RWE Innogy has secured access to three further wind energy projects in Poland with a total installed capacity of 150 megawatts. The sites, each with 50 megawatts of planned capacity, are located in northern Poland. RWE Innogy has concluded a contract for the projects with a Polish project developer. All three projects are still in the early phase of development. Based on current planning, official approval of the wind farms is expected from 2011.
“The Polish wind market is one of the most attractive in Europe and has huge potential for development. I am therefore pleased that our organic growth is advancing well here,” commented Roy Schwarzer, division manager for onshore wind at RWE Innogy. Back in September this year, RWE Innogy already acquired the rights for the development of other wind farms in Poland with an approximate volume of 300 megawatts of installed capacity. These projects are also located in the regions that are attractive for the utilisation of wind energy, namely Masuria, Pomerania and the Province of Greater Poland. After successful authorisation, the erection of the turbines could be commenced from 2010.
In total, RWE Innogy is currently developing wind energy projects in Poland with a planned total installed capacity of 730 megawatts. The first two wind farms in Suwalki (Masuria) and Tychowo (West Pomerania) will be erected in 2009.
By 2010, energy utilities in Poland are required to provide 10.4 percent of energy consumption from renewable energy. By 2020, this figure will increase to a minimum of 15 percent. According to calculations by the Polish grid operator PSE, 4000 megawatts of wind electricity must come on stream by 2010 to achieve this target. At present, approximately 400 MW of wind energy is connected to the grid.
|
