Paris-based Akuo, an independent global renewable energy power producer and developer, announced on October 13 the activation of three wind power plants in Poland, in partnership with Mirova, an investment management company 100% devoted to sustainable investment and an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, to mark the inauguration of the Wielowieś power plant.
The inauguration took place in the presence of France’s ambassador to Poland Frederic Billet, Wielowies Mayor Ginter Skowronek, Akuo CEO Patrice Lucas and Mirova Investment Director Fabien Villacampa.
The three plants’ production will cover the electricity needs of almost 200,000 homes while cutting CO2 emissions by some 300,000 metric tons per year, Akuo said. With an aggregate capacity of 132 MW, these three wind power plants will help the Polish government to reach its targets in terms of reducing the share of coal in the country’s electricity production. They will also contribute to its goal of increasing the share of renewables in its energy mix to 27% by 2040, as required by EU law.
These new plants thus take the Akuo Group’s installed electricity capacity in the Central-Eastern Europe region to over 300 MW.
“The completion of these projects represents a major step and a first for Akuo in Poland, the success of which would not have been possible without the cross-business and multicultural teamwork shown between the Akuo teams in Paris and our local teams in Poland!” Lukas said. “I would also like to thank our financial partners, and in particular Mirova, who have put their trust in us and enabled us to achieve this milestone. We are proud to be helping the Polish State with its transition towards a green and local energy supply,” he added.
For his part, Villacampa hailed the completion of these projects, noting that his company is among the first to contribute to the development of the wind sector in Poland within the framework of the governmental support for renewable energies launched in 2018. “We want to continue leveraging renewable energy sectors’ European momentum and provide further capital for sustainable and resilient infrastructures. We need to work alongside investors to enable them to play their part in the fight against climate change,” he said.
Billet said the project is a perfect illustration of the implementation of the energy transition to which Poland is committed. “Akuo, who invited us today, is developing many other projects in Poland that will diversify the country’s energy mix – and I have no doubt that they will offer the best of their solutions here in Poland, to meet the challenges of regions in transition,” he said.
