The good news: photovoltaic installation prices continue to fall. In 2026, a complete 10 kWp system in Silesia costs:
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Photovoltaic panels (25 pcs x 410 Wp) | PLN 8,000 – 10,000 |
| Inverter (e.g. HUAWEI SUN2000) | PLN 4,000 – 6,000 |
| Mounting structure | PLN 2,000 – 3,000 |
| Cabling and protections | PLN 1,500 – 2,500 |
| Installation and commissioning | PLN 3,000 – 5,000 |
| Total | PLN 18,500 – 26,500 |
The average cost per 1 kWp of installed capacity in 2026 is approximately PLN 1,850 – 2,650 (before subsidies).
Available Subsidies and Support Programmes
Subsidy programmes in 2026 significantly reduce the cost of investing in photovoltaics.
Mój Prąd 6.0 (My Electricity 6.0)
The Mój Prąd programme continues to support prosumers, albeit with revised terms:
- PV subsidy: up to PLN 6,000 (when purchasing energy storage or a heat pump simultaneously)
- Energy storage subsidy: up to PLN 16,000
- Home Energy Management System (HEMS) subsidy: up to PLN 3,000
- Heat pump subsidy: up to PLN 19,400 (air-source) or PLN 28,500 (ground-source)
To qualify for the PV-only subsidy, at least one additional component (energy storage, heat pump or HEMS) must be purchased.
Clean Air Programme
The Clean Air programme in 2026 provides co-financing for photovoltaics as part of building thermal modernisation:
- Basic level: up to PLN 29,100 (including up to PLN 6,000 for PV)
- Enhanced level: up to PLN 67,200
- Maximum level: up to PLN 99,000
The Clean Air subsidy can be combined with the thermal modernisation tax relief, further increasing the profitability of the investment.
Thermal Modernisation Tax Relief
Regardless of subsidies, owners of detached houses can deduct PV expenditure from their taxable income — up to PLN 53,000 for all thermal modernisation expenses combined. At the 32% tax rate, this means additional savings of several thousand zlotys.
Profitability of Photovoltaics in Silesia — A Sample Calculation
Let us analyse a specific case: a detached house in Ornontowice, annual energy consumption of 5,500 kWh, 8 kWp installation.
Investment parameters:
- Cost of 8 kWp installation: PLN 20,000
- Mój Prąd subsidy (with energy storage): –PLN 6,000
- Energy storage subsidy (5 kWh): –PLN 16,000
- Energy storage cost: PLN 22,000
- Net investment cost (PV + storage): PLN 20,000
Production and savings:
- Annual production: ~8,000 kWh
- Self-consumption with storage: ~75% (6,000 kWh)
- Annual saving: ~PLN 5,500 (at PLN 0.92/kWh)
- Revenue from surplus (net-billing): ~PLN 800
- Total annual benefit: ~PLN 6,300
Payback period: ~3.2 years
Adding the thermal modernisation tax relief, the actual payback period can be even shorter — potentially under 3 years.
Energy Storage — The Key to Profitability in 2026
Under the net-billing system, the key to maximising savings is self-consumption, i.e. using as much of the produced energy as possible for your own needs. Energy storage allows surplus energy to be shifted from daytime to evening and night, increasing self-consumption from the typical 30–40% to as much as 70–80%.
Popular energy storage systems in Silesia:
- HUAWEI LUNA2000 — modular, from 5 to 30 kWh, excellent integration with HUAWEI inverters
- BYD Battery-Box — proven LFP technology, capacities of 5.1 – 12.8 kWh
- SolarEdge Home Battery — integrated solution, 10 kWh
Energy storage prices fell by approximately 30% in 2026 compared with 2024, making them considerably more accessible.
Solar Irradiation Conditions in Silesia
Silesia may not be the sunniest region of Poland, but conditions for solar energy production are fully adequate:
- Annual solar irradiation: approx. 1,000 – 1,050 kWh/m²
- Production per 1 kWp: approx. 950 – 1,050 kWh annually
- Best months: April – September (approx. 75% of annual production)
- Optimal panel orientation: south-facing, 30–35° tilt
Even with the cloud cover typical of Silesia, modern monocrystalline panels perform increasingly well, achieving good yields even in diffused light conditions.
What to Look for When Choosing an Installer
Selecting the right contractor is a crucial decision that will affect the safety and performance of the installation for the next 25–30 years.
Important selection criteria:
- Experience and references — check the company’s completed projects in your area
- Certifications — the installer should hold a renewable energy certificate issued by UDT
- Workmanship warranty — a minimum of 5 years, ideally 10 years
- Component quality — avoid the cheapest panels and inverters without local service support
- Comprehensive service — from design, through installation, to grid notification and commissioning
Conclusion — Is It Worth Investing in 2026?
The answer is: yes, photovoltaics in 2026 remain a worthwhile investment, particularly in combination with energy storage. Key factors in favour of the investment:
- Falling prices for panels and energy storage
- Generous subsidy programmes (Mój Prąd 6.0, Clean Air)
- Rising electricity prices
- Thermal modernisation tax relief
- Payback period under 4 years (with subsidies and storage)
However, without energy storage and with net-billing alone, the payback period extends to 7–9 years, which is still profitable but less attractive.
ALTECH-SYSTEM installs photovoltaic systems throughout the Silesia region. We use top-quality components — Canadian Solar panels and HUAWEI inverters — and provide comprehensive service from design to commissioning. Request a free quotation and find out how much you can save.