An amendment to the wind farm law, particularly the reduction of the required distance of farms from buildings, could potentially double the prospects of Polish wind power by the year 2040. The tax revenue from such installations could be several million zlotys per year for each municipality. Additionally, the residents of the municipality will also benefit from the wind turbines as 10 percent of the total installed power will be available for local residents under the so-called “virtual prosumer” scheme. –However, there are many myths around wind power. Therefore, educating the society is necessary- emphasizes Anna Kosińska from Res Global Investment.
The draft changes in the law on wind power investments are expected to be adopted by the government in the current quarter. The reduction of wind turbine distance from 700 to 500 meters from residential buildings could unlock the potential of Polish wind energy. The Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW) estimates that this could double the potential to 41.1 GW levels by 2040.
– The benefits of wind farms are not only for the investors but also for the municipality itself. Primarily, it means a significant impact from property taxes- points out Anna Kosińska from Res Global Investment in a discussion with Newseria Biznes agency. -This is a steady income so the municipality can plan the entire budget management process well. The funds can be allocated for local needs of residents such as road renovation and construction, support for schools, kindergarten, and seniors, and development of sports, culture, or local transport.
The Confederation Lewiatan estimates that onshore wind farms are currently a significant source of income for all municipalities where they are located. The property tax contribution to the municipal budget ranges from 60 to 150 thousand zlotys per year for each turbine. The municipality of Margonin, which hosts the largest wind farm of 60 turbines in Poland, receives 6 million zlotys annually from this. According to the PSEW, municipalities that establish wind farms receive a steady source of income for over 20 years.
Non-government organizations, local governments, and industry associations that appealed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk to adopt the new regulations in July, estimate that unlocking the potential of onshore wind – in the best case scenario – could bring an additional 490 to 935 million zlotys of revenue to local governments by 2030.
– Another plus is the creation of new jobs. There are already specialized courses on the market that train people to work with wind turbines. These could be service technicians and other professions within the wind energy sector- says the expert. -Here employment opportunities can be found for local graduates, people who have lost jobs or want to change them and thus gives them new professional possibilities thanks to wind energy.
PSEW estimates that there are about 10,000 direct employees in Poland involved in the construction and operation of onshore wind power plants. Counting those who work in related sectors for the industry, this number doubles. The authors of the appeal “Release the power of Polish wind” estimate that unlocking the potential of onshore wind could mean an additional 100,000 jobs.
– A municipality with wind farms is also very attractive for investments and when a new capital appears, more revenue comes into the municipal budget. Benefits can also be drawn by the residents who lease their land for wind turbines. The fixed part of the turbine occupies a relatively small area. Apart from this, there are only access roads, so the landowner not only has a steady passive income but can significantly utilize the land for cultivation or grazing- explains Anna Kosińska.
An additional benefit is the requirement for the investors to offer 10% of the power to the residents of the municipality where the windmill is set up.
According to CBOS research, a large majority of Poles (83%) support the development of onshore wind energy. More than two-thirds of the respondents (68%) would accept a wind farm in their neighborhood, while one in five would oppose its construction. In the nearly two years, the level of approval for the presence of wind turbines near one’s place of residence has slightly increased (by 5 percentage points). About 14% of those who support the development of onshore wind energy would oppose the location of a wind farm near their place of residence.
– Society is largely uninformed, and if we don’t know something, we fear it significantly more. Many myths are still circulating, some of which are absurd. In one of the municipalities where wind turbines were installed, people were asking whether cows would still give white milk- says the representative of the Res Global Investment. – The World Health Organization has issued a statement that wind farms do not emit any harmful substances or agents into the environment, unlike traditional fuels which can cause respiratory diseases. In the case of wind turbines, we have a completely emission-free technology.
Opponents of wind turbines often argue that they are harmful to health, and the noise caused by them can be annoying for residents. However, there is no evidence for this. The Polish Academy of Sciences in the report “Wind farms in the human environment” from 2022 indicates that there are no clear proofs that noise, including infrasound, from wind power plants has a negative impact on human health or well-being. There is also no risk to human health from electromagnetic and vibrational impacts if basic precautions are followed.
– The sound of a wind turbine placed at the currently acceptable minimum distance, i.e., 700 m, is below 35 dB. This level is comparable to the ticking of a clock. A refrigerator emits sounds at a level of around 45 dB, while a regular conversation reaches up to 60 dB. The level of audibility of a wind turbine from 700 m is practically negligible and does not differ from the sounds of our immediate environment, to which we are accustomed- emphasizes Anna Kosińska.
According to the PAN report, the noise level at a distance of about 85 m from a wind turbine is close to 50 dB, which corresponds to the norms for permissible noise levels in residential areas. At a distance of 500 m from a wind power plant, the noise is less than 40 dB. Such a level does not have negative health effects.
Another myth is the harmfulness of wind turbines to the environment, adverse effects on insects, and birds.
– There are American studies that state 59% of birds die by hitting building windows, but people do not worry about this. In the case of turbines, it is only about 0.01%. However, additional precautions are used, such as deterrent systems and bright colors of the blades, etc., which aim to reduce such incidents to virtually zero- the expert explains. – Once again, I emphasize the need to promote knowledge about wind energy, which can help society understand the many benefits this form of energy generation provides.
