The Energy Regulatory Office informed at the beginning of July that wind installed capacity in Poland at the end of the first half of 2010 exceeded 1 GW. Wind energy became the RES leader in terms of installed MW. Total installed capacity of wind farms – 1058 MW – constitutes more than 45 percent of total capacity of Polish RES installations (2335 MW without co-firing installations) as of 26 July 2010.

Over the past year the number of MW installed in the wind energy sector almost doubled (from 553 MW in June 2009). In the same period new biomass installations amounted to 20 MW, biogas – 12 MW, whereas hydro – 3 MW.

Reaching the 1 GW milestone took 10 years – not a record-breaking achievement, however the increase in growth rates observed recently is optimistic. Beyond doubt this is caused by the green certificates system and the obligation to cancel certificates of origin by trading companies implemented 5 years ago. During the first half of 2010 new installations amounted to more than 280 MW (more than 333 MW as of the beginning of August), which is more than in the entire 2009. Growth rates are furthermore confirmed by the latest PSE Operator’s data concerning the conclusion of interconnection agreements for 931 MW of wind capacity.

Currently in Poland there are 347 wind installations (single turbines or wind farms). Most installations are located in the Kujawsko – Pomorskie (136), Łódzkie (53) and Wielkopolskie (41) provinces. Zachodniopomorskie province is the leader in terms of installed capacity – 348 MW in 18 installations.

For comparison, installed capacity in other RES in Poland amounts to: hydro – 947 MW in 733 installations; biomass – 252 MW in 15 installations; biogas – 71 MW in 133 installations. 2 solar PV installations amount to slightly more than 0.01 MW.

Everything seems to demonstrate that in the nearest future wind power will maintain the position of RES leader in Poland, for it stems from the PSE-Operator’s data that 42% of all planned investments in new energy sources are wind installations.

However, the question what to do to commission 500 – 1000 MW of wind power per year in Poland remains unanswered. This is the capacity required to fulfill our targets stemming from Directive 28/2009/EC in the area of production of renewable energy. This will not be possible without a radical change in the decision-makers’ approach to wind power, which is an opportunity rather than a threat to the development of the energy sector and the entire economy.

Source:http://psew.pl/en/wind_blows_stronger_i8211_wind_energy_the_res_leader_in_poland.htm