Between January 2024 and the end of May 2026, the Polish military issued negative opinions for 464 planned wind farms nationwide, according to nto.pl. This means four out of every ten proposed locations were blocked.
The military’s resistance to wind energy has grown over time. In 2024, 40 percent of the proposed wind farm sites received a negative opinion. In the first half of 2026, the rejection rate rose to 46 percent.
According to military officials, the main problem is a shortage of training space. Poland’s armed forces need land for exercises, and so do allied militaries, including the United States. Existing proving grounds are no longer enough, and military planners are considering expanding them or searching for entirely new sites.
Tall turbines clash with low-flying aircraft
Wind turbines are getting higher and higher, often exceeding 250 meters. Such structures are especially dangerous for helicopters flying at low altitude, and not just near the turbine itself. Because of air turbulence, the hazard extends as far as 500 meters behind the installation, as nto.pl explains.
Large turbines also pose a threat to drone flights and interfere with corridors used by military fighter jets. The armed forces therefore reject wind farm locations that could limit their ability to train in the air and on the ground.
Military intelligence concerns over wind farm sensors
There is another security dimension. Tall energy structures can be used for intelligence gathering, the report warns. Wind turbines are often equipped with cameras and sensors, and such equipment might be used to monitor enormous areas of the country.
In the worst-case scenario, a potential enemy could use those installations to track the movement of military units and learn about their strength and equipment. Military planners say they have to examine each proposed location through the lens of both energy supply and national defence.
Colonel Robert Weisgerger addressed the matter during a parliamentary session.
– In every case of a proposed wind farm location, we weigh the country’s energy security against military security needs – Colonel Robert Weisgerger told lawmakers.
– The map of the country in this respect is a map of great compromises with other users – he added.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. NOWAK LUKASZ / Shutterstock
