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Photovoltaic farm – what is it?
A photovoltaic farm, otherwise known as a solar power plant, is a deliberately separated area of land with panels installed that convert solar energy into electricity. The produced energy is transferred to the power grid, from where it is then directed to the recipients.
Photovoltaics
(PV)
Floating photovoltaics
(FPV)
Photovoltaic farm – what is it?
A photovoltaic farm, otherwise known as a solar power plant, is a deliberately separated area of land with panels installed that convert solar energy into electricity. The produced energy is transferred to the power grid, from where it is then directed to the recipients.
Does a photovoltaic farm require an environmental decision? Legal basis
Pursuant to § 3(1) point 54 of the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 10 September 2019 on projects likely to have significant effects on the environment (Journal of Laws 2019, item 1839), a decision on environmental conditions is required for a PV farm if its development area exceeds:
a) 0.5 ha in areas falling under forms of nature protection or in the buffer zones of forms of nature protection,
b) 1 ha in areas other than those referred to in point a.
Who issues the environmental decision for photovoltaic farms?
Pursuant to the Act of 3 October 2008 on the provision of information on the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and on environmental impact assessments (Journal of Laws 2018, item 2081), the authority competent to issue a decision on environmental conditions is the commune head, mayor or city president relevant to the location of the investment.
There are two paths to obtain an environmental decision enabling the construction of a photovoltaic farm:
Project Information Sheet
Farms with development area in areas falling under nature protection with an area of more than 0.5 ha or in other areas with an area of less than 1 ha.
Environmental Impact Report
Most often for large-area photovoltaic farms and investments located within area forms of nature protection, e.g., NATURA 2000.
Supporting entrepreneurs for over 10 years
For 10 years, AvesNature has been preparing complete documentation that allows to obtain an environmental decision for projects related to construction of a photovoltaic farm. We provide services throughout the entire Poland.
Stages of obtaining an environmental decision for a photovoltaic farm in 2021
STEP 1 Obtaining resources
To submit an application for an environmental decision, the law requires attaching:
- a cadastral map of the area intended for the investment with a buffer 100 m from the border of the investment,
- excerpts from the land register,
- an extract and a map from the local development plan if the area for the investment is covered by a local development plan.
We will apply for the above-mentioned resources to the appropriate public administration bodies on your behalf.
STEP 2 Preparation of a Project Information Sheet or an Environmental Impact Report (EIA Report)
Project Information Sheet and the EIA Report are documents attached to the application for an environmental decision. They differ in the scope of the study of the environmental impact of the investment. We prepare an EIA report upon obtaining the decision on the obligation to conduct an environmental impact assessment. In the above-mentioned documents, we will include: description of the actual condition of the area before the investment is implemented, we will prepare variants of the investment, assess the impact of the investment on individual components of the natural environment, and we will propose measures to minimize the investment’s impact on the environment.
STEP 3 Submitting an application for a decision on environmental conditionsAfter preparing all attachments to the application, we submit an application to the appropriate office for a decision on environmental conditions.
STEP 4 Administrative procedure
The adventure does not end by submitting an application for a decision on environmental conditions. We look after your investment until the decision is issued. We answer all questions of the authorities reviewing your application and dispel officials’ doubts.
STEP 5 Obtaining a decision on environmental conditions
After obtaining the long-awaited decision, we remember that this is not all. You must have a valid decision. That is why we remember to apply to the office for granting the decision a finality clause or issuing a certificate.
Why is it worth employing an expert to help in obtaining an environmental decision for a photovoltaic farm?
Employing a person/company with knowledge and many years of experience in obtaining decisions on environmental conditions guarantees reliable preparation of documentation, shortening the time of administrative procedure and saving money. If, for example, mistakes are made at the Project Information Sheet stage, the authority will request an EIA report, and in this case the costs will be much higher and the procedure time will be extended several times.
Why should you commission us for obtaining an environmental decision for your photovoltaic farm?
We have a team of experts
AvesNature specialists approach each project individually, carrying out their work diligently and conscientiously. Thanks to our team, you can be sure that the work will go smoothly.
Over 400 projects
We already have over 400 projects under our belt and we are constantly improving our qualifications so that each project is carried out at the highest level. We are proud that our work attracts great interest.
Over 20 years of experience
AvesNature’s experience consists of the level of knowledge of the employees and the company’s long operation on the market. The specialists’ constant desire to develop guarantees you satisfaction with each project.
How long does it take to obtain an environmental decision for a photovoltaic farm?
The authority is obliged to deal with the matter without undue delay, within a maximum of 2 months. However, this period does not include the time related to opinions and arrangements as well as delays due to the fault of the party (e.g., the investor) and for reasons beyond the control of the authority, as well as the time for correspondence between the authorities issuing the decision and the opinion-givers. As a result, obtaining a decision on environmental conditions for a PV farm takes 3-5 months.
How much does it cost to obtain an environmental decision for a photovoltaic farm in 2021?
The costs of obtaining the environmental decision include the costs of preparing the environmental documentation (Project Information Sheet or EIA). The price range is very large and depends on the scale and location of the investment. It may be below 2 000 zlotys or, in some cases, close to 20 000 zlotys. The stamp duty, the confirmation of which is attached to the application for issuing a decision on environmental conditions, is 207 zlotys.