State-owned Polish transmission system operator PSE has said that as much as 8 GW of offshore wind capacity could be installed in Poland.
PSE president Eryk Kłosowski said 4 GW of offshore wind could be installed in the Polish sector of the Baltic by 2026/27 with up to 8 GW in the longer term.
Poland has become a major player in the offshore wind supply chain in recent years with major investments in the manufacturing of turbine foundations and the cranes and jack-up vessels used in installation and maintenance. The Polish wind industry now supports 12,000 jobs. This number would grow significantly with the development of a domestic offshore wind market.
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said “This commitment to help kick-start the Polish offshore wind market is excellent news.
“After a period of stagnation in onshore wind, it will put Poland back on the European wind energy map. It will help diversify Poland’s energy mix and support further growth and job creation in Poland’s successful offshore wind supply chain.
“The skills and industrial expertise needed to meet these volumes is in place. It is great that the transmission system operator has confirmed that the Polish electricity grid can support them too. The Baltic offers enormous growth potential for offshore wind and it’s very good to see that Poland is gearing up to play its part in fulfilling that.”
Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA) president Janusz Gajowiecki said “Today Polish companies could deliver up to 50% of the components required to build offshore windfarms. PWEA has identified almost 80 companies that could deliver the necessary products and services, starting from offshore windfarm design and planning; production and installation of turbine components and connection infrastructure; to offshore windfarm operation and maintenance”.
In March 2018 Norwegian energy company Statoil signed an agreement with Polenergia, the largest privately-owned energy group in Poland, to collaborate on the construction of offshore windfarms in the Baltic.
Source: http://www.owjonline.com/news/view,8-gw-plan-puts-poland-back-on-wind-energy-map_51382.htm