Offshore wind auction a ‘breakthrough moment’ for Polish energy transition

Describing the auction as a ‘breakthrough moment’ for Poland’s offshore wind industry, the PSEW said it will lead to stable energy prices, a boost for investment in the country measured in hundreds of billions of zlotys, and a tangible strengthening of energy security and the competitiveness of the Polish economy.

“The auction clearly demonstrated that electricity generated from wind is price-competitive, underscoring its important role in building a stable and predictable energy mix in Poland,” said the PSEW.

As a result of the auction, offshore windfarms with a combined generating capacity of 3.4 GW will be developed: Orlen Neptun’s 900-MW Baltic East offshore windfarm; Elektrownia Wiatrowa Baltica 9’s 975-MW Baltica 9 windfarm; and MFW Baltyk I’s 1,560-MW Baltyk I windfarm.

Responding to the successful auction, PSEW president Janusz Gajowiecki said, “The outcome of the auction confirms that offshore wind in Poland has entered a mature implementation phase. This is not only a regulatory success, but a strong signal to the economy that the largest energy transition project in Poland’s history is being carried out consistently and according to plan. 

“Offshore windfarms in the Baltic are moving from projects on paper to the construction of infrastructure that will become the foundation of energy security and economic competitiveness for many years to come,” he said, describing the auction as of “strategic importance.”  Mr Gajowiecki also noted that offshore wind “is one of the few areas in which Poland can simultaneously strengthen energy security, attract investors and increase economic competitiveness.”

The PSEW said offshore wind also represents a tremendous opportunity, especially for Polish companies. “It is estimated that the share of domestic enterprises in the supply chain could exceed 40%,” it said, and “harnessing the full potential of the Polish sector of the Baltic Sea – around 33 GW of potential capacity – would generate investment of approximately PLN869Bn (US$242Bn), including around PLN 88Bn in capital expenditure and about PLN 13Bn annually in operating costs. This would translate into PLN 284Bn in added value for the Polish economy and more than PLN 55Bn in public finance revenues.”

Attention in the sector is now turning to the next stage of offshore wind development in Poland, with further offshore wind auctions planned for 2027 (4 GW), 2029 (2 GW), and 2031 (2 GW). 

“The regularity of these auction rounds is essential to maintaining the competitiveness of the Polish market, building investment predictability, and ensuring continuity across the entire supply chain,” said the PSEW. “At the same time, it enables long-term planning for the development of grids, ports and logistics infrastructure.”