Representatives of the Industrial Development Agency JSC took part in the 2nd Polish Wind Energy Suppliers Forum “Energy from Poland – Local First”, which was held on March 2 in Szczecin under the slogan “Wind Factory of Europe.” The Agency was represented by President of the Management Board Bartłomiej Babuