Sian Crampsie
Poland has revised its draft offshore wind energy regulations to provide support for more projects in the early stages of the scheme. The government is now proposing an increase in the maximum capacity that could be backed by a contract for difference (CfD) in the first phase of development to 5.9 GW, compared with 4.6 GW proposed in the last draft of the legislation.
According to the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW), the increase reflects the real potential of advanced-stage projects in Poland’s offshore wind energy pipeline. Those schemes will be able to apply for the 25-year CfD support by the end of June 2021, instead of October 2022 as initially planned.
In the second phase of the initiative, Poland will hold auctions for 5 GW of offshore wind energy capacity in two tranches of 2.5 GW each in 2025 and 2027. There will be no tenders for unsubscribed capacity in 2023 and 2028 as previously proposed. The new draft also includes a provision that puts the responsibility for building and financing the connection between offshore wind farms and the onshore grid to investors.
