Each interference with the 500 metres broadly consulted and accepted by the government in the Distance Act de facto entails further blocking of onshore wind. Only the 500 m will secure new wind megawatts within 2 years, with onshore wind potential reaching as much as 22 GW in subsequent years. A change to the distance to 1,000 metres means even five times less wind capacity in the system, IEO forecasts demonstrate.
The amendment to the Distance Act, which assumes liberalization of the 10 h rule to 500 metres, increases the area of sites available for wind energy investments more than 25-fold. However, each interference with the minimum distance entails further blocking of onshore wind. The “500 metre” provision prepared by the government will enable the development of entirely new investments and continuation of projects commenced before the effective date of the Distance Act, where a spatial development plan has been adopted. This will cause the first megawatts of electricity from onshore wind to appear in 2–3 years.
The 500 m distance will secure new wind GW within 2 years, with onshore wind potential reaching as much as 22 GW in subsequent years, analyses carried out by Instytut Energetyki Odnawialnej demonstrate. A change to the distance to 1,000 metres means even five times less wind capacity in the system.
“Departure from the 500 m rule entails a substantial decrease in the number of investment opportunities related to new wind sources — each metre of increased distance means disproportionately more limitations for potential sites, resulting in the lack of opportunity to build a strong Polish industry, new, innovative jobs and continued dependence of the Polish energy sector on fuel imports,” said Janusz Gajowiecki, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association.
500 metres for Polish citizens
Unblocking onshore wind is a strategic decision in the face of extraordinarily high electricity prices — onshore wind is the least expensive source of electricity that may bring the fastest reduction in electricity bills for Polish families. Moreover, the source is zero-emission, making our air cleaner and decreasing the number of smog victims.
Unblocking wind energy is also supported by the scientific world — a report of the Polish Academy of Sciences demonstrates that onshore wind is safe for health, and the minimum distance in Poland, a “red flag” distance, could be 500 metres.
Therefore, it is no surprise that no other technology enjoys such a high support in Poland as RES. At the peak of a crisis related to coal shortage and skyrocketing electricity prices more than 80 percent Polish citizens want urgent adoption of an act liberalising wind farm development.
500 metres for local governments
The development of new wind investments means substantial support for local communities and local governments. In the best development scenario, new wind farms will guarantee PLN 490–935 million of additional revenue foe local governments and as much as 100 thousand new jobs in the 2030 perspective.
“Electricity from wind should be regarded as a development opportunity for local communities. It brings cleans and inexpensive energy along with budget revenues enabling investments serving local communities. Investment decisions should be made at the local level, not centrally. It is local government who is to decide on the future of local communities and should have decisive voice together with its inhabitants. Today, municipalities are waiting for the 500 metres rule and new wind investments in their neighbourhood, for we simply need the financial support,” said Leszek Kuliński, Head of Kobylnica Municipality.
500 metres for Poland
War in Ukraine, energy blackmail, skyrocketing prices and critical vision of exhausted resources made us aware how significant and important renewables are for the peaceful world. Wind energy allows for ensuring energy security of Poland and brings supporting dictatorship through purchase of expensive fossil resources to an end.
Analysts of Ember think tank calculated how the Polish energy mix would look like had the so-called 10 h rule not been introduced in 2016. Conservative estimates demonstrate that today Poland would exhibit almost 19 percent share of wind energy. This would enable savings of 6 million tonnes of coal in 2022 alone.