Congratulations on being among the RES auction winners – what are your thoughts on the process itself, did you find it easy to navigate?

Thank you! The process was relatively manageable, but there were some challenges. One of the hardest parts was the lack of clarity on when the next auction would take place. For example, in 2018, the auction happened in December, and we were only informed one month in advance. This made it incredibly difficult to prepare everything in such a short timeframe, especially since we needed to coordinate with banks and other stakeholders. It would be helpful to have more transparency in the legal and economic environment of our industry, such as a clear perspective on the number, timing, and size of auctions over the next few years. Clear rules for investors in the market would contribute to the sustainable development of the sector and reduce uncertainty among employees.

You are still standing strong in this market despite the crises in 2012 and 2016. What kept you going?

Our project portfolio was relatively small between 2011 and 2014, so the green certificate crisis in 2012 did not have a significant impact on us. During the second critical period in 2016, our projects were still in development, but we used that time wisely and brought everything to a ready-to-build stage. When we won the auction in 2018, we were fully prepared to start construction. Currently, we have five projects under construction totaling 102.5 MW, and they are progressing well.

What do you credit for your success in auctions? In other words, what makes for a winning project in Poland?

One factor that may have contributed to our success is that we did not solely rely on the auction system. While it was interesting to participate from a financial perspective, our strategy was also focused on corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs). Additionally, the support of the traditional industry, which is looking for cost optimization opportunities in the current high energy price market, has positively impacted the green sector in Poland.

Some of your peers suggested that prices were lower because developers are keen to move their projects forward, even if the level of profit is not ideal. Are you in agreement?

There is some truth to that. In Poland, wind projects were developed a long time ago, and the connection agreements have a time limit. Winning an auction automatically extends the connection agreement, so it would not be surprising to learn that some companies participated in the auction with the specific purpose of extending their connection agreements, even if the level of profit may not be ideal.

Do you have more projects in the pipeline, in case a new auction is announced?

Yes, we have two projects based on older technology that we hope to finalize in the next couple of years. Additionally, we have about 200 MW in the greenfield stage, but the current 10H rule makes it impossible to proceed at the moment. However, we plan to make good use of this time by building our resources and being fully prepared to take action when the law changes.

Public perception of wind energy has been rather negative in Poland. What do you think is a good way to change this?

Educating society is a crucial aspect of changing public perception of wind energy in Poland. When we start development in a commune, we make sure to engage with adults and children alike and gather their support. It’s human nature to be afraid of new things, and it only takes a few negative and active individuals in a commune to turn others against wind energy. Additionally, the recent auctions have disproven the myth of expensive green wind energy, and this has opened the eyes of the public and businesses to the benefits of renewable energy.