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New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Poland ramps up offshore wind as energy security dominates political agenda
5/2/2025
News
Poland is focused on developing its domestic offshore wind supply chain in a bid to become the leading offshore wind player in the Baltic Sea, according to trade industry association WindEurope. Construction of two substations for the country’s first offshore wind farm were recently completed, marking the start of commercial-scale offshore wind development in Polish waters. Meanwhile, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU has made energy security and industrial competitiveness two of its main priorities.
Poland aims to have 5.9 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 as part of its first phase of offshore wind projects, reports WindEurope. This phase combines seven individual offshore wind farms, the most advanced of which is Baltic Power. The project will be Poland’s first offshore wind farm, comprising 76 wind turbines, each with a 15 MW capacity. Due to be commissioned in 2026, Baltic Power includes two offshore substations (pictured) constructed by Grupa Przemysłowa Baltic. Once completed, the offshore wind farm will cover 3% of Poland’s current electricity demand, according to the trade association.
The Polish Wind Energy Association estimates Poland’s total offshore wind potential at 33 GW. If fully exploited, this resource would make Poland the leading country for offshore wind in the Baltic Sea, generating enough power to cover more than 50% of Poland’s current electricity demand, notes WindEurope.
Polish Council of the EU Presidency priorities
Completion of Baltic Power’s two substations late last month coincided with Poland’s stint holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU. Presenting the priorities for its six-month Presidency under the slogan ‘Security, Europe!’, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said national security, energy security and industrial competitiveness would be high on the agenda.
Offshore wind energy delivers on all of these priorities, says WindEurope Deputy CEO Malgosia Bartosik. ‘Offshore wind will make Europe stronger and more autonomous. It will make countries like Poland less dependent on energy imports from Russia and elsewhere. It will ensure reliable and cheap electricity for households and businesses. It’s key to Europe’s industrial competitiveness.’
On that point, the European Commission (EC) is set to present its Clean Industrial Deal this month, its ‘new vision for the industrial revival of Europe’, notes WindEurope. Calling the strategy a ‘cornerstone project in the new EC five-year work programme’, the trade association says the initiative is ‘set to double down on the expansion of home-grown, competitive renewables as a critical building block of Europe’s industrial competitiveness, and maintain Europe’s global leadership in decarbonisation amidst increasing economic uncertainty in the world’.
‘It’s more critical than ever that the EU holds a clear course and delivers on its commitments to expand wind energy, decarbonise its economy and reach climate neutrality by 2050,’ comments Bartosik. ‘The kick-off of offshore wind in Poland proves that decarbonisation and competitiveness go hand in hand. Offshore wind will strengthen Europe’s technology leadership, economic growth and international independence.’
Read this week’s feature article (accessible to EI members only) looking at how the energy systems of the Baltic States are disconnecting from Russia’s energy system and joining that of continental Europe, which is three times bigger than Russia’s in terms of power generated.