Cisco to Power Polish Operations With 15-Year Solar VPPA

Technology heavyweight Cisco has entered into a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement with R.Power for 470GWh of solar energy from four new projects in Poland.

This is just the latest in a series of huge investments in renewables across Central Europe, where solar capacity is growing at a rate twice faster than anywhere else in the EU.

In fact, the Visegrad Group (which is the collective name for Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia) saw solar output increase sixfold between 2019 and 2024. In other words, it is booming.

Cisco's VPPA, which has been facilitated by SR Inc's Net Zero Consortium for Buyers, will support the development of solar farms at Wydartowo, Bieżyce, Ostrzeniewo III and Nowy Zagór III, with a commercial operation date targeted for 2027.

The agreement represents purchaser-caused renewable energy capacity, meaning the projects are being directly enabled by Cisco's long-term commitment rather than supporting existing infrastructure.

"We are proud to support the growth of renewable energy in Europe through this partnership," says Evan Scott Brown, Renewable Energy & Utilities Manager at Cisco.

"This agreement not only aligns with Cisco's commitment to powering a more resilient energy future, but also directly supports operational needs, including the expansion of our lab facilities in Krakow."

Corporate appetite for renewable energy

The deal between Cisco and R.Power speaks to the central role that tech companies are now playing in the development of renewable energy through long-term purchase agreements.

Virtual power purchase agreements have become an increasingly popular mechanism for companies in recent years, allowing them to support new renewable capacity while managing price risk, particularly in markets where direct procurement is a challenge.

"Cisco's leadership reflects the growing role of global enterprises in catalysing regional renewable energy development," says Jim Boyle, CEO of SR Inc, whose organisation helped to see the deal across the line.

"This agreement showcases how corporate buyers can drive impact through diversified, high-quality clean-energy investments."

For Jim, this new partnership is proof of how important procurement platforms like his can be in facilitating deals between corporate buyers and renewable developers.

Poland's energy transition

Poland's electricity grid remains one of the most carbon-intensive in Europe, making corporate renewable commitments particularly significant for the country's energy transition.

The four solar projects will contribute to increasing clean energy capacity in a market still heavily reliant on coal-fired generation.

"Partnering with Cisco reinforces R.Power's position as a leading multi-technology renewable energy producer in Central Europe," says Rafał Hajduk, Chief Commercial Officer at R.Power.

"Cisco's long-term commitment directly enables new solar capacity in Poland and supports the wider adoption of clean energy underway across the region."

Rafał emphasised that the deal would support broader clean energy adoption efforts across Central Europe.

R.Power's European expansion

R.Power, which is based in the Polish capital of Warsaw, has evolved from a Central & Eastern European renewable producer into a pan-European independent power producer with 1.4GW of projects operational or under construction.

The company's pipeline includes over 10GW of grid-secured battery energy storage systems, both standalone and hybrid with solar PV, across Poland, Romania, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

R.Power's equity investment partners include the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, whilst debt finance has come from institutions including BNP Paribas and ING.

The company's commercialisation strategy spans contracts for difference, capacity auctions and long-term offtake agreements with corporate buyers.

The Cisco deal adds to R.Power's corporate offtake portfolio as it continues to scale its multi-technology renewable platform across European markets.