Gdansk, Poland – The Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Energy Summit recently convened in Gdansk, bringing together key stakeholders to address the pivotal issue of supply chain development for the burgeoning offshore wind sector in the region. A central panel discussion, featuring representatives from developers, manufacturers, financing institutions, and industry associations, highlighted both the significant progress made and the considerable hurdles that remain in establishing a robust and resilient supply chain.

The discussion, moderated by Krzysztof Bulski of BalticWind.EU, kicked off with Cat Brown, Deputy Project Director at Baltic Power, who emphasized the critical importance of early engagement with the market to build an effective supply chain. Drawing on Baltic Power’s five-year experience, Brown stated, “It’s starting to get involved with the market early“. She underscored the proactive approach taken by Baltic Power to encourage local content, even amidst the challenges of the pandemic and geopolitical instability. While acknowledging Poland’s existing industrial base, Brown stressed the need for continued investment and dedication from both the Polish market and the broader offshore wind industry to fully realize the potential of the local supply chain.

Daniel Ozon, Advisor to the Management Board of CRIST S.A., a European shipbuilder, offered a unique perspective from within the supply chain itself. He highlighted CRIST’s track record in building installation vessels for the offshore wind sector but voiced concerns about the growing reliance on the Chinese supply chain, particularly for specialized vessels, citing geopolitical risks. “So you may imagine we are putting uh the European offshore wind at risk in a sense that uh 300 gawatt to be built a very very much dependent on the Chinese supply chain if you believe or not but these vessels are being built for four years. It takes four years from the starting point to the completion to the delivery“. Ozon advocated for greater support for European manufacturers, especially in Poland, to create a more resilient regional supply chain. He also touched upon the financial limitations that can restrict the growth of local businesses aiming to scale up and compete globally.

Victoria Toft, Head of Supply Chain at Aegir Insights, provided a global overview of the supply chain landscape. While acknowledging the bottlenecks in vessel availability worldwide, she offered an optimistic view of Poland’s progress in building its offshore wind supply chain, noting the impressive development of component factories despite the market being in its early stages. Toft emphasized the importance of executing on the current project pipeline across the Baltics to provide a consistent demand signal that would further enable supply chain growth in an efficient manner. She suggested that a smoother execution pipeline, with projects following each other, would reduce risks and avoid cannibalization within the supply chain.

Janusz Gajowiecki, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association, focused on the economic benefits of a strong European supply chain. He argued that a resilient European supply chain, rather than solely a local one, would guarantee lower long-term costs. Gajowiecki highlighted the Polish wind industry’s proactive efforts to strengthen the supply chain, including the establishment of the Wind Industry Hub and a comprehensive analysis identifying opportunities for Polish manufacturers. He expressed optimism that with the right strategic direction and government support, Poland could become a significant player in the European offshore wind supply chain. He stated that a document outlining a strategy for strengthening the Polish supply chain has been prepared for the Prime Minister’s approval, signifying a crucial step forward.

Paweł Lewandowski, Senior Loan Officer at the European Investment Bank (EIB), offered the perspective of a financing institution. He acknowledged the current challenging economic environment with high inflation impacting supply chain costs and potentially affecting project valuations. Lewandowski emphasized that while the EIB cannot directly influence inflation or energy prices, it can play a role in improving the supply chain’s availability, which would positively impact project economics. He noted the increased risk developers face as supply chain manufacturers seek to shift liabilities and price risks. Regarding the preference for European suppliers, Lewandowski clarified that the EIB’s primary concern is verifying the contractor’s track record, experience, and creditworthiness and ensuring a fair EU procurement process, rather than prioritizing local companies solely based on their location.

Jānis Ločmelis, Head of ELWIND Project Division, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, highlighted the potential for cross-border collaboration within the Baltic Sea region to build a comprehensive supply chain. He noted that while Poland has made significant strides, other Baltic states like Latvia are also actively developing their port infrastructure and seeking to attract investors to serve future offshore wind projects. Ločmelis emphasized the importance of utilizing the competitive advantages of each country within the region and leveraging EU funding to support infrastructure development.

The discussion also touched upon the crucial role of ports in offshore wind development, a theme echoed in a separate context by Marek Świerżyński, Engineering Associate Director at Ocean Winds. Świerżyński, while not part of this specific panel but a key participant at the summit, emphasized that ports are fundamental for the industry’s growth, requiring long-term investments. He pointed to Ocean Winds’ experience in Poland, selecting a service port in Władysławowo and progressing with port selection for foundations and turbines. Świerżyński stressed the need for Baltic ports to learn from the experience of established North Sea ports while adapting to local conditions and current market trends to handle increasingly large components. He expressed optimism that the Baltic region’s port infrastructure would be ready within two years to support ambitious offshore wind targets.

A recurring theme throughout the panel discussion was the time horizon associated with offshore wind projects and the development of the necessary infrastructure. Victoria Toft noted that building large factory investments can take at least five years. Kat Brown highlighted the challenges of long-term assumptions, especially with the rapid technological advancements in turbine size, and the need for a degree of standardization to benefit the supply chain.

In conclusion, the Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Energy Summit panel underscored the complex interplay of factors involved in building a successful offshore wind supply chain in the region. While Poland is emerging as a key player with significant industrial capacity and ambitious plans, collaboration across the Baltic Sea, strategic investments, supportive financial mechanisms, and a clear vision for long-term development are all crucial for realizing the full potential of offshore wind energy in the area and contributing to Europe’s broader energy transition goals. The need for a resilient European supply chain, capable of mitigating geopolitical risks and fostering economic growth, remains a central priority for the industry.

The Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Energy Summit 2025 underscored the significance of collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning in pursuing a sustainable energy future. Key support for the event was provided by Leading Summit Partners PGE Baltica and Baltic Power, along with Official Summit Partners Ignitis Renewables, OW Ocean Wind, the Royal Danish Embassy, Rumia Invest Park, and the Danish Energy Agency.

The next edition of the Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Summit 2025 will be held in Brussels in October, with a return to Gdansk scheduled for March 2026.