Europeans overestimate energy independence. Offshore wind emerges as a strategic pillar for maritime economy

Europe remains structurally dependent on energy imports, yet public perception across the continent suggests otherwise. A recent study by Ørsted highlights a growing gap between perceived and actual energy independence - one that could influence the pace of the energy transition, including the development of offshore wind.

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22 april 2026   |   23:49   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Orsted

According to Eurostat, the European Union’s energy import dependency stands at approximately 57%, with Poland at 45.7%. Despite this, between 31% and 44% of respondents in surveyed countries - including Poland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands - believe their nations are capable of meeting annual energy demand from domestic resources. In Poland alone, this view is held by 44% of respondents.

Offshore wind: backbone of the future energy mix

With electricity demand in Europe projected to double by 2050, offshore wind is increasingly positioned as a cornerstone of the future energy system. The technology offers competitive levelized cost of energy (LCoE), often below that of new gas-fired and nuclear generation, while maintaining high availability rates - averaging around 91%.

Analysis by Ørsted indicates that an energy system with more than 80% generation from renewables—primarily wind and solar—could reduce total electricity system costs in Europe by nearly 30% by 2040 compared to a fossil-based scenario. Even when accounting for integration costs, these remain relatively limited at around 15% of total system costs (approximately EUR 16/MWh).

Perception gaps hinder offshore deployment

The report identifies misperceptions around cost and reliability as key barriers to offshore wind expansion. In Poland, 55% of respondents perceive offshore wind as more expensive than it actually is, while 56% underestimate its reliability.

At the same time, Europe continues to spend close to EUR 400 billion annually on energy imports, exposing its energy system to geopolitical risks and price volatility. Expanding domestic renewable capacity—particularly offshore wind—offers a pathway to mitigate these vulnerabilities while stabilizing long-term energy costs.

Poland: cost, reliability, and security drive the debate

In Poland, public discourse on energy transition is increasingly shaped by pragmatic concerns. Affordability ranks as the top priority for 30% of respondents, followed by reliability (26%) and energy independence (17%). These factors strongly influence how renewable technologies are assessed.

Importantly, support for renewables remains robust. Some 84% of Polish respondents consider further expansion of renewable energy sources important, with 53% describing it as very important. Over half also recognize strategic benefits such as reduced reliance on energy imports from geopolitically unstable regions and increased resilience to global price shocks.

Implications for the maritime sector

For the maritime economy, offshore wind represents not only an energy transition vector but also a major industrial opportunity. The build-out of offshore wind farms is driving demand for port infrastructure, installation vessels, supply chains, and long-term operations and maintenance services.

As Europe accelerates decarbonization and seeks greater energy sovereignty, offshore wind is set to become a central pillar of both the energy system and the maritime industry—linking energy security with industrial growth and port development across the region.

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offshore wind Europa niezależność energetyczna UE morska energetyka wiatrowa Polska transformacja energetyczna Orsted

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