GAP-JOURNAL 2012/13 - AFA

49
First Generation Wind PowerMarkets
Poland
In Poland, due to the significant domestic coal and lignite reserves, conventional thermal
resources accounted for 96.7% ofthe total power produced in 2011, followed by
renewable energy sources other than hydro power with 1.7%. (EWEA 2013: 50) The
Polish wind conditions, however, are comparable tothose of Denmark and the Netherlands,
two ofthe leading European wind energy locations. (Stoerring/Hvelplund 2007:
101) This substantial wind energy potential (i.e. extremely attractive coastal belt)
(Michalak/ Zimny 2011: 2337) has attracted local and foreign investors, making Poland
the most mature wind market in Central and Eastern Europe. (EWEA 2013: 51) Wind
energy capacity increased by 37% in 2011, reaching 1,616 MW (4.3% oftotal installed
capacity ofall technologies). According tothe country’s NREAP, wind energy capacity
is supposed toreach 6,650 MW in 2020, including 500 MW of installed offshore capacity.
The fact that during the first half of2012 another 600 MW of wind power capacity
were installed can be explained bythe uncertainty over revisions to renewable energy
regulations that eventually came into force in2013. In 2005, Poland launched asupport
scheme based onatrading mechanism for green certificates. Itisfeared that the introduction
ofrevisions to renewable energy regulations (e.g. reduction inthe number of
years for which wind farms are eligible for green certificates, exclusion from the support
mechanism for wind farms that sell energy atmarket prices) will lead to increased
price risk and reduce revenues over the project lifecycle, negatively affecting the attractiveness
ofwind farm investments. Grid infrastructure and grid connection can slow or
even halt wind farm deployment as grid connection terms are inadequate and are lackingtransparency.
Generallyspeaking, Poland, however, is still one of the most attractive
wind energy markets inCentral and Eastern Europe. (EWEA2013: 49-57)
Romania
The Romanian power market is also dominated by conventional thermal sources which
accounted for 54% of the power production in2011. Hydro power (24%) and nuclear
(19%) also play asignificant role, while renewable sources other than hydro power
accounted for only about 3% of the power production in2011. At the end of 2011 installed
wind energy capacity was 921 MW and was expected to reach 2,121 MWbythe
end of2012 (9.9% of total installed capacity of all technologies). Another 1,352 MW of
wind energy projects have been announced for 2013. If completed asscheduled, total
installed wind energy capacity would reach 3,473 MWwhich is significantly above the