Polish energy from the Baltic: offshore wind as a pillar of the energy transition - Bartosz Fedurek for Daily Mare

Offshore wind energy is becoming one of the key elements of Poland’s energy transition. Projects such as Baltica 2, developed by PGE and Ørsted, are intended not only to provide clean energy to millions of consumers, but also to contribute to the development of the national economy, ports, and the job market. Although Poland is only beginning to build its competencies in the offshore wind sector, ambitious plans and cooperation with industry leaders have the potential to change the national energy mix faster than many expect. We discuss all of this with Bartosz Fedurek, CEO of PGE Baltica.

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03 june 2025   |   07:27   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

Bartosz Fedurek prezes zarząd PGE Baltica fot. PGE Baltica

Offshore wind energy is a key component of Poland’s energy transition. At what stage are PGE Baltica’s projects currently, and when can we realistically expect the first megawatts from the Baltic Sea?

Bartosz Fedurek (CEO of PGE Baltica): The first megawatts in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea will translate into the production of megawatt-hours as early as next year. That’s when the first Polish offshore wind farm is expected to begin operation. Our project — Baltica 2, which PGE is developing jointly with Ørsted — is larger and will begin generating electricity in 2027. A total of 107 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 14 MW, will be capable of producing enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 2.5 million consumers. And when we say "consumers," we don’t mean 2.5 million individuals, but rather households, businesses, schools, public offices, and hospitals — so the actual number of end users benefiting from clean offshore energy will be much higher.

Baltica 2 is our most advanced project — construction of its onshore infrastructure has been underway since last year, and offshore works are set to begin shortly. PGE Baltica, which serves as the competence center for offshore wind within the PGE Group, currently has a portfolio of eight projects at various stages of development, with a total planned capacity of over 6 GW. These include Baltica 1, which we aim to submit in the upcoming auction, as well as others scheduled for development in the next decade.

Poland is said to have enormous offshore wind potential, yet it still trails behind leaders like Denmark and the UK. Can we catch up, and what is holding us back?

Denmark and the UK are very mature markets that started developing offshore wind several decades ago. Both can serve as benchmarks for us. Denmark is a technological leader—Ørsted, for instance, comes from there. It’s our partner in the Baltica 2 and Baltica 3 projects and a global powerhouse with nearly 10 GW of offshore wind capacity installed worldwide. We’re proud to have such a partner and to work together on a joint project.

The UK, on the other hand, sets the standard for a well-structured regulatory environment. In fact, Polish regulations, including those governing auctions and Contracts for Difference (CfDs), have drawn inspiration from the British model. These are valuable reference points—high bars that challenge us to aim higher and follow proven practices.

I would like to see the entire Polish offshore sector follow in the footsteps of these advanced markets and at least try to keep pace, especially since those markets continue to evolve. There are numerous obstacles, of course, but these are common across many European countries. One shared challenge is permitting—the long and complex process of securing decisions and administrative approvals.

Some countries, like Sweden, have suspended projects due to national security concerns. Are Polish investments at risk?

That’s not an entirely accurate picture. Sweden did reject several projects at the application stage, but others are still moving forward. One example is the Poseidon offshore wind farm, which is expected to generate 5.5 TWh annually—comparable to our Baltica 2. This project received the green light from the Swedish government on the same day that other applications were halted. Several other projects are in pre-development, and one large project with 2.8 GW of planned capacity recently received a positive administrative decision.

These developments in Sweden do not affect investments in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. We operate under a completely different regulatory framework. In Poland, spatial planning for offshore wind farms and the granting of location permits have been coordinated with the Ministry of National Defence (MON) from the very beginning. Swedish projects were not developed with such an approach in place.

Building wind farms is not just about turbines at sea—it’s also about the onshore infrastructure: ports, service bases, storage. Are Polish ports ready to handle such large-scale investments?

No one has built offshore wind farms in Poland before, so the infrastructure needed for construction and operation is only now being developed. In our case, we’ve secured space at the Port of Gdańsk, where a dedicated installation terminal—T5—is being built specifically for the turbine installation phase of the Baltica 2 project. Another key but smaller-scale investment is the operations and maintenance (O&M) base we are developing in Ustka, which will initially support Baltica 2 and later other offshore wind farms.

The installation terminal in Gdańsk, the O&M base in Ustka—these projects are generating a lot of excitement. What role will they play in the development of Poland’s offshore sector?

The O&M base in Ustka is the heart of the whole system. It enables the continuous and reliable generation of electricity from offshore wind farms—potentially for 30 years, which is the expected operational lifespan. Experts at the base will monitor turbine performance remotely, while technicians will go out to sea to carry out necessary maintenance.

