Energa initiates startup of new wind farm in Opole region

Energa initiates startup of new wind farm in Opole region

Energa has completed the installation of all 17 wind turbines at its new wind farm located in the Opole Voivodeship of Poland. The project, carried out by Energa Green Development, is situated in Szybowice and has a total installed capacity of 37.4 megawatts (MW). This wind farm is a collaboration with Neo Energy Group, which provided investment oversight, and Onde, responsible for the construction infrastructure.

With the completion of turbine installation, Energa is set to begin the startup and testing phase of the facility. The new wind farm is projected to generate enough electricity to supply over 40,000 households annually.

Arkadiusz Bakierzyński, CEO of Energa Green Development, stated that while the company predominantly focuses on solar energy, diversifying energy sources is essential for the stability of the power grid, especially as reliance on weather conditions increases. He emphasized that projects like the Szybowice wind farm are vital for reducing carbon emissions in Poland’s energy sector and diversifying the country’s energy mix.

The Szybowice wind farm spans approximately 900 hectares and utilizes 17 Vestas V110 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2.2 MW. The total height of each turbine reaches 180 meters, with blades measuring 54 meters in length and a hub height of 125 meters with a diameter of 110 meters. In addition to the turbines, the project included the construction of nearly 16 kilometers of service roads and a comprehensive electrical infrastructure, which includes the GPO Szybowice station, already accepted by the distribution system operator.

During peak construction, over 100 workers were involved on-site, along with numerous specialists supporting the project from outside. Energa noted that many economic benefits from the project will remain in the region, thanks to the participation of local companies and service providers. After the construction phase, the wind farm will require ongoing technical maintenance, monitoring, and servicing, which will help sustain jobs in the area.

Currently, final finishing works are underway to prepare the farm for technological startup. Energa plans to complete testing and operational trials of the turbines by the third quarter of this year, with expectations for obtaining operational permits in the fourth quarter.

As part of Orlen Group’s strategy, Energa is contributing to a goal of achieving 12.8 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity from onshore and offshore renewable sources. Other projects in southern Poland include the Serby photovoltaic farm, which will have a capacity of 112 MW and is currently in the ‘ready-to-build’ status, as well as the Kotla photovoltaic farm with a capacity of 130 MW, where final installation work is ongoing.

Energa acquired both photovoltaic projects through acquisitions, with the Serby project purchased from a consortium of Neo Energy Group and Onde earlier this year and the Kotla project acquired from Lightsource BP in August 2024.