ORLEN Group Brings 42.2 MW Solar PV Farm Online at Mažeikiai Refinery

ORLEN Group Brings 42.2 MW Solar PV Farm Online at Mažeikiai Refinery

(IN BRIEF) ORLEN Group has brought a 42.2 MW solar PV farm online at its Mažeikiai refinery in Lithuania, marking the Group’s largest on-site renewable energy installation and supporting its wider energy transition strategy. The facility, built by Polish contractor Electrum, covers around 60 hectares and includes nearly 68,000 bifacial photovoltaic modules, with expected annual generation of about 45 GWh. The project will cover around 7 percent of ORLEN Lietuva’s annual electricity demand and is expected to reduce electricity procurement costs by approximately EUR 4 million per year. The investment cost nearly EUR 35 million, including EUR 2.5 million from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund, and forms part of the ORLEN 2035 Strategy to expand renewable energy capacity and improve industrial efficiency across the Group’s assets.

(PRESS RELEASE) PŁOCK, 12-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The ORLEN Group has brought a new 42.2 MW solar photovoltaic farm online at its Mažeikiai refinery in Lithuania, advancing the Group’s regional energy transition strategy and strengthening renewable electricity generation for industrial operations.

The facility is expected to generate around 45 GWh of electricity annually for ORLEN Lietuva, helping reduce the refinery’s operating costs while increasing the share of renewable energy in the Group’s asset portfolio.

The project was delivered by Electrum, a company based in Białystok, Poland, bringing Polish engineering and renewable energy expertise to an investment designed to improve the refinery’s energy security.

Located within the grounds of the Mažeikiai refinery, the solar farm covers approximately 60 hectares and includes nearly 68,000 bifacial photovoltaic modules, each rated at 620 W.

The bifacial modules are designed to capture sunlight on both sides, improving electricity generation even under lower-light conditions.

The Mažeikiai installation is the ORLEN Group’s largest on-site renewable energy project and demonstrates how modern energy infrastructure can support the needs of large-scale industry.

Dariusz Zonenberg, CEO of ORLEN Lietuva, said the project marks the first time the company will generate renewable electricity on site to meet the needs of the Mažeikiai refinery.

He said the investment is an important step toward reducing the environmental impact of ORLEN Lietuva’s operations and lowering refinery operating costs.

Zonenberg added that the project will increase the share of ORLEN Lietuva’s electricity demand covered by its own renewable generation, strengthening competitiveness and supporting the ORLEN Group’s long-term strategy.

The solar PV farm is expected to cover around 7 percent of ORLEN Lietuva’s annual electricity demand.

It is also projected to reduce electricity procurement costs by approximately EUR 4 million per year.

The project cost nearly EUR 35 million, including EUR 2.5 million in support from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund.

The investment forms part of the ORLEN 2035 Strategy, which includes expanding renewable energy capacity and improving the efficiency of the Group’s industrial assets.

The Mažeikiai solar farm shows how these goals are being implemented beyond Poland, with renewable electricity directly supporting day-to-day refinery operations in Lithuania.

The project also highlights the role of Polish expertise in the development and modernisation of ORLEN Group assets outside Poland.

ORLEN Lietuva has long been a major contributor to Lithuania’s economy.

The company is an important employer in the region and the country’s largest taxpayer.

Since 2006, ORLEN has invested nearly EUR 4.5 billion in acquiring and modernising the Mažeikiai refinery.

ORLEN Lietuva also operates the Būtingė terminal, a key link in Lithuania’s feedstock supply chain, and the Mockava rail terminal, which supports product exports to Poland and Ukraine.

The launch of the solar farm reinforces the ORLEN Group’s long-term commitment to Lithuania.

It also demonstrates how energy transition investments can improve industrial efficiency, reduce operating costs and support the wider economy while strengthening regional energy resilience.

Media Contact:

Press Office at: media@orlen.pl

SOURCE: ORLEN