This type of infrastructure also has a significant impact on coastal communities. Similar bases are being developed in Łeba and Władysławowo, and they are already changing the character of these port towns—while still maintaining a connection to the maritime economy.

But for the O&M base to fulfill its role, the wind farm must first be built—and for that, we need the installation terminal. The concept behind the T5 terminal in Gdańsk is that it won’t serve just one project. It’s too large and too costly an investment to be limited to a single development. Once operational, T5 will be available to other developers working on Baltic Sea projects—not just Polish ones. For example, Lithuanian offshore wind projects might also find T5 an attractive logistics hub.

Turbines are getting larger, and water depths are increasing—how are modern technologies transforming the offshore industry, and is PGE Baltica embracing innovation? I ask because offshore wind, especially turbines, has raised concerns, particularly among fishers.

These are two different issues. In terms of offshore wind innovation, we’re seeing the emergence of floating foundations, larger and more powerful individual turbines, and technologies that improve construction and operational efficiency. When depths were too great for monopile foundations, floating foundations were developed.

The clearest example of innovation is the scaling of turbine size and capacity. The first offshore wind farm in Denmark, built over 30 years ago, had a total capacity of 5 MW. Today, a single turbine for our Baltica 2 project will have a capacity of 14 MW. The bigger the turbine, the more energy it can generate, which reduces the cost per kilowatt-hour.

To illustrate: instead of installing ten 10 MW turbines, you can install five 20 MW turbines. This can reduce costs—fewer installation trips for vessels and fewer turbines to maintain. So innovation and cost-efficiency go hand in hand.

As for fishers, we fully understand their concerns. Both sides recognize that construction and later operation will mean some limitations on fishing activity. As investors, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with the fishing community to develop solutions that are acceptable for all stakeholders.

What about floating wind farms? Should Poland already be considering this technology?

Floating wind is a solution for deep-water locations where it’s technically and economically challenging to install traditional fixed-bottom turbines. Yes, such projects are being developed globally—there are already operational floating wind farms off the coasts of Scotland, Norway, and the Iberian Peninsula, to name just Europe.

In Poland, however, we’re working in relatively shallow waters—on so-called shoals—where there’s no need for floating foundations. All areas awarded to developers so far are suitable for fixed-bottom technology. Our priority should be to successfully build the first farms using that proven approach.

The cost of building offshore wind farms runs into the billions. Will the investment pay off? When will offshore wind begin delivering real benefits to Poland?

Let’s start with one of the most important advantages of offshore wind—it’s windier and more stable at sea than on land. This translates into a much more consistent and predictable power output compared to other weather-dependent renewables. Offshore wind requires less backup capacity in the form of gas plants or energy storage, and it’s cost-competitive with other generation technologies: coal, gas, nuclear, and even onshore wind.

The benefits of offshore wind will be felt on several levels. First, there’s the prospect of lower electricity prices. Second, it strengthens Poland’s energy security—wind is domestic and doesn’t need to be imported. Offshore wind reduces the need for importing energy commodities.

Third, it contributes to economic growth. A massive new industrial sector is taking shape around offshore wind. Two large installation ports are under development, along with several smaller service bases. Polish construction companies are securing contracts. Many local firms are building their long-term business models around servicing the offshore wind supply chain, leading to new jobs. Increasingly, Polish companies are successfully competing in tenders for offshore wind projects—and this trend will only grow as more developments move forward.

Electricity prices are an emotionally charged topic. Will offshore wind help Poles pay less for power, or is it a luxury that will only pay off a decade from now?

It will help people pay less—and we won’t have to wait ten years for that. On one hand, the energy mix will contain more renewables, including offshore wind. On the other, aging and inefficient coal units with high production costs will gradually be phased out. That means the system will rely less on expensive generation, leading to lower bills.

It’s also worth citing data from the Polish Wind Energy Association. They estimate that implementing the full offshore wind development program—totaling 18 GW—could reduce wholesale electricity prices by as much as 50%.

Offshore wind farms are considered environmentally friendly, but are they truly neutral for the Baltic Sea's ecosystem? What steps is PGE Baltica taking to minimize environmental impact?

There are many measures being taken. It’s important to understand that, like any major infrastructure project, the construction of offshore wind farms must be preceded by an environmental impact assessment. In this case, however, it involves thorough investigation of both marine and onshore ecosystems. This results in an extensive environmental report—a comprehensive resource that not only describes the baseline state of the environment but also outlines in detail how the investor will minimize impacts.

Every aspect is studied: birds, fish, marine mammals, and plant life. For our project, for example, ongoing surveys are counting birds and porpoises. These surveys will be repeated at regular intervals—before, during, and after construction—to track how populations evolve over time.

