A step towards a green transition in Poland

Offshore wind in the Baltic Sea to make a bigger contribution to Poland’s green transition. DTU-collaboration may accelerate the process, writes the Danish university in a press release.

Historically, Poland has based its energy production on coal mining. The Polish coal mines have been—and still are—a significant factor in the Polish economy. However, the winds of change are blowing, a process that started in earnest last year when Poland’s climate minister Michał Kurtyka announced that the country will invest in renewable energy, and build gigantic wind farms in the Baltic Sea. In this connection, the countries around the Baltic Sea signed an agreement to develop new offshore wind farms in the area. Denmark was one of the signatories.

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However, you do not transform a nation’s energy supply overnight. In Denmark, the development has taken about 40 years. During this period, Danish researchers, engineers, and companies have acquired extensive experience which has put Danish wind research at the front of its field, and which can now benefit the Polish transition.

It has resulted in the Polish energy company PGE (Polska Grupa Energetyczna) and the Gdańsk University of Technology reaching out to DTU Wind Energy, one of the world’s leading research institutes in the field. Initially, the parties have signed a memorandum of understanding.

“The path from decision-making to the establishment of offshore wind turbines in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea can be shortened considerably if one takes advantage of the experience gained in Denmark,” says Cathy Suo, Head of Division for Wind Energy Systems at DTU Wind Energy.

“The path from decision-making to the establishment of offshore wind turbines in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea can be shortened considerably if one takes advantage of the experience gained in Denmark”
Cathy Suo

Offshore wind turbines require engineers

In continuation of the memorandum of understanding which the parties have signed, there will be an exchange of knowledge, students, and researchers. Initially, for example, conferences, workshops, internships, and study visits will be organized as well as the development of joint project applications to the EU or other organizations. In the long run, this could lead to the Gdańsk University of Technology wanting to be able to train its own engineers with the necessary expertise.

“Teaching the teaching staff will enable the technical universities to train tomorrow’s engineers, who need expert knowledge of the very complex aspects of offshore wind turbine technology,” says Cathy Suo.

First step towards a Baltic transition

Furthermore, Cathy Suo sees the exchange with Poland as an important step towards sustainable energy production. Initially, this will lead to increased offshore wind turbine capacity in Poland, but may well soon include all the Baltic Sea states.

“We’re in dialogue with Lithuania, which is also willing to participate in the green transition, and thus we’re taking the first steps towards making the Baltic region greener. The first steps are often the hardest, so they are crucial to the development being sought by Europe and the world. In short, it’s important that we bolster the green transition and realize it faster.”

At the same time, the Polish energy authorities have entered into an agreement with the Danish energy company Ørsted on the establishment of the first offshore wind farms in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. Ørsted expects that this will also accelerate the local supply chain, and promote economic activity in the area.

Poland’s ambitions for offshore wind power

In Poland’s energy policy up to 2040, offshore wind power is highlighted as a key technology that can transform Poland into a low-emission economy, and Poland’s Offshore Wind Act sets out the country’s ambitions for offshore wind power: Today, Poland has no offshore wind power capacity, but in future is undertaking to install 3.8 GW by 2030 and up to 11 GW by 2040, while analyses identify a potential of up to 28 GW in Polish waters by 2050. This will make Poland the largest market for offshore wind power in the Baltic Sea region and make a significant contribution to the European Commission’s goal of 300 GW of offshore wind power capacity in European waters by 2050 to achieve the EU’s goal of climate neutrality.