Wind power to serve local communities

In December 2022 Polish government proposed new rules on distribution of wind power in an attempt to promote renewable energy. The draft of legislation imposes an obligation on an investor constructing a wind farm on the territory of a given municipality to set aside at least 10% of the installed capacity for the use of interested residents of this municipality. According to the draft such residents will be treated as virtual prosumers. Being a virtual prosumer gives one the possibility to generate electricity for one’s own needs from a renewable energy source connected to the grid in a place other than one’s place of residence. The same so-called net-billing system would apply to virtual prosumers as in case of standard renewable energy prosumer. Such system is based on separate settlement of the value of electricity injected into the power grid and electricity taken from the grid, based on the value of energy determined according to the exchange price. Each resident in the municipality will have the right to enter into virtual prosumer agreement for a period up to 15 years.

The draft of legislation provides for specific rules for cooperation between the residents and the investor, as well as between the investor and the municipality.