ORLEN Group advances regional energy transition as solar PV farm at Mažeikiai refinery comes online
The ORLEN Group has brought a solar PV farm at its Mažeikiai refinery online. The 42.2 MW facility is expected to generate about 45 GWh of electricity a year for ORLEN Lietuva, helping to cut the refinery’s operating costs and increase the share of renewables in the Group’s asset portfolio. Białystok-based Electrum delivered the project, bringing Polish expertise to an investment that strengthens the refinery’s energy security.
The Mažeikiai project shows how modern energy infrastructure can meet the needs of large-scale industry. It is also the ORLEN Group’s largest on-site renewable energy installation. Located within the refinery grounds, the solar farm covers approximately 60 hectares and comprises nearly 68,000 bifacial photovoltaic modules, each rated at 620 W. The modules capture sunlight on both sides, improving output even in lower-light conditions.
“For the first time, we will generate renewable electricity on site to meet the needs of the Mažeikiai refinery. This is an important step towards reducing the environmental impact of our operations and lowering the refinery’s operating costs. The project will increase the share of ORLEN Lietuva’s electricity demand met by its own renewable generation, strengthening the company’s competitiveness and supporting the ORLEN Group’s long-term strategy,” said Dariusz Zonenberg, ORLEN Lietuva CEO.
The solar PV farm is expected to generate about 45 GWh a year, covering around 7% of ORLEN Lietuva’s annual electricity demand and cutting its electricity procurement costs by approximately EUR 4 million a year. The project cost nearly EUR 35 million, including EUR 2.5 million in support from the European Union’s Modernisation Fund.
The project forms part of the ORLEN 2035 Strategy to expand renewable energy capacity and improve the efficiency of the Group’s industrial assets. The Mažeikiai solar farm shows how these objectives are being put into practice outside Poland, with renewable electricity directly supporting the refinery’s day-to-day operations. The project also featured a Polish contractor – the solar PV farm was built by Białystok-based Electrum, highlighting the contribution of Polish expertise to the development of the ORLEN Group’s assets outside Poland.
ORLEN Lietuva has long been a major contributor to the Lithuanian economy, 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. The company also operates the Būtingė terminal, a key link in the supply chain for feedstocks in Lithuania, and the Mockava rail terminal, which supports exports of products to Poland and Ukraine. The launch of the solar farm reinforces the ORLEN Group’s long-term commitment to Lithuania and shows how energy transition investments can improve industrial efficiency and support the wider economy.
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