By the end of 2030, 4 GW of offshore wind farms (OWF) may be built in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea, and by the end of 2035 the capacity may reach 8 GW. According to the Foundation for Sustainable Energy (FNEZ), the potential of the OWF in Poland could reach 30-36 TWh of energy per year.
According to the latest analyzes of offshore wind energy market potential in Poland, conducted by FNEZ as part of a program “Baltic energy for Poland 2025”, Poland has a unique opportunity to implement an ambitious plan to install 8 GW in offshore wind farms. In conjunction with a parallel development of gas power sources at a level of approximately 4 GW and the construction of a transnational offshore grid interconnections with a capacity of 2-3 GW, offshore energy can play a key role in ensuring energy security for Poland in the years 2025-2035.
Offshore energy also means a great economic impulse for the Polish industry. For many years, Polish companies have been providing components for the offshore energy industry. They specialize in production of foundations, towers and steel structures, marine cables and transformer stations as well as vessels for the construction and servicing of offshore farms.
According to analysis performed by FNEZ, after 2020 offshore energy may become one of the key pillars of the Polish economy. Polish maritime industry could provide up to 60-70 percent share of the supply chain for OWF. However, in order to use the Baltic Sea energy potential and create a competitive offshore sector in Poland it is necessary to create a stable legal and market conditions that will be incentivize investments – emphasized Maciej Stryjecki, the President of the Management Board in FNEZ.
Results of the offshore wind energy potential analysis are included in the updated FNEZ’s “Polish offshore wind energy and maritime industry development programme”. Currently FNEZ is working on scenarios for energy sector including development of gas and offshore wind generation as well as gas and electricity transmission grids. The results will be consulted during the Baltic Energy Industry Forum in Warsaw on February 28 – March 1, 2018.