Remedies to Polish wind energy law take better turn for sector - report

February 8 (Renewables Now) - Poland's parliamentary committees rejected the proposed amendment to the law on onshore wind requiring a 700-metre distance between turbines and residential homes, dispelling sector concerns about liberalising the act, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Committee on Energy, Climate and State Assets and the Committee on Local Government and Regional Policy at the second reading of the so-called 10H Act revised the first-reading decision of the energy committee to increase to a minimum of 700 metres the 500 metres distance proposed by the government, local daily Dzienik said.

According to the acting rules, wind farms are required to maintain a distance of 10 times the height of a turbine from residential buildings, parks, reserves and Natura 2000 areas. Revising the 10H Act is one of the 37 milestones that Poland needs to complete under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to unlock funds from the National Recovery Plan.

Earlier, the Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA) denounced the first-reading decision of the energy committee to lengthen the distance, stating that it means a significant reduction in investment opportunities. PWEA's analysis shows that the liberalisation to 500 metres compared with the 700-metre revision allows for an over 25-fold increase in the availability of land for wind facilities.

The draft envisages locating wind turbines based on the local spatial development plan and an environmental impact assessment, which takes into account the impact of noise on the environment and the health of residents.