Expansion in the Central and Eastern European market
SMN GROUP is expanding its presence in Central and Eastern European markets. Alongside its established operations in Poland and France, since 2025 the company has been building a network of local partners in Romania and Bulgaria, with full operational expansion planned to be completed by the end of 2026.
Market context
The renewable energy market in Central and Eastern Europe is growing faster than in the rest of the continent. National Recovery Plans, EU structural funds and national energy transformation programmes are creating space for investment in photovoltaics, energy storage, heat pumps and energy management systems.
In this context, SMN GROUP — an investment and operating company headquartered in Katowice — is consistently expanding its operational presence. The strategy is built on four markets: Poland, France, Romania and Bulgaria.
Current state
Poland and France are markets where the company is already operating. In Poland we deliver projects directly and through the group's operational brands. In France we cooperate with local partners serving the B2B and public sector segments.
Romania and Bulgaria are markets where, since 2025, SMN GROUP has been consistently building a network of local partners. The cooperation covers operational firms in the renewable energy sector, component distributors and potential co-investors. The activities are preparatory in nature — the goal is to fully launch operations in these countries by the end of 2026.
2026 expansion plan
Plans for the second half of 2026 include:
- Romania — operational launch together with local industry partners. The first projects will be delivered in the B2B segment (commercial enterprises) and the public sector (local governments, institutions).
- Bulgaria — analogous market entry model, with emphasis on photovoltaics for businesses and integration with energy storage. Building an operational team and expanding the distributor network.
- Project joint ventures — joint delivery of specific investment projects with partners from both countries is being considered.
Why the CEE region
Three primary reasons:
- Pace of renewable energy market growth — CEE countries record double-digit annual growth in installed photovoltaic capacity. The Polish market has already reached maturity, while Romania and Bulgaria are still in the early growth phase.
- Access to funding — National Recovery Plans and EU structural funds finance a significant portion of investments in the public and private sectors. SMN GROUP's experience in the Polish KPO environment translates into faster execution in other regional countries.
- Geographic operational coherence — the Katowice headquarters allows for efficient management of regional projects in Central Europe without excessive logistics costs.
Open to partnerships
As we expand operations across the region, SMN GROUP is actively developing a network of strategic relationships with companies interested in cooperation in the renewable energy sector — component manufacturers, distributors, investors and EPC contractors operating in Central and Western Europe.
Inquiries regarding international partnerships can be directed to the President of the Management Board: rkapcia@smngroup.pl.
SMN GROUP Sp. z o.o. — investment and operating company in the renewable energy sector. Headquarters: Katowice. Operations: Poland, France, Romania, Bulgaria.