A Strong Wind Energy Industry in Poland in 10 steps

Two hundred thousand new jobs and PLN 450 billion of added value for the Polish economy  – the Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA) presents its report “Development of the Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy Industry in Poland” and proposes 10 steps without which the achievement of such an ambitious goal will not be possible.

Wind energy today

The Wind Energy Industry has  huge development potential throughout the European Union, including Poland. The total capacity of wind farms in the European Union is currently 255 GW, of which 225 GW is onshore power capacity and 30 GW is offshore wind energy capacity. At the end of 2023, Poland’s onshore power capacity amounted to 9.3 GW  (+1.8 GW is under construction; we currently do not have offshore wind farms), thus accounting for 3.78% of the total installed capacity in the EU. Such capacity translated into the share of wind energy in the country’s electricity production at a level of 11% in 2022, and in the period January-November 2023 it was almost 13%.

Plans until 2030

The European Union’s ambitious goal is to achieve an installed wind capacity
of 500 GW by 2030. Poland’s goals may be no less ambitious. According to PWEA, the Polish Wind Energy  Industry’s development potential by 2030 may range from 21.3 GW to 26.6 GW (12.7-18 GW onshore and 8.6 GW offshore), which would account for 4.26% to 5.32% of installed capacity in the EU.

Such dynamic development would mean that in 2030 employment in onshore wind energy would amount to 50 to 97 thousand FTEs, and the value of orders for products and services in this segment could amount to as much as PLN 80 billion. This would generate an increase in Polish GDP at a level of PLN 70-133 billion, and local content (the share of Polish companies within the supply chain) could reach up to 76%. In the case of offshore wind energy, employment could amount to 63,000 FTEs, the value of investments would amount to almost PLN 100 billion, the value added to GDP would be at the level of PLN 46 billion, and local content would amount to approx. 50 percent.

Almost 70 GW of capacity in 2040?

According to PWEA, the forecast for the development of wind energy until 2040 is 36 GW onshore and 33 GW offshore with the  best scenarios for the development of wind technology and with maximum use of potential. These goals are much more ambitious than those set out in the strategic document “National Energy Policy until 2040” updated in June. (PEP2040), referred for pre-consultation. The proposal provides for an increase in capacity to 20 GW onshore and 18 GW offshore.

The maximum plan would translate into 200,000 new jobs, over PLN 450 billion of added value for the Polish economy and would bring almost PLN 100 billion of possible income for Polish companies in the construction phase. In addition, it would create a stable and competitive industry, based on long term International contacts.

“How to do it” in 10 steps

In PWEA’s opinion, in order for the above plans to materialise, it will be necessary to implement the following action plan:

1. Update of  “Poland’s Energy Policy” to ensure ambitious goals for the production of electricity from RES, including in particular onshore and offshore wind energy in the period until 2050;
2. Supplementing  “Poland’s Industrial Policy” with provisions on building a strong wind energy industry as an opportunity for the Polish economy and its innovation;
3. Update of the “Spatial Development Plan for Poland’s Maritime Areas” in order to identify new areas where it would be possible to implement further offshore wind farm projects;
4. Simplification of administrative procedures for the development of onshore and offshore wind farms in order to speed up the implementation of projects and build Poland’s energy independence as soon as possible;
5. Support for the development of the Polish Wind  Energy industry using existing and new financial mechanisms, including EU funding;
6. Preparing the staff necessary for the growing wind industry – providing tailored education and reskilling programs;
7. Creation of mechanisms to support the involvement of local producers within the framework of regulations defined at EU level;
8. Implementation into National Law  the provisions of the Regulation on the establishment of a framework of measures to strengthen the European ecosystem for the production of carbon-neutral technology products (the so-called Net Zero Industry Act – NZIA);
9. Implementation of the European Wind Charter in Poland, which will strengthen the wind sector by supporting local supply chains and defining quality criteria in tenders for energy from wind farms;
10. Creating appropriate administrative facilities and coordinating work within the Ministries of State Assets, Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, Climate and Environment, Industry, and Development and Technology.

Source: The PWEA Report, Strategic Document of the Ministry of Climate and Environment “Polish Energy Policy until 2040” and document update