In the coming years Baltic Sea will become one of the main electricity production hubs in the European Union. Permitting for Phase II projects has just ended, and the Polish Baltic Sea areas continue to exhibit potential for new projects. This is an opportunity for producers and suppliers to develop a local supply chain, whose services may be expanded also to other markets. Polish companies, in cooperation with foreign entities, may become an important element of the European and global offshore wind farm supply chain.
Offshore wind energy market in Poland has been growing rapidly in the recent years. New industry benefits so-called local content — Polish companies forming part of production and supply chains. How to exploit the potential of Polish enterprises and measure local content in particular projects will be one of key themes of the Offshore Wind Poland conference, organised by Polish Wind Energy Association on 21–22 November.
The Potential of Polish Enterprises
Currently, only a number of producers operating in Poland is capable of offering complete final products for offshore wind farms (e.g. offshore cables, transformers). Nonetheless, entrepreneurs comprising the national supply chain exhibit a potential to soon become capable of offering key structural elements, including turbine towers or underwater supporting structures. However, this requires urgent and decisive investment. Moreover, the planned growth of the offshore results in the construction in Poland of facilities producing key wind turbine components (rotor blades, tower sections, generators). This is augmented by offshore research, offshore and onshore transport, accommodation and services, and training. It means a great opportunity for Polish enterprises and ports, but also multi-million expenditures required to prepare for completely new tasks.
“Ambitions regarding the offshore volume are key to an efficient strategy for offshore wind in Poland. We also need stable regulations governing revenues, support schemes and streamlined administrative procedures, which today take too much time. As regards local content, key role will be in partnerships with experienced players, enabling a lower CAPEX of new projects,” emphasizes Janusz Gajowiecki, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association.
Experience and Know-How
Know-how from the more mature markets, such as UK or Denmark, demonstrates that the use of experience and proven foreign procedures will help to build a strong offshore wind sector in Poland in a cost-effective manner while contributing to the national industry.
One of the companies that is very active on the offshore market in Poland is Ocean Winds, whose BC-Wind project is in advanced development phase and will be one of the first to be launched in the Polish Baltic Sea waters. The project holds an environmental decision and grid connection conditions, and now focuses on supplier contracting. Electricity production is scheduled to commence in 2027.
“Ocean Winds is experienced in cooperation with Polish companies. In the base scenario for BC-Wind project, OW expects local content in the supply chain to reach approximately 30 percent. For example, onshore substation is designed by a Polish contractor, P&Q, whereas PGNiG Gazoprojekt participates in development of documentation for offshore export cables,” said Kacper Kostrzewa, BC-Wind Project Director.“We are confident that the involvement of Polish companies, enterprises and research institutes will increase with the number of projects developed in Poland. OW is planning to gradually increase local content depending on when and how Phase II and III projects will proceed,” Kacper Kostrzewa added.
Offshore Wind Poland – The Comprehensive Conference on Offshore in Poland
Poland may and should be the leader in offshore wind development in the Baltic sea, for it is offshore wind that will have a substantial impact on the country’s energy security. This year during Offshore Wind Poland 2023 we will discuss what is necessary to exploit the Polish potential to its limits, both in the context of electricity yield as well as industrial production — delivery of sufficient volume of components necessary for development of offshore projects, and also services provided by domestic companies.
Offshore Wind Poland is an extraordinary meeting attended by key players from the offshore wind sector. The event will attract investors, contractors, service providers, industry associations and politicians making decisions concerning offshore wind development. Cooperation between administration and business may cause Poland to become the offshore leader in the Baltic sea, and an exporter of inexpensive and clean electricity. Registration is now open!
Offshore Wind Poland 2023, 21–22 November, Warsaw (www.konferencja-offshore.pl)