Poland’s Sejm has approved a bill supporting the development of offshore wind energy, paving the way for faster growth of renewable energy and greater energy security.
The legislation, prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, amends the Act on Promoting Electricity Generation in Offshore Wind Farms and other related laws.
It aims to eliminate investment barriers, protect consumers from energy price volatility, and reduce dependence on imported fuels by prioritising domestic offshore wind development.
Climate and environment minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska said the new law will enable more efficient implementation of offshore projects and create a foundation for Poland’s first offshore wind auction.
The Act also introduces digital maps of renewable energy potential to identify optimal sites for future installations.
It allows energy cooperatives to operate in urban areas, expands the rights of tenant prosumers, facilitates energy purchase agreements by local governments, and updates sustainability criteria for biomass fuels.
Poland sees offshore wind as a cornerstone of its energy transformation, citing the Baltic Sea’s favourable wind conditions, shallow waters and low salinity.
According to the government’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan, the country aims to install 5.9GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and about 18GW by 2040.