Check the ARiMR call for 2026 for renewable energy (RES) on farms. Biogas plants, photovoltaics, energy storage and energy efficiency of buildings with a grant of up to 65%.
Farmers planning investments in renewable energy sources and in improving the energy efficiency of their farm should already be preparing for one of the more important ARiMR calls in 2026. According to the schedule of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 the call for intervention I.10.2 “Investments on farms in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement” is to start on 5 October 2026 and run until 3 November 2026
From a business point of view, this programme is worth treating not only as a source of grants, but as a tool for reducing energy costs, improving the farm’s energy independence and preparing investments for long-term operational efficiency.
The support concerns investments aimed at reducing the pressure of agricultural activity on the environment through the use of renewable energy, proper management of agricultural by-products and improved energy efficiency.
Who can benefit from the grant?
The aid is addressed to farmers who have been granted the single area payment or basic income support at least in the year of submitting the application or in the previous year. In practice, this means that the main beneficiary is an active farmer running a farm, although in certain cases support may also apply to legal persons, organisational units without legal personality or partners in a civil-law partnership carrying out agricultural activity.
An additional condition is completing training in farm energy efficiency or undertaking to complete it no later than the submission of the last payment claim, as well as having an EP (producer identification) number.
What can receive support?
The intervention has been divided into three areas. This is very important, as each of them corresponds to a different type of investment and a different farm development model.
All support concerns only investments carried out for the farm’s own needs, and the total capacity of energy-generating equipment may not, as a rule, exceed 50 kW.
Area A – construction of new agricultural biogas plants
Area A covers the construction of new agricultural biogas plants, although the official MRiRW description of the intervention refers to equipment for producing energy from agricultural biogas of up to 50 kW with the possibility of installing energy storage. The support concerns the construction of an agricultural biogas plant, excluding construction works relating to an existing biogas plant. This area is intended for farms that have the right substrate potential and want to move to a higher level of energy independence.
Area B – photovoltaics, energy storage, energy management system and heat pump
Area B covers the purchase of photovoltaic micro-installations, installations producing thermal energy from solar radiation, energy storage, energy flow management systems, as well as heat pumps, if they are coupled with an installation covered by the support. In practice, this is the variant of the programme closest to a classic investment in farm energy.
Area C – improving the energy efficiency of farm buildings
Area C concerns solutions improving the energy efficiency of farm buildings. The official catalogue includes, among other things, insulation of walls, roofs, ceilings and floors, the purchase of roof skylights, windows, doors and gates, the purchase of biomass boilers, heat recovery systems, energy-efficient LED lighting and energy monitoring and management systems. The Ministry of Agriculture also indicates that support in this area covers the thermal modernisation of farm buildings used for agricultural production.
How much is the grant?
The aid takes the form of reimbursement and may reach up to 65% of the eligible costs of the operation. The maximum amount of support is:
| Area | Maximum amount of support |
|---|---|
| A | PLN 1.5 million |
| B | PLN 200,000 |
| C | PLN 200,000 |
The official materials also provide for the possibility of combining areas, in which case the combined limits are:
| Combination of areas | Combined limit |
|---|---|
| A + B | PLN 1.5 million |
| A + C | PLN 1.7 million |
| B + C | PLN 400,000 |
| A + B + C | PLN 1.7 million |
Also very important for many farms will be the possibility of receiving an advance payment of up to 50% of the aid granted, provided that it is requested at the application stage and security is lodged in the form of a blank promissory note.
Call dates 2026
The call for intervention I.10.2 in 2026 is to start on 5 October 2026 and end on 3 November 2026 In practice, this means a relatively short application window. For farms planning a biogas plant, PV with energy storage or the thermal modernisation of buildings, this means the concept, cost estimate, energy assumptions and technical documents must be prepared in advance.
Selection criteria – Area A
In Area A, the order in which aid is granted is determined by the total number of points. Priority is given above all to farms with larger-scale livestock production in LU (livestock units), participation in the integrated plant production system or organic production, investments in protected areas, young farmer status and a high share of natural fertilisers from the farm itself in the biogas plant’s substrate mix. In practice, the highest scores go to farms with large herds and high use of their own natural fertilisers. The minimum qualifying threshold for the award of aid is 6 points.
Selection criteria – Area B
In Area B, ARiMR awards points for, among other things, livestock production of at least 5 LU, integrated plant production or organic production, investments in protected areas, young farmer status, no previous support for the purchase of PV under specific measures of the Rural Development Programme (PROW) 2014–2020, and the technical parameters of the installation – in particular the efficiency of the PV micro-installation and the optical efficiency of the solar collectors. Here too, aid may be granted only to operations that have obtained at least 6 points.
This means that, when preparing the application, the technical parameters of the equipment have a real impact on the project’s position on the ranking list.
Selection criteria – Area C
In Area C, points are awarded above all for:
- livestock production of at least 5 LU,
- integrated plant production or organic production,
- investments in protected areas,
- young farmer status,
- the comprehensive nature of the investment,
- elimination of all heat sources based on solid fossil fuels and their replacement with a biomass boiler,
- implementation of an energy monitoring and management system.
In previous calls, comprehensiveness could earn 3 points, full replacement of heat sources 2 points, and energy monitoring and management 1 point. The minimum qualifying threshold is also 6 points.
Why is it worth preparing early?
Although the call itself lasts just over a month, preparing a good project takes much longer. This applies in particular to investments in biogas plants and undertakings combining several areas, where technology, energy parameters, eligibility conditions and the scoring logic all have to be brought together.
The earlier a farm analyses which area offers the best chance of obtaining support, the greater the likelihood of preparing a project that not only meets the formal requirements but is also competitive in the ranking.
Contact us
If you are planning to build an agricultural biogas plant, install photovoltaics with energy storage or thermally modernise buildings, it is worth starting preparations before the call opens. In practice, success depends not only on the idea itself, but also on the right choice of support area, the cost structure and the justification of compliance with the ranking criteria.
Please contact us by sending a message.We will help you assess whether Area A, B or C offers greater potential for obtaining funding for your farm, and then prepare the project assumptions and the application to ARiMR.
biuro@dotacje-online.pl
Author: Dariusz Kozakiewicz
EU funding expert
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