Subsidies for domestic wind farms in 2024?

The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) has prepared a project to subsidise backyard wind farms. Those interested in investing in this type of solution will be entitled to financial support and, in addition, under the programme, can count on assistance in financing the purchase of an energy storage facility.

What is the programme about?

According to information published by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), the aim of the programme is to promote the development of prosumer energy through investment in micro wind power plants. The programme is dedicated to individuals, mainly single households. In addition to financial support for the purchase and installation of a household wind power plant, 'My Wind Power Plant' also offers funding for the purchase and installation of an electricity storage facility.

This programme is a pioneering initiative in Poland, aimed at private individuals interested in building backyard wind power plants. With financial support from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), participants in the programme have the opportunity to install a micro wind power plant, which contributes to increasing the production of renewable energy at the level of individual households.

The support includes not only the purchase and installation of the wind turbine itself, but also the possibility to obtain funding for the purchase and installation of an electricity storage facility. This extension of the programme aims to enable the collection and storage of excess energy generated, which in turn contributes to greater efficiency and energy independence for households.

The NFOŚiGW is thus encouraging investment in renewable energy sources at the individual level while promoting sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 'My Wind Power Plant' programme is an important step towards supporting renewable energy at the local and individual level.

Who can receive funding?

As previously announced, the 'My Wind Power Plant' programme is intended for natural persons who own residential buildings. In order to benefit from the programme, beneficiaries are required to operate the installed wind turbine and other subsidised equipment for at least 5 years from the date of receipt of the subsidy. The location of the installation must be in accordance with the place indicated in the application, limited to the area of the residential building or the area adjacent to this building.

It is worth emphasising that within 5 years of receiving the grant, the applicant cannot change the use of his building, for example by converting it into a holiday home. In the event of such a change, he is obliged to return the grant received.

It should be noted, however, that when using the 'My Wind Power Plant' programme, participants are not able to benefit from other forms of support, such as subsidies for the purchase and installation of energy storage. The only exception is the thermo-modernisation allowance.

These principles aim to ensure consistency and stability of the development, while promoting sustainability in the operation of the wind turbine and consistency in maintaining the original use of the residential building.

How much subsidy for a wind turbine?

According to the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Authority, the budget for the 'My Wind Power Plant' programme will be PLN 400 million, and these funds will be financed by EU funds from the Modernisation Fund. The intensity of the funding has been precisely defined:

• Subsidies up to 50% of eligible costs, but not exceeding PLN 30,000 per wind power installation. In addition, the investment costs must not exceed PLN 5k for each 1kW of power.
• Funding of up to 50% of eligible costs for one electricity storage facility (battery) with a minimum capacity of 2 kWh. In this case, the subsidy cannot exceed £17,000 or £6,000 for each 1 kWh of storage capacity.

It is worth noting that the supported wind turbines must not exceed 30 metres in height and the total capacity of the micro-installation must not exceed 50 kW. An important restriction is also the fact that wind installations and energy storage can only be used to cover the needs of the applicant himself. In practice, this means that the beneficiary is not allowed to sell the energy generated.

In addition, the subsidised equipment must be new, manufactured no earlier than 24 months prior to installation. It is also a prerequisite that the wind installations are realised in accordance with current legislation, which may require a prior notification of construction or a building permit, depending on local regulations.

The 'My Wind Power Plant' programme focuses on transparency, sustainability and compliance with the law, while creating favourable conditions for the development of micro wind power plants among individuals.

When can applications be submitted?

At the moment, there is no precise information yet on when the call for applications for the programme will start. The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management is still working on the final rules of the programme, but it is already known that the programme will be implemented in the period from 2024 to 2029. It will be possible to sign contracts for the implementation of investments until the end of 2028, and the disbursement of funds is planned until the end of 2029.

The lack of a precise start date for the call for applications means that potential participants in the programme will have to wait for an official announcement from NFOŚiGW. In the meantime, information on the programme and the call dates will be available once the final regulations are published.