Liberalisation of the 10H rule became a fact. After 7 years of stagnation, onshore wind received new opportunities. Following the amendment to the Wind Energy Act, wind turbines may be located only on the basis of a Local Spatial Development Plan at a minimum distance of 700 m from residential buildings. Virtual prosumers are a novelty for all. Planning procedures for new projects are a bottleneck — however, is it the only one?
Wind energy achieved the best result among RES in the 2022 energy mix, contributing 10.8% of the 21% of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. In accordance with PSE data for the previous year, wind energy alone contributed almost 19 TWh, a 15% increase compared to 2021.
Onshore taking off
23 April 2023 is a historic date for onshore wind. This day the long-awaited amendment to the Distance Act entered into force. It liberalised the infamous 10H rule. This is a positive impulse for the entire sector!
“Onshore wind is gaining momentum every year. Notwithstanding the 10H rule, installed capacity consistently increased. Now, with the liberalised wind farm location rules, we are awaiting an investment boom. Wind energy will allow for achieving the ambitious targets laid down in EPP2040, assuming fourfold increase in RES capacity, of which 20 GW is to be onshore in 2040, much faster. During this year’s PWEA2023 Conference we will demonstrate how many GW will actually be built with the 700 m distance laid down in the Wind Energy Act,” Janusz Gajowiecki, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association, announced.
Now, with the act amended, wind energy investors went to the field, commencing development works on new projects. A number of benefits stemming from onshore development is directly related to the increase in local content. Polish industry exhibits vast potential for supply chain development, with more than 1,000 companies manufacturing wind turbine components.
“The onshore market in Poland is very attractive for Vestas. We estimate that within the next 2 years an additional 2 GW will be installed onshore in Poland, entailing an increase in employment of qualified personnel for turbine maintenance, increase in the number of suppliers and local content. We expect that amendment to key regulations applicable to location of wind turbines will be coupled with opportunities to use current technologies and install turbines with a capacity of at least 4 MW. Positive effects for the Polish economy could be increased even more by further liberalisation of distance regulations and streamlining of permitting procedures for new investments,” Jagna Kubańska-Łyczakowska, Head of Public Affairs Poland, Global Public Affairs at Vestas, stressed.
Grids: the RES bottleneck
Increase in transmission capacity of the Polish power system is a substantial challenge for increasing RES generation, including from wind farms. In accordance with PSE development plans, by 2030 the potential of renewable energy sources in the National Power System is to reach 100 TWh — 50% of the country’s demand for electricity. In accordance with the RES industry this is impossible to achieve. The target needs verification and “update”.
“Data clearly demonstrate that the extension and increase in connection capacity of power grids is inadequate to rising demand for renewable energy in Poland, what already constitutes one of the key reasons slowing energy transition down. Connection issues require urgent and well-considered measures, not encumbering final customers with grid development costs. Therefore, it is crucial to open the discussion during PWEA2023 at a Round Table level and develop regulations that would allow for the use of technologies increasing grid efficiency: energy storage facilities, direct lines, or cable pooling,” Janusz Gajowiecki, President of PWEA, emphasized.
The newly estimated onshore wind potential following the amendment to key regulations as well as solutions to optimise Polish transmission and distribution grids will be presented during the upcoming PWEA2023 Conference in Serock on 20–22 June.
Registration: www.konferencjapsew.pl.