Poland’s lower house of parliament, the Sejm, has approved an amendment to the Building Law that introduces more favorable regulations for small-scale energy storage systems, relaxing requirements compared to the original proposal.

Under the initial draft, only energy storage systems up to 20 kWh would have been exempt from building permit requirements. Lawmakers have now raised this limit to 30 kWh for standalone systems, easing administrative burdens for small commercial, industrial (C&I), and residential installations.

The amendment also establishes clearer regulatory tiers for larger systems:

Standalone Storage Systems

· Up to 30 kWh: No formal procedures required

· 30 kWh to 300 kWh: Construction notification, land development plan, and fire safety approval

· 300 kWh to 2,000 kWh: Construction notification, land development plan with fire protection, and post-construction location plan submitted to the State Fire Service

· Above 2,000 kWh: Building permit (PnB) required

Storage Systems Installed in Buildings 

· Up to 30 kWh: Exempt from formal procedures

· 30 kWh to 300 kWh: Notification to authorities, technical documentation, fire protection approval, and a design by a certified electrical installation designer

· Above 300 kWh: Building permit required

The revised legislation is widely seen as a step toward streamlining regulation and accelerating the rollout of energy storage across Poland. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

The original draft would have required almost all residential, commercial, and industrial storage projects to undergo the same lengthy procedures as large-scale installations, prompting concerns from industry groups.

Barbara Adamska, President of the Polish Energy Storage Association (PESA), welcomed the updated version, noting that it meets most of the organization’s expectations — particularly regarding the removal of formal requirements for the smallest systems. She said PESA is “pleased that the industry’s voice was heard,” but highlighted the need for an additional regulatory tier between “no formalities” and the full construction notification process.

Adamska suggested that 30–120 kWh in-building systems and 30–300 kWh standalone systems should only require fire safety approval, rather than a full notification. She also advocated raising the building permit threshold, noting that 4,000 kWh is now standard for containerized storage systems and should be reflected in Polish regulations.

In future legislative updates, she added, it may also be appropriate to increase the no-formality limit to 40 kWh.