Development of local communities

On September 7th and 8th, the Harvest Festival of the Redzikowo Commune and the Słupsk County took place in Swołowo. The stand of Equinor and Polenergia was widely popular among the region’s residents. The companies once again had the opportunity to introduce the local community to offshore wind energy.

Hundreds of Łeba residents and tourists from all over Poland visited the stand of Polenergia and Equinor during the Łeba Festival. Visitors could learn more about offshore wind energy and take advantage of numerous attractions prepared by investors of offshore wind farms Bałtyk. Together with the residents, representatives of the companies marched through the streets of the city in the march of the Duchy of Łeba.

The latest edition of classes on biodiversity protection was conducted as part of the project Play Green with Us!^® These educational activities were carried out in local primary schools in the municipalities of Grabowo, Rajgród, Kwilcz, and in a kindergarten in the municipality of Żuromin.

The second edition of the educational project Play Green with Us! has come to an end. In the 2023/2024 school year, nearly 7,000 students from over 75 schools participated in the program. More than 2,600 lessons on ecology and climate protection were conducted.

Polenergia has its little knight Suleszek in Sulechów. This is the fourth knight created in this city. This figurine helps build local identity and mobilizes the local community to learn about legends and history.

Nearly 3000 pupils from 11 primary schools took part in an educational project run by Equinor and Polenergia in the Słupsk region. The aim of the investors’ campaign is to spread knowledge about offshore wind energy and the resulting benefits for the climate and the region among the youngest. Equinor and Polenergia jointly develop three wind farms in the Baltic Sea with a total capacity of up to 3,000 MW.

The Pelplin Town and Commune Office, in cooperation with primary schools in the Pelplin Commune and the Polenergia Group, organized an ecological Olympiad for primary school students from the Pelplin Commune.

From April 14th to 16th, the largest hydrogen fair in Poland, H2Poland, took place in Poznań.

From May 2024, we can watch the stork nest near the Primary School in Bierkowo live! This school is located in Słupsk County, where the Strzelino Photovoltaic Farm project is situated.

From September 2023 to April 2024, three cultural and educational projects were implemented in Lignowy Szlacheckie: ‘Senior Cafe,’ ‘Shine, Little Star, Shine,’ and ‘Kitchen Connecting Generations.’ They were organized by the Kociewskie Women’s Forum Association in collaboration with partners: the Senior Club and the Rural Housewives’ Circle. The funds for the events were provided by Polenergia, in accordance with the Group’s Social Engagement Policy.

Almost 120 works on offshore wind energy were created as part of an art competition organized by Equinor and Polenergia. The competition was the culmination of the education campaign “One sea, many benefits. Offshore wind energy in my region”, which was attended by almost 1500 students from six primary schools in the Słupsk region. The final of the competition with prizes took place in the Lądowisko Kultury in Redzikowo near Słupsk.

Almost one and a half thousand children from six primary schools in the Słupsk region take part in the educational project “One sea, many benefits. Offshore wind energy in my region”. The organizers – Equinor and Polenergia – have planned interactive classes and an art competition with attractive prizes in schools.

Diversity and equal opportunities represent one of the key areas of Polenergia Group’s social engagement in 2023. This domain encompasses initiatives aimed at countering social exclusion, promoting equal opportunities, particularly among the elderly and the sick. Projects also involve the activation of women from rural environments, senior clubs, and support for sports activities among women and girls.

Taking into account the need for physical activation, especially among children and youth, the Polenergia Group supports initiatives that encourage active lifestyles and promote healthy living. Priorities include projects targeting marginalized communities, children and youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, and children from dysfunctional families.

Activities for climate education are part of the Polenergia Group’s Sustainable Development Strategy. We take all environmental activities very seriously, including those carried out as part of school or pre-school education. That is why we are committed to support those educational institutions that operate in communities where Polenergia projects are located and engage in our ‘Green Game’ project. In line with this commitment, we have partnered with the General Education Lyceum No 1 in Nowa Sarzyna to take patronage over their Hydrogen Technology Class.

Actions aimed at local communities play an incredibly important role in the activities of the Polenergia Group. Our responsibility goes beyond just business; it extends to caring for the community and the environment. As part of our employee volunteering program, on October 7th, over 30 employees, along with their families, gathered in the Praga district of Warsaw to support the Otwarte Drzwi Association.

As part of the “Graj z nami w zielone!” initiative, a series of 12 nature lessons were conducted to familiarize children with the importance of biodiversity conservation. The classes took place in the vicinity of the Polenergia Wind Farms in Kostomłoty and Dębsk.

In the territory of Kostomłoty Commune, where the Kostomłoty Wind Farm is being built, two places have been designated to organize accommodation for refugees. A total of 55 places will be prepared: 30 in the Senior Home in Kostomłoty and 25 in the building of the local common room in Mietków.

In its efforts to help local communities, Polenergia does not act alone but has been cooperating with other companies in the region for a number of years.

NSCP supports a number of sports clubs, cultural centers, and specific non-recurring initiatives that are important for its local community, which translates into excellent relations with local residents who also happen to be the Plant’s customers and employees.

For many years the Nowa Sarzyna Cogeneration Plant has been supporting initiatives that are important for the local community, which translates into excellent relations with local residents.

Polenergia supports Nowa Sarzyna in environmental protection and sports activity of the young ones.

Dipol Sp. z o.o. Company (Puck Wind Farm) for a number of years has been supporting the organization of the folklore festival “Gnieżdżewo Boors’ Mischiefs”.

The World Wind Day, which falls on 15 June, is a great opportunity to launch Polenergia’s new educational campaign “Books for the Climate”. 750 books which will help readers care for clean air and stop climate changes, will be donated to 17 township and school libraries in the locations where Polenergia executes its green projects.

After the charitable activity plan was adopted in 2020, in an effort to make the work of Facility Managers and Project Managers easier and help them identify local needs, the Charity Leaders Workshop was held in February 2021 entitled “How to act locally. Social programs in practice.”

As part of our community involvement, we implemented a number of activities in the Miłoradz commune, where we are building our Szymankowo Wind Farm.

In 2019 Polenergia decided to support WOŚP, putting up for auction a trip up the wind turbine in the Mycielin wind farm.