The XVth Wind Energy Forum, whose participants developed arguments for further development for the sector, ended on Tuesday (November 20th) in Warsaw. The “3 x YES for wind energy” appeal is to draw attention to the risk of the loss of great benefits for the Polish state and the society if green energy is abandoned.
Participants of the XVth Wind Energy Forum did not conceal their anxiety concerning the governmental plans to hald the development of the sector. In accordance with the experts (the PwC report “Analysis of the impact of the proposed modifications to the support scheme on wind energy in Poland”) the proposed support scheme in practice entails a total halt to investments. The Forum participants appeal to the government and MPs for maintaining “green light for the Polish energy sector”.
‘The fundamental argument for further development of the sector is, obviously, our commitments stemming from the climate package and the real risk of very high penalties being imposed on Poland’, explains Krzysztof Prasałek, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association. ‘But wind is not the only one real and least expensive way to fulfil the obligation to produce green energy; it is the driving force of the Polish economy and, more importantly, an opportunity to boost Polish rural areas. The RES sector is an alternative to nuclear energy – a safer and much less expensive alternative.’
YES – Economy
Although in Poland there is only 2.3 GW of installed wind capacity, it has to be stressed that in 2011 capital expenditure was higher than the average investment value in the chemical, machine and device production and pharmaceutical sectors. To date investments in the wind energy sector in Poland attracted PLN 15 billion of capital, whereas the support scheme for these investments amount to approximately PLN 1.5 billion. Assuming that the capacity will increase in line with the estimates, in the years 2012 – 2020 the total value of investment in Poland may amount to approximately PLN 23 billion.
‘Total operating costs of wind farms per 1 MWh of produced energy amount to PLN 83. This is almost two times less than for energy produced from coal (PLN 163) and only slightly more than in the case of nuclear energy (PLN 75)’, says Krzysztof Prasałek. ‘The construction cost of a coal-fired power plant alone amounts to 6.6 million PLN/MW, i.e. is equal to the cost for a wind turbine. However, the construction of a nuclear power plant is very expensive – 14.4 million PLN/MW.’
The wind energy industry is very efficient in the area of investment stability and certainty and the creation of new jobs. In Poland, where the wind energy industry is still new, there are many examples of a positive impact on the economy. Blade and tower factories, transport providers, wind farm constructors, operators and maintenance providers are only a small part of entrepreneurship related to the industry. Currently the sector is employing around 2 thousand people. And this is only the beginning – if 6 thousand MW of wind capacity is built in the Baltic Sea (this is the capacity covered by issued licenses), the Polish economy may benefit from a stream of approximately €21 billion. The orders will be granted to the Polish ports, companies, providers of construction equipment and the entire local community.
YES for the Polish rural areas
A statistical wind farm brings PLN 653 thousand of real property tax revenues for a commune. For communes with low revenues the real property tax on wind farms may amount to as much 7,5% of their average revenues. In 2011 the total real property tax revenues for all communes where wind farms were built amounted to approximately PLN 66 million.
YES for wind, NO for nuclear power
Everything is clear for entrepreneurs related to the green energy sector and ecologists – either we develop the RES sector or invest huge funds in the construction of a nuclear power plant. The nuclear lobby in Poland is very strong, with substantial funds and political supports.
‘Funds for a nuclear power plant do not out of nowhere. We all will pay for it in our electricity bills’, Krzysztof Prasałek stresses. ‘For me a simple and clear argument against the construction of a nuclear power plant is its cost. Germany, Belgium or Switzerland are abandoning nuclear power, for they seek savings. Too much risk and high costs caused the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to withdraw from financing new nuclear power plants. This is more important given the fact that to date no nuclear power plant was built on commercial terms.’
Analyses of nuclear power supporters often skip nuclear power plant demolition costs after their decommissioning. The assumed reactor lifetime is usually 30-40 years, whereas the land reclamation and gradual nuclear power plant demolition period is estimated for at least 60 years. United Kingdom established a dedicated Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to tackle gradual decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The project costs were initially estimated at £35 billion (in 2006), only to be later increased to £45 billion (in 2009); currently they amount to £53 billion.
The Wind Energy Forum is organised since June 2002 to consolidate the wind energy industry. Since its establishment it has been an opinion exchange platform for participants of the wind energy market and representatives of the legislative and executive authorities as well as other institutions responsible for the development of the RES market in Poland. The Forum meetings are to present the current progress of works on legislative acts and to articulate renewable energy sector problems.