Inside Cisco’s 15-Year Polish Solar Deal with R.Power

Technology giant Cisco has signed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with R.Power to secure 470GWh of solar energy from four upcoming projects in Poland.

This marks another major step in a wave of renewable energy investments sweeping across Central Europe, where solar capacity is expanding at twice the pace of the rest of the EU.

The region’s momentum is undeniable.

The Visegrad Group – comprising Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia – witnessed a sixfold increase in solar generation between 2019 and 2024.

Simply put, growth is soaring.

Cisco’s VPPA, facilitated through SR Inc’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers, will drive the development of solar farms in Wydartowo, Bieżyce, Ostrzeniewo III and Nowy Zagór III, with commercial operations expected to commence in 2027.

The agreement represents purchaser-driven renewable capacity, meaning the projects are being built as a direct result of Cisco’s long-term commitment rather than contributing to 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 partnership between Cisco and R.Power highlights the pivotal role tech companies are playing in advancing renewable energy through long-term purchase agreements.

In recent years, virtual power purchase agreements have emerged as a preferred strategy for corporates, enabling them to drive new renewable capacity while mitigating price volatility – especially in regions where direct energy procurement remains complex.

"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, the new partnership underscores the vital role that procurement platforms like his play in connecting corporate buyers with renewable energy developers.

Poland's energy transition

Poland’s electricity grid remains among the most carbon-intensive in Europe, making corporate renewable commitments especially impactful in driving the nation’s energy transition.

The four solar projects will play a key role in expanding clean energy capacity within a market still dominated by 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 agreement will help accelerate wider clean energy adoption efforts across Central Europe.

R.Power's European expansion

Based in the Polish capital of Warsaw, R.Power has grown from a Central and Eastern European renewable developer into a pan-European independent power producer, with 1.4GW of projects either operational or under construction.

Its pipeline now exceeds 10GW of grid-secured battery energy storage systems – both standalone units and hybrid installations paired with solar PV – spanning markets including Poland, Romania, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

R.Power’s equity investors include the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, while debt financing has been provided by institutions such as BNP Paribas and ING.

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

The Cisco agreement further expands R.Power’s corporate offtake portfolio as it scales its multi-technology renewable platform across European markets.