The Polish Offshore Wind Market: From Potential to Momentum

Offshore wind in the Baltic Sea has become strategically important with its strong wind resources, representing opportunities for long-term energy security by reducing fossil fuel imports, and significant industrial opportunities for ports and coastal regions such as Gdańsk. Poland has strong ambitions with a target of 18 GW offshore wind installed by 2040 – but, more importantly, they are demonstrating a strong capacity to deliver, with projects totalling 9,3 GW having secured a CfD, and 4,9 GW ready-to-buildor in construction.  

Decisive phase for the Polish offshore wind market 

The Polish offshore wind market is entering a decisive execution phase. Projects with several gigawatts of capacity are already under construction or have reached final investment decision (FID), and by 2030 around 6 GW is expected to be installed in thePolish Exclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea. At the same time, further projects with a total potential of approximately 12 GW are advancing through the development phase, supporting the long-term objective of reaching 18 GW by 2040.

– Jakub Budzyński, CEO of the Polish Offshore Wind Industry Chamber (PIMEW)

The Polish Offshore Wind Industry Chamber (PIMEW) is a key industry network representing 170+ companies and supporting growth in the Polish offshore wind sector.  

New manufacturing facilities for wind towers, export cables and key offshore structures, dedicated installation terminals, and O&M port bases along thePomeranian coastline are strengthening Poland’s position in the Baltic Sea region. The Polish offshore wind industry is building comprehensive supply chain capabilities and positioning itself as a reliable and competitive partner for European offshore winddevelopment,

Budzyński continues. 

A Milestone Moment: Poland’s First Offshore Wind Auction 

Poland’s first-ever competitive offshore wind auction was held on 17 December 2025. In the auction, 3,4 GW were awarded to three major projects: PGE Baltica’s Baltica 9, ORLEN Neptun’s Baltic East, and Equinor and Polenergeia’s Bałtyk I. The success ofthis auction strengthens investor confidence in the Polish market. The use of long-term two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfDs) offering 25-year revenue stability is a strong signal for financing and supply chain certainty. 

Steady development builds investor confidence 

A competitive and successful auction builds momentum in a maturing Polish market that has truly come out of the starting blocks and is shaping up to be one of Europe’s most interesting offshore wind markets going forward. This contrasts with severalflopped auctions in Europe the past year and builds renewed confidence in the sector.  

In fact, Poland received the top ranking in Recharge’s November ranking of the European offshore wind markets, and was deemed the most promising case for investors. The fact that Poland’s offshore wind targets are backed by both sides of the political spectrum is identified as key for its ability to deliver in a steady pace – enabled by something as rare as a predictable political framework. 

Poland has a strong offshore wind supply chain that is being further developed as the first projects are entering the construction phase. The Polish ports are getting ready for offshore wind installation with hubs taking shape in Gdańsk and Świnoujście for large-scale installation activities, and smaller ports like Władysławowo, Łeba, and Ustka providing essential service and maintenance support. International suppliers are also taking active part in the development of the Polish offshore wind projects, withactors like Vestas, Windar and Nexans having set up manufacturing facilities in Poland. 

The Pomeranian Province as a Hub for Supply Chain Development 

«Five years ago, we set up the Pomeranian Platform for the Development of Offshore Energy. One of its main objectives is to encourage local companies to participate in the construction of offshore wind farms. Today, we can see the real effects,» says Leszek Bonna, Deputy Marshal of the Pomeranian Province.  

The T5 installation terminal, which will serve the PGE Baltica and Ocean Winds projects, is being built in Gdańsk. Baltic Towers has opened a state-of-the-art wind tower factory. The Crist shipyard is designing and constructing an offshore power station. The Baltic Industrial Group has already constructed two stations for Baltic Power and is manufacturing structures and components for the Baltica 2 project. In Łeba and Ustka, Doraco is developing operational and service bases. This is a concrete map of thesupply chain, not a theoretical one. 

Svenn-Børge Vatland, Leader for Norwegian Offshore Wind’s Working Group for Poland and the Baltics, and Partner and CFO for Vestervind Contractors, also sees the market as very promising. 

«Norwegian Offshore Wind is engaging with the Polish market by building strategic partnerships with key players in the industry such as PIMEW and the PomeranianOffshore Platform. We see that the Pomeranian province is shaping up to be a hub for the development of offshore wind in the Baltic Sea, and recommend joining our upcoming market visit to Gdańsk from 17-19 March for those interested in connecting withthe local supply chain and key industry stakeholders,» he says. 

Looking Ahead – What Comes Next 

The Polish government is planning to award CfD contracts to an additional 8,6 GW of offshore wind projects in the coming years, with auctions planned in 2027 (4,6 GW), 2029 (2 GW) and 2031 (2 GW). The estimated technical potential of the Baltic Sea bordering Poland is 33 GW, meaning that this market could keep growing beyond its 2040 target og 18 GW – and we could potentially end up seeing some floating projects in the future when the areas closest to shore are built out.  

The first three projects have entered the construction phase; Baltic Power (ORLEN/Northland Power), and Bałtyk 2 and 3 (Equinor/Polenergeia). PGE Baltica and Ørsted are also close to starting construction on Baltica 2. This demonstrates Poland’scontinued commitment and ability to deliver on its ambitions. 

Looking ahead, important focus areas for the continued development of this sector will be grid integration, port infrastructure and workforce development. Anchor projects already under development such as Baltic Power have a strategic role in building earlylocal capacity, which will be an important foundation to build upon for the projects to come. 

Building Polish-Norwegian Partnerships in the Energy Transition 

«We see a strong potential for collaboration between the Polish and Norwegian offshore wind supply chains, and that the two countries have many complementary strengths,» says Arvid Nesse, CEO of Norwegian Offshore Wind.  

Poland has strong yards, long experience with components and materials production, as well as solid ports and infrastructure. Norway has decades of offshore experience, and brings specialized competence in deepwater and marine operations, withseveral deepwater ports and specialized vessels. For Polish suppliers, the Norwegian market also offers a golden opportunity to gain experience with floating projects – a competence that could be very valuable for Poland in the future. 

By connecting these strengths, Polish-Norwegian collaboration can contribute to Europe’s broader energy security and industrial competitiveness.  

«This is why we are visiting Gdańsk with a group of companies in March,» says Svenn-Børge Vatland. «Together with our collaboration partners in PIMEW, the Pomeranian Offshore Platform and other local industry actors, we want to contribute to forgingpartnerships between Polish and Norwegian supply chain companies to create concrete business opportunities.» 

Read more about our upcoming market visit and sign up here.