In 2004, which has been the sixth year of Vis Venti activities, the Association focused on realizing basic targets set in the new Strategy, in particular working towards improving existing and creating new legislation regarding renewable power sector. The essence of the activities was to undertake lobbying activities aimed at counter measuring wind power development barriers.
Most of Board's works were focused on preparing amendments and remarks to acts and executive legislation prepared by Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of the Economy, Labor and Social Policy, as well as on putting forward proposals of own drafts of legislation related to wind power.
The most of Association's activities in year 2004 were focused on the Act amending the Energy Law Act. As a result of Association's participation in consulting Energy Law, among others, the substitution fee was secured at a level of 240 PLN for the year 2005. The Association continued its actions leading to changing the algorithm for calculating the substitution fee in consequent years, applying for change in its calculation formula to make it independent from average price of green energy in the previous year.
The Association also acted to explain the provisions of the Act on Fees and Local Taxes in relation to tax basis in case of wind turbines. A notice asking for interpretation of provisions of the Act on Fees and Local Taxes in relation to tax basis in case of wind farms and real estate tax has been sent to Minister for Finance, Mr. Mirosław Gronicki. A copy of this correspondence has also been sent to Minister for Economy and Labor, Mr. Jerzy Hausner, together with an application for supporting Vis Venti's actions leading to explaining the issues related to tax basis for real estate tax in case of wind turbines.
Meetings of industry representatives within the Wind Energy Forum have also been continued. Year 2004 saw two meetings: on 14 January 2004, with Mr. Zbigniew Kamieński, Director of Power Safety Department, Ministry of Economy, Labor and Social Policy devoted to discussion on the progress of works on the Act on Renewable Energy Sources and on proposed changes to the Energy Law; and on 28 September 2004 . This was the meeting with representatives of PSE - Operator S.A., Mrs. Stefania Kasprzyk, Vice-President of the Board, and Mr. Cezary Szwed, Development Director, Sales and Development Department, devoted to discussing barriers hindering the development of wind power and the amendments introduced by the Operator to Transmission Grid Traffic and Maintenance Instruction. The Forum benefits from increasing interest of market players (reflected in a significant growth of participants) and acknowledgement of the Government. It is a recognized industry event, attracting Operator's and distribution companies' representatives. A measurable effect of the 28 September Forum was creating of a Wind Power Workgroup, comprised of representatives of Vis Venti, PSE - Operator S.A. and PTPiREE / Polish Electricity Transmission and Distribution Association /. The goal of the Workgroup is to work out solutions allowing for eliminating barriers to wind power market development and to improve communication between the industry, the Operator and distribution companies.
The Association also actively participated in domestic and international industry conferences , often being co-responsible for their organization. Vis Venti was invited, among others, to:
- Organizing a panel on wind power during the "Renewable Energy Sources - opportunities and barriers for green energy in Poland " Conference, accompanying the Renewable Energy Sources ENEX - Nowa Energia Fair, ( Kielce , 23-25.03.2004),
- Participate in a panel on European markets during Global Windpower 2004 Conference in Chicago (28-31.03.2004),
- Present current status of development of Polish market for renewable energy sources during Berlin " Windenergieplanung in Polen " Conference (30.04.2004),
- Give a lecture on Poland during Wind Energy - International Trade Fair in Hamburg (11-13.05.2004),
- Participate in European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition in London (22-25.11.2004).
- Members of the Association participated in numerous other domestic conferences and seminars devoted to renewable energy sources.
Moreover, Vis Venti Board participated, among others, in the works of: Balancing Market Monitoring Workgroup; Polish Energy Certification Association. The aim of engagement in this' subjects activities was to present and convince professional power industry to solutions supporting creation of new renewable energy sources. The Association's activity was particularly visible within the PTCE, where Mr. Mroczek was a Vice - President. PTCE's Board agreed to suggestions to focus on creating procedures for certifying renewable energy sources. This is deemed to be the basic target of the PTCE for the next two years. Certification of sources will be focused mainly on co-generation sources. In Vis Venti's Board opinion such action would limit the possibility for chaotic development of co-generation technology, limiting its dominating share in the market for renewable energy in Poland.
Apart from the above the Association continued its collaboration with European Wind Energy Association. As a result a common stand has been organized during the Wind Energy - International Trade Fair in Hamburg . Moreover, the collaboration allowed for collecting know-how on best practices, new technical solutions and industry events in Europe and around the world (information from the newsletter, Wind Directions bi-monthly magazine and during direct meetings on conferences and industry seminars) and for current exchange of experiences related to the operation of RES market in Poland (correspondence).
Year 2004 also brought changes to the operation of the Association itself. New Strategy has been adopted, introducing new membership forms. 5 new supporting members as well as 6 new ordinary members have joined to the Association. Moreover, the Association intensified correspondence and direct contacts with its members. They are being electronically briefed on all industry events and actions taken by the Board insofar as expressing opinions on and preparing legislation regarding the RES.
back