What goes on in Poland on the 23rd of January.
Maritime spatial development for offshore to be adopted by the end of the year
We plan to adopt marine development plans as soon as possible. In accordance with the provisions of the EU directive, we are obliged to do this until March 2021. We will try to adopt this plan in the form of a regulation later this year – announced Katarzyna Krzywda, director of the Maritime Economy Department at the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Fisheries.
Location decisions
According to the Act on maritime areas, development plans must be issued taking into account applicable decisions. This plan takes into account the development of offshore wind farms in the exclusive economic zone. – The plan must take into account location decisions issued, and there are currently 12 of them. These are binding and paid for, and were issued in the years 2012–2013. These are primarily decisions regarding offshore wind farms in the central part of the coast – explained Katarzyna Krzywda during the parliamentary sea navigation committee.
Improve cooperation between wind farm operators and fishermen
Regulations are currently under way and talks are being held with companies so that the farms can pass fishing vessels. – We know today, the windmills will be getting bigger and the distances will increase. Currently, no investors can say how long these distances will be. Environmental decisions force corridors which birds will be able to fly through. Corridors can reach up to a kilometer in width. Fishermen will be able to use them. Ensuring the safety of navigation is a priority – explained Katarzyna Krzywda.
Maritime spatial development plan by the end of the year
The Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation plans to adopt this plan as soon as possible. – Under EU law, we are obliged to do this until March 2021. We will try to adopt this plan in the form of a regulation later this year. Currently, work on the preparation of the project has been completed and we are at the stage of preparing documentation on cross-border environmental impact assessment. It should take six months, then the plan will be treated like a regulation, and the Council of Ministers will adopt it – said Katarzyna Krzywda. She explained that all permits that have already been issued are not withheld, and investors can obtain environmental and building permits. – The issue of new permits has been suspended until a new plan is adopted – said Katarzyna Krzywda.
Offshore projects
Currently, 10 projects with an area of 1.084 km2 have a valid location decision. The projects are implemented by:
1 /: Polenergia / Equinor – Bałtyk I – 128 km 2. Connection conditions to the 1.560 MW network;
2 /: Polenergia / Equinor – Bałtyk II – 122 km 2. Conditions for connecting to the 240 network, and the contract; 600 MW connection point
3 /: Polenergia / Equinor – Baltic III – 116 km 2 – Connection contract – 1200 MW;
4 /: PGE Baltica 2 – 189 km2 – grid connection conditions – 1498 MW;
5 /: PGE Baltica 3 – 131 km 2 – connection conditions to the 1045 MW network;
6 /: PGE Baltica 1 – 108 km 2;
7 /: RWE Renewables – 42 km 2 – grid connection conditions – 350 MW;
8 /: PKN Orlen – Baltic Power – 131 km 2 – grid connection conditions – 1200 MW;
9 /: EDPR – B- Wind – 42 km;
10 /: EDPR – C- Wind – 49 km;
The total connection conditions to the network with Polskie Sieci Energetyczne is 7,093 MW, and the projects are to occupy 1.084 km.
The licenses for offshore wind farms in 2019 were applied by Tauron in Katowice.
According to the draft act on offshore wind farms, the first phase of support for offshore projects will be envisaged for those with the most advanced investment process. There are currently two projects with a connection agreement: Polish Polenergia and Norwegian Equinor – Baltic III and PGE Baltica III. These two projects have connection agreements for a total capacity of 2,245 GW. The total installed capacity of offshore wind farms, which will be able to participate in the first phase of the support system, is defined by law and amounts to 4.6 GW. Therefore, it is probably the projects of Polenergia, Equnior, PKN Orlen and Polska Grupa Energetyczna. The first phase will cover the years 2020–2022.
The right to cover the so-called negative balance in the second phase of the support system will be awarded by auction. The projects will compete on the price of electricity generated on the same basis as the current RES support scheme. The first auctions are scheduled for 2023.