Poland's onshore wind sector faces hurdles, lags EU in installations

Poland's onshore wind energy sector is struggling to reach its potential due to regulatory hurdles, primarily the 2015 "10H rule." This regulation, which mandates wind turbines be placed at least ten times their height away from residential buildings, has effectively halted new projects for years. While slightly relaxed in 2023, it continues to impede development.

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If we can invest in onshore wind energy, these values are achievable and relatively quickly. Unfortunately, there are currently many barriers and challenges for investors in Poland. Everything will depend on how the state approaches these investments in the near future and what the approach of local communities will be.

Piotr Czopek, vice president of the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW), highlighted the significant gap between Poland's installed capacity and its European peers. In 2023, Poland added only 256 MW of onshore wind power, compared to 15 GW across the European Union. This slow development contributes to Poland's high electricity costs, as wind is one of the cheapest energy sources.

Czopek emphasized that investing in onshore wind energy could help Poland achieve up to 75% "local content" in its projects, boosting the domestic economy. The development of renewable energy is presented not just as an environmental necessity but as a critical component of national energy security amid global geopolitical uncertainties and volatile energy markets. Building energy sovereignty is seen as vital for countries reliant on external suppliers.

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The 10H rule is still in effect today, it was only slightly relaxed in 2023. Not only could we not develop onshore wind projects, but more and more untrue information about onshore wind energy appeared, which often translated into problems with acceptance from local communities.

The article also notes that the local content in onshore wind projects is higher than in offshore wind due to the technology's maturity. This presents a significant opportunity for Polish companies to participate more substantially in the renewable energy sector, fostering economic growth and technological advancement.

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Last year, we commissioned 256 MW of onshore wind power in the country, while in the entire European Union it was 15 GW. This shows the scale of the challenges. It also shows why electricity in Poland is so expensive. Since windmills are the cheapest source of energy in Poland, if we build so few of them, unfortunately, we also record lost benefits in this area.