Knowing that the site for Baltica 2 serves as a wintering ground for long-tailed ducks, we have designed a multi-kilometer corridor between turbine rows to avoid disrupting their natural behavior. During construction, noise mitigation measures such as bubble curtains are used to protect marine life from underwater noise generated by piling. These are just a few examples. Offshore wind will always involve some level of environmental interference—our responsibility is to ensure that this is as limited as possible.

Fishermen are concerned that offshore wind could restrict their fishing grounds. How is PGE Baltica addressing this challenge?

We’ve touched on this earlier. The fishing community has already been impacted by EU-imposed quotas, and we do not want to be seen as another factor threatening their livelihoods. At the same time, it's worth noting that fishing in the Baltic Sea is a shrinking sector, mainly due to overfishing and deteriorating ecosystem health—as highlighted by institutions such as Instrat.

Therefore, it is in the shared interest of developers and fishermen to create conditions for coexistence. That doesn't only mean finding ways to maintain access to fishing areas but also exploring new roles for fishermen in the offshore industry. For example, they can be employed to help patrol offshore construction zones—areas they know well—or supported with training to enable career transitions into offshore wind. Many developers, including us, are already taking such steps.

Poland needs thousands of offshore wind specialists. What competencies will be most critical for those seeking careers in this sector?

Workforce development is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry—mainly because until recently, Poland didn’t have a domestic offshore wind market. That’s now changing, and we can imagine a scenario where Polish technicians currently working abroad in offshore wind would gladly return home to perform the same roles here.

We are seeing interest from people who already have experience in onshore wind—this provides a strong foundation. However, the offshore environment requires a range of specific certifications and training, for example in working at heights or in marine environments, typically accredited by industry-recognized bodies.

But offshore wind isn’t only about working at sea. Many roles are based onshore: analysts, environmental specialists, procurement officers, geophysicists. The range of competencies needed is vast, and it spans both technical and non-technical fields.

Are partnerships with universities and vocational training programs keeping pace with the rapid development of offshore wind in Poland?

Yes, and that’s a key part of addressing the growing demand for qualified personnel. For several years, PGE Baltica has been actively collaborating with universities in the Pomeranian region. Our joint objective is to educate the next generation of engineers and managers for the entire industry.

We’re also going a step further by engaging with technical school students, such as those in Ustka, where two specialized vocational classes are now in place. These students could eventually form part of the future offshore wind workforce. It’s encouraging to see new academic programs focused on offshore wind energy emerging at universities. We’re also observing a growing number of Polish companies offering offshore-specific training. This is a positive trend—the more diverse the education and training ecosystem becomes, the greater the opportunity for individuals to begin their professional journey in offshore wind.

Offshore wind development has been described as a marathon, not a sprint. Do you agree with that characterization? And what are the biggest remaining hurdles for Polish offshore wind farms?

"Marathon" is an apt description. Just consider that Baltica 2 received its site permit back in 2012. It wasn’t until January this year that, together with our Danish partner, we made the final investment decision. This illustrates just how time-consuming these first-of-their-kind projects can be. But we must also remember that these are Poland’s first offshore wind farms. Future projects should move faster—we now have a reasonably solid regulatory framework and developers are gaining hands-on experience.

Rather than focusing on barriers, I’d highlight what the industry needs most: a long-term national strategy and a stable regulatory environment. That kind of predictability is crucial for planning large-scale investments over the coming decades. A key element here is the continuation of offshore wind auctions. The next one is expected later this year—and it will be Poland’s first auction for offshore wind. Contracts for Phase I projects were awarded through administrative decisions. A gap or lack of positive outcomes in future auctions could severely disrupt investment plans—not only for developers, but for the entire emerging domestic supply chain that is being built with future projects in mind.

What is your vision for Poland’s offshore wind sector in 2040? Could we become a regional leader?

We’re already becoming a regional leader—in terms of project execution, port infrastructure development, and supply chain growth. Poland has the potential to fully deliver on its 18 GW offshore wind target outlined in the Offshore Wind Act by 2040. We can establish ourselves as a key hub for offshore wind in the Baltic Sea, with Polish suppliers and contractors successfully competing for international contracts.

This isn’t just a milestone in Poland’s energy transition—it’s also a major economic opportunity. It could drive growth across multiple sectors: steel, metallurgy, shipbuilding, port operations, logistics, and more. It means tens of thousands of quality, future-proof jobs. We must not waste this historic opportunity.

If you could deliver one key message to the public about offshore wind—what would it be?

Keep your fingers crossed for the successful construction of offshore wind farms. These are massive, complex energy projects—but they promise substantial benefits for Poland. I truly believe that once the first turbines are spinning and producing clean electricity, it will become far easier for everyone to understand how vital and valuable this technology really is.

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PGE Baltica Bartosz Fedurek offshore transformacja energetyczna morskie farmy wiatrowe

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