Polish waters in the Baltic Sea have the capacity to deliver up to 28GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050, according to a new report from the Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA).
The ‘Vision for the Baltic Sea, Vision for Poland: Development of offshore wind in the Baltic Sea region’ report indicated that the sector could cover 60% of Poland’s forecasted national electricity demand by mid-century.
The key to develop the 28GW in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea will be to create a stable regulatory framework with a support scheme for investors, the report said.
“That is why investors have welcomed the publication of the new draft of the Offshore Wind Act, and look forward to the regulations being adopted soon,” PWEA said.
PWEA president Janusz Gajowiecki said: “If we fully utilise the energy potential of the relatively shallow and very windy Baltic Sea, we can become the region’s leader in installed capacity in offshore wind power.
“Thus, wind farms in the Polish exclusive economic zone of the Baltic Sea will become one of the pillars of the energy transition of the country and our contribution to the implementation of the goals of the European Green Deal.”
The report noted that in the Baltic Sea region as a whole only 2.2GW of offshore wind has been developed currently, with the potential to rise to 83GW.
Orsted Offshore head of Continental Europe Rasmus Errboe said the Baltic Region will play an important role in fulfilling the EU’s estimation of 450GW of offshore wind by 2050, with “Poland well placed to become a regional leader”.
Major challenges for the tapping of the Baltic Sea’s full potential include strengthening the interconnection capacity in cooperation with other countries of the region, environmental impact assessment studies and creating a stable supply chain, the report noted.
“Setting ambitious targets in particularly important for suppliers and sub-suppliers of offshore wind farm components, who need a precise time schedule of projects to make necessary investments in the production plants,” PWEA said.