The Potęgowo Wind Farm
The Potęgowo Wind Farm is a large-scale renewable energy (RE) project located in northern Poland, spanning the municipalities of Słupsk, Damnica, Potęgowo (Pomeranian Voivodeship), and Malechowo (West Pomeranian Voivodeship). The project developed by Mashav Energia employs onshore wind energy technology and has a total installed capacity of 257 MW, making it the largest wind farm in Poland. It includes 98 General Electric wind turbines, generating approx. 722 MWh of electricity annually and reducing CO2 emissions by 500,000 tonnes per year. The project is classified as a Category A investment by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) due to its environmental and social impact and has undergone comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and stakeholder engagement processes. It is fully operational since 2022, with the initial phases completed by 2019, followed by an expansion that included additional wind farms in Wieliszewo (37 MW) and Bięcino (22 MW).
In terms of community engagement, Mashav Energia implemented a formal Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and carried out consultations across all affected municipalities, meeting regularly with local authorities, landowners, and residents. Information was disseminated through public meetings, local media, and a dedicated website. A local Contact Point has also been established to deal with enquiries.
Regarding benefit sharing, the project has generated substantial tax revenues for the local municipalities (approx. EUR 20,000-25,000 per turbine annually totalling around EUR 1.6-2 million), which have been used to co-finance improvements in education, infrastructure, and public safety. In-kind contributions included the construction of local roads, fully funded by the developer, and educational support for children through sponsored after-school programmes.
