Energetyka Eng

Support scheme for energy-intensive industries in relation to natural gas and electricity prices

16 August 2023 | Knowledge, News, The Right Focus

August of this year will see the launch of a support scheme for energy-intensive industrial enterprises. The scheme has a budget of PLN 5.5 billion, and participating enterprises can receive support of up to EUR 40 million.

Enterprises eligible to apply for a contribution to electricity purchase costs

To be eligible for the scheme, energy-intensive industrial enterprises operating in Poland should meet two basic conditions:

  • electricity or natural gas purchase costs in 2021 amounting to at least 3% of the value of sold production,
  • in the last completed financial year, core activity (accounting for at least 50% of revenues) in at least one of the PKD sub-classes included in sections “B” (mining and quarrying) or “C” (manufacturing).

Amount and conditions of aid

The scheme provides for both basic and enhanced support.

Basic support will be available to energy-intensive industrial enterprises whose core activity is included in catalogue “B” or “C” of the PKD code classification and whose electricity and natural gas costs in 2021 amounted to at least 3% of the value of sold production.

The value of sold production should be understood as the revenue generated from the sale of own products, works and services (excluding VAT) minus excise duty and plus subsidies received for the product. This does not include the value of sold products and services which were not produced by an enterprise but were purchased from external suppliers for resale.

The amount of support will be 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of EUR 4 million, calculated in total for all related entities registered in Poland.

Enhanced support will be available to enterprises also meeting the following additional conditions:

  • operating predominantly in sectors identified by the European Commission as particularly vulnerable to loss of competitiveness (e.g. mining, quarrying, energy-intensive manufacturing),
  • recording negative EBITDAs or a 40% decrease in EBITDA in 2023 compared to 2021,
  • submitting an energy efficiency plan by the end of Q1 2024, the implementation costs of which amount to at least 30% of the aid received.

Restrictions and exemptions

Enterprises entitled (during the period applied for) to purchase electricity at a fixed maximum price under the Act of 27 October 2022 on emergency measures to limit the level of electricity prices and to provide support to certain consumers in 2023 will be able to apply for support only for natural gas purchase costs. Support will not be available to enterprises that are in arrears with the payment of taxes that constitute state budget revenue and social security contributions, as well as to enterprises that are subject to sanctions imposed in connection with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Application deadline and procedure

The application deadline will be 14 days. Applications will be submitted electronically in two rounds (in August and February 2024) via the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) website. The funds will be disbursed within two months of the launch of the call in two rounds: in the form of a refund for the 1st and 2nd half of 2023 and, in the case of enhanced support, in the form of an advance for the whole of 2023.

Any questions? Contact the authors

Wojciech Wrochna

Jacek Kozikowski

Aleksandra Pinkas

Latest Knowledge

What EU businesses need to know about foreign subsidies

Just two months after the Regulation came into force, the Commission launched a high-profile investigation into a contract awarded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications for the purchase of electric trains from a major Chinese manufacturer. This was intended to emphasise the EU’s stance on unfair competition and its determination to combat this phenomenon.

Labour law: what lies ahead in 2026?

Changes to the way the length of service is determined, new executive ordinances for foreigners, and new powers for the National Labour Inspectorate are just some of the changes in labour law that will come into force in 2026.

Protecting designs exhibited at trade fairs

How can intellectual property and designs that have already been presented to the public, for example at trade fairs, be protected? All you need to do is exercise your exhibition priority right. This mechanism allows you to file an application for such a design at a later date without affecting its novelty. Let’s see how it works in practice.

Contractual practices prohibited under the Data Act 

One of the key aspects of the Data Act is the introduction of provisions on prohibited contractual practices. These provisions are intended to protect businesses operating within the broadly understood digital industry that have a weaker contractual position.

Those who have data have power. The Data Act redistributes this power

The EU Data Act, which came into force in September 2025, represents a breakthrough in the regulation of data access and use. Data generated by devices, ranging from agricultural tractors and industrial machinery to solar panels and transport fleets, is no longer the sole property of manufacturers. Other market participants now have the opportunity to access and use this data to develop new, innovative products and services. The Data Act marks a departure from business models based on data monopolisation, to one requiring data to be shared in accordance with its rules. We are therefore entering a completely new reality.

KSeF and transfer pricing: a new era of transparency and operational challenges

The introduction of the National e-Invoice System (KSeF) represents one of the most significant challenges for group companies in recent years. Although the KSeF is intended to simplify the invoicing process and reduce tax abuse, it also has a significant impact on transfer pricing, particularly with regard to the documentation and settlement of TP adjustments.

Contributing assets to a family foundation – what to keep in mind

A family foundation is a legal entity whose purpose is to manage wealth effectively and ensure its succession without the risk of dispersing assets accumulated over generations. Therefore, a key issue related to the activities of such an organisation is the contribution of this wealth to the foundation in the form of various types of assets that will work for the beneficiaries. Let’s take a look at what this process involves in practice.

Cloud migration after the Data Act: new rights, lower costs and greater freedom

The Data Act requires a significant change in approach to cloud services. Companies should review their contracts and start planning updates immediately. It is crucial to introduce appropriate switching provisions and remove or renegotiate exit fees. Companies must also prepare their infrastructure, both technically and organisationally, for interoperability and migration in accordance with the new regulations.