The Polish government has published an updated draft of its proposed act to promote offshore wind development in the country, increasing the volume of capacity that would receive support in the first phase.
The new proposal increases the maximum capacity that would be backed by a Contract for Difference in the first phase of development to 5.9GW from the 4.6GW proposed in the previous draft released in January, according to the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW).
PSEW said 5.9GW corresponds with the “actual potential of advanced projects, ie, those that already have or within a certain time will be able to sign a connection agreement, allowing for the support negotiation procedure to start”.
A second phase of development would start with an auction of 2.5GW in 2025 and another for the same volume two years later.
The January draft had included planned auctions in 2023 and 2028, which have been dropped because of the increased capacity in the first phase, PSEW said.
The new draft also includes proposed solutions regarding connection of offshore wind farms to the national grid.
It is envisaged that investors will be responsible for building and financing the connection between projects and the onshore grid.
But the state-owned transmission system operator Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne – will have the “right of pre-emption in case of possible sale by the investor”, PSEW said.