OX2 has commissioned the Wysoka Wind Farm, owned by IngkaInvestments, the investment arm of the Ingka Group, the world’s largest IKEA franchise company. The farm has installed the largest wind turbines in Poland, achieving unprecedented power in the local onshore market.
Located in the Piła district, in the Greater Poland voivodeship, the wind farm consists of 11 turbines with a capacity of 5.5 – 5.7 MW each. The total height of each of the 11 windmills reaches almost 200 metres, comprising 125-metre towers and 75-metre long blades. The target installed capacity reaches 62.5 MW.
– The share of RES in Poland is growing year on year. In 2023, renewable energy sources will already occupy around 40% of the power available in the national system and account for 27% of total energy production. We have already been working with Ingka Investments in many European countries for 12 years, and now we are handing over our first joint project in Poland to the investor, says Paul Stormoen, CEO, OX2.
The estimated annual energy production in Wysoka will be 180 GWh, covering the electricity needs of nearly 90,000 households – that is, the inhabitants of a city the size of Częstochowa. In addition, the wind energy produced will avoid about 63,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels each year. Once the farm is operational, OX2 will provide technical and commercial management, while guaranteeing maximum plant efficiency and operational safety.
– Together with OX2, we are delighted with the launch of the Wysoka wind farm. With this investmentIngka Investments is moving closer to fulfilling our commitment to use only renewable electricity in all Ingka Group operations. We are looking forward to our positive long-term impact on increasing the share of renewable energy in Poland and thus reducing the carbon footprint of the entire Ingka Group in the coming years, says Peter van der Poel, Managing Director of Ingka Investments.
Supporting the development of biodiversity in the Wysoka municipality
During the course of the investment, OX2 was actively involved in environmental education and biodiversity conservation activities in the Wysoka municipality. One of the priorities was the use of wood harvested during road renovation.
– When developing projects, we put cooperation with local communities and administrations at the forefront so as to be a good neighbour to them. We are showing how to turn challenges into opportunities, especially in our business of increasing access to renewable energy. At OX2, we believe that environmental education is crucial for the future of the Earth, and by discovering the advantages of caring for the environment, we want to inspire actions that will contribute to the development of biodiversity, says Katarzyna Suchcicka, President of OX2 in Poland.
OX2 has set its sights on the sustainable use of harvested wood. In cooperation with local experts, it used the wood to create nesting boxes for birds and bats, insect hotels and hedgehog houses, which were placed in the Wysoka commune. Pupils from a local school were involved in building them. They also had the opportunity to take part in a workshop on biodiversity, which was held in the school building, and they also sowed 5 900 m2 of flower meadow and built hotels for insects for which it is a natural habitat.
OX2 has built a portfolio of projects in Poland with a total capacity of around 3.1 GW, comprising wind projects of nearly 850 MW, photovoltaic projects of over 1.7 GW and energy storage of over 580 MW. The company is currently constructing another wind project and a photovoltaic farm.
Source: OX2
