Highlights: 

• On 26 May 2026, the Council of Ministers adopted a Regulation of the Council of Ministers amending the Regulation on projects likely to have a significant impact on the environment (RD 239). 
• Under this Regulation, the repowering of existing wind farms, increasing their capacity by up to 30%, may be carried out without the need to obtain an environmental permit (subject to certain conditions). 
• The simplified rules apply to facilities located outside nature conservation areas and to upgrades that do not result in an increase in the number of turbines or significant changes to their location. 
• All existing safety requirements remain in place, including a minimum distance of 700 metres from residential buildings. 
• The new regulations will shorten the investment process by at least six months and increase the amount of electricity produced at already developed sites. 
• These changes support the achievement of national and EU climate targets and the development of renewable energy. 

The government has just adopted a regulation introducing the principles of repowering into Polish law, thereby providing a fast and safe route to the upgrade of existing onshore wind farms. This is an opportunity to bring more affordable and clean energy into Poland’s electricity system. This route will be available to owners of existing facilities that meet current spatial planning requirements. Wind turbine technology has changed quite significantly over the years. The new wind turbines are more efficient; they can produce more electricity even from the same capacity, while operating more quietly. Thanks to this solution, the output of facilities following repowering could more than double, i.e. increase by about 130%, although it may not exceed 100 MW. This is how we are implementing the Government’s priorities

- said Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister of Climate and Environment, following the Council of Minister’s meeting. 

The Regulation of the Council of Ministers amending the provisions on projects likely to have a significant impact on the environment significantly simplifies the procedures for investors planning to upgrade existing wind farms (a process known as ‘repowering’). The measures adopted address the growing need to improve the efficiency of existing facilities, while simplifying administrative procedures. This will make it possible to adapt the existing infrastructure more effectively to current technological and market requirements, particularly in cases where this does not entail a significant increase in environmental impact.

When is an environmental decision not required? 

The new regulations allow repowering work to be carried out without the need to obtain an environmental permit, provided that certain criteria are met. This applies to facilities located outside protected areas. 

Investors whose projects meet the following criteria may benefit from this preferential scheme: 

• increase the facility’s power by no more than 30%; 
• do not increase in the number of turbines (a reduction is permitted); 
• do not change the location of the facility by more than 150 metres from the existing tower; 
• have a total capacity of no more than 100 MW; and 
• maintain a minimum distance of 250 metres from the edge of a forest. 

The specified 30% limit refers to the total rated capacity of the facility as set out in the applicable environmental decision. Under the above conditions, it will also be possible to adjust the technical parameters of the facility, such as the height of the turbines, the diameter of the rotors and the layout of the equipment. 

The new regulation does not alter the requirements set out in the Act on investment projects with regard to wind farms. The minimum distance of 700 metres from residential buildings remains in force and will be verified during the building permit application process. The amendment also includes an organizational change bringing the terminology in the provisions concerning projects that are always likely to have a significant impact on the environment into line with current legislation. 

The measures introduced will help to streamline administrative procedures, make more efficient use of land that has already been developed and increase the potential for the development of wind energy in Poland. Consequently, they support the achievement of the objectives set out in the national energy policy and climate commitments at both national and EU level. 

The Regulation will enter into force 14 days after its publication in the Journal of Laws.