Minister for Climate and Environment Anna Moskwa has announced that the government adopted a draft new law on onshore wind energy. It introduces significant changes to the rules for the construction of wind farms and consultation with local communities.

The amendment assumes that local communities will be able to decide on the rules for the location of new onshore wind power developments. This will also apply to further residential development in the vicinity of these power plants.

“The new regulations guarantee that residents of municipalities who will decide to free up the surrounding land for the development of new wind infrastructure will be able to maximise the safety of the operation of that infrastructure”, emphasizes the climate and environment ministry.

The regulations will also allow windmills to be built no closer than 500 metres from buildings. Until now, the 10H rule was in force, stating that wind turbines must be built at least at a distance of ten times the height of the windmill including blades from residential buildings equivalent.

According to Minister Anna Moskwa, the amendment will free up new land for the construction of wind farms.

“The 500-metre rule will also apply to land where windmills already exist. Earlier, in the case of a windmill, it was 10H rule, today it will be possible to build it closer, thus freeing up the potential of local communities and land for the construction of wind farms”, said the Minister for Climate and Environment.

The introduction of the proposed solutions is expected to enable new wind installations with a total capacity of 6-10 GW, contributing to strengthening Poland’s energy security.

Adrian Andrzejewski