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– A spectacular action reflects the political will to promote wind energy
Bremen (renewablepress) – On 29 July, wpd Polska was able to welcome
high-ranking visitors to the “Jarocin Koźmin” and “Koźmin Pilot” wind farms:
Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Development Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz had
accepted the invitation of the Polish Wind Energy Association PSEW, which had
organized an information event on the status of wind energy development in the
country together with wpd Polska. A clear and important sign of the Polish
government’s commitment to wind energy.
The visit of a government representative to a foreign investor also underlines
the importance of wpd as an important player in the Polish market for
renewable energies. Jadwiga Emilewicz was impressed by the progress of the
construction works in the “Jarocin Koźmin” project, which are now on the home
stretch. During an inspection tour of the neighbouring wind farm “Koźmin
Pilot”, which has been in operation since 2014, those present experienced an
unexpected highlight: The Deputy Prime Minister insisted on being rappelled
from the nacelle of one of the turbines by the team of wpd windmanager Polska
as part of the demonstration of an evacuation measure.
In a concluding press conference, Emilewicz reported on the initiated
amendment of the so-called “Windpower Investment Act”, which has almost
brought the development of wind energy in the country to a standstill since
its entry into force in July 2016 with the 10-H distance rule – which defines
ten times the height of the turbine as the minimum distance to residential
buildings. wpd Polska, as an active member of the PSEW, has campaigned here
from the very beginning for a change in the law and the reduction of the
minimum distances.
A commitment that shows success: The proposals have now been incorporated into
an amendment to the law, which, if adopted, can allow for a reduction in
distances if a development plan, an environmental impact assessment and local
acceptance are in place. “If the liberalization of the legislation can be
implemented as planned by the end of the year, the blockade of important wind
energy projects in Poland could be largely resolved in 2021,” Agnieszka
Pląska, Managing Director at wpd Polska, underlines the importance of the
commitment on the political side.
The wind energy sector is already registering that the event at the two wpd
wind farms and the action of the Deputy Prime Minister have brought additional
momentum to the exchange of information on the development of Polish wind
energy. There is great hope that the way will now be cleared for new important
projects.
About wpd
wpd AG develops and operates onshore and offshore wind farms and solar parks,
and is actively engaged in 25 countries around the world; the head office is
in Bremen. The German company has already realized wind energy projects with
around 2,270 wind turbines and an output of 4,720 MW, and is planning further
projects with a total of 11,300 MW onshore, 7,400 MW offshore and 1,150 MWp
solar energy.
www.wpd.de
Information on the mentioned wpd wind farms
The wind farm Koźmin Pilot was commissioned in 2014 and has a total capacity
of 4.80 MW. The wind farm consists of 2 Enercon E-82 turbines and one Enercon
E-53 turbine. The neighbouring Jarocin Koźmin wind farm is one of four wpd
projects under construction in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship, which also
include the Słupca Kołaczkowo, Krotoszyn and Jarocin Wschód projects. All
38 plants of the four wind farms with a total capacity of 102.5 MW are
expected to be commissioned by the end of the year.
