Poland - RWE Innogy to install 200 MW of wind energy

RWE Innogy GmbH, Essen, has secured access to wind power projects with a total capacity of 200 MW in Poland. The sites are located in Masuria and Pomerania. To this end, RWE Innogy has concluded a contract with a Polish project developer. The company is also in talks with other developers. The first permits are expected to be granted before the end of the year. The first wind power systems are due to come on stream in 2010.

Back in 2007, RWE took over two wind power projects with a total capacity of almost 80 MW in Poland, which are due to be commissioned in 2009.

Professor Fritz Vahrenholt, CEO of RWE Innogy: “Poland has created a favourable environment for renewables. This is why we should grow our position there. We are now on a promising track with a total of 280 MW of planned power plant capacity.”

In Poland, energy utilities have to provide 10.4% of energy consumption from renewable energy sources by the year 2010. By 2020, this level is required to increase to at least 15%. According to the Polish grid company’s (PSE) calculations, 4000 MW of wind power capacity will have to come on stream by 2010 in order to achieve this aim. At present, approximately 300 MW of wind power capacity is connected to the grid.