Polish wind energy association warns of administrative barriers threatening onshore wind farm development after a decade of minimal progress.
Decade-Long Stagnation in Wind Energy Development
It’s been a decade since the ’10H’ rule was introduced, but the development of wind energy hasn’t changed. Brutal statistics for 2025 show practically zero permits issued for onshore wind farms, despite a law now allowing these investments 700 meters from residential households, according to Janusz Gajowiecki, president of the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW).
The industry has fallen into an “administrative trap,” with decisions and environmental restrictions posing the main problem, Gajowiecki stated during a parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday.
Administrative Hurdles Facing Wind Industry
Gajowiecki outlined the challenges the wind industry faces in environmental proceedings conducted by Regional Environmental Protection Directorates (RDOŚ). These include lengthy initial proceedings to determine if projects below 100 MW require environmental impact assessments (EIAs).
Despite EIAs being practically always required for onshore wind energy, the waiting time for decisions can extend to a year, significantly slowing down development processes. Other issues include multiple requests for EIA report supplements instead of consolidated requests, and systematic procedural delays justified as “highly complex.”
The PSEW president also highlighted inconsistencies in procedural standards and decision content, even within single regional directorates.
