A significant expansion of the allowable area for wind energy investments, an increase in the share of renewable energy sources in the national energy mix and a subsequent acceleration of the country’s energy transition—along with improved energy prices for consumers—are among the key objectives of the proposed bill in Poland on wind farm investments and certain other acts. The amendment will also introduce a support system for biomethane, update the framework for prosumers and make several other important changes necessary for the further development of renewable energy sources.
“Our bill aims to boost Poland’s efforts towards a green energy transformation,” said Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate and Environment. “The proposal addresses numerous issues, clarifies regulations and introduces a range of positive solutions that will support the growth of renewable energy. We now await input from non-governmental organisations and the industry.”
“We are unlocking investments in renewable energy sources and expect a significant acceleration, as Poland has immense potential in this field. It’s time to fully harness it,” added Miłosz Motyka, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment. “We are dramatically increasing the available investment area and streamlining regulations—all while adhering to strong environmental protection principles.”
The primary goal of the proposed changes is to enhance the utilisation of renewable energy sources and expedite the energy transition in partnership with local communities, while respecting the natural environment and reducing electricity bills. These changes are also expected to foster economic development, particularly at the local level.
The amendments proposed by the Ministry of Climate and Environment will offer numerous advantages to both local governments and industry. This includes an additional source of revenue through municipal property taxes and reduced business costs, along with lowering the carbon footprint of products—a particularly important factor for energy-intensive industries.
The planned amendments will significantly impact the finances of companies in the energy, construction, consulting and design sectors. This will help increase the domestic share in Polish onshore wind energy projects and contribute to creating over 30,000 new jobs.
The bill will revise the rules for locating wind farms. The 10H rule will be eliminated, reducing the minimum distance from residential buildings from 700 metres to 500 metres. Additionally, the amendment will streamline the location of wind farms by regulating them under the Integrated Investment Plan framework. The expected result of these changes is a 44 per cent increase in the allowable area for wind investments, accelerating the development of onshore wind projects. By 2030, nearly 10 gigawatts (GW) of new onshore wind capacity is anticipated.
The new regulations also introduce support for biomethane investments, which will reduce dependency on energy imports and contribute to job creation in municipalities where biomethane plants operate; accelerating local energy transitions; increased revenue for local governments through property taxes; meeting renewable energy targets in transport by using biomethane to produce biohydrogen via steam reforming in natural gas installations; stabilisation and balancing of electricity grids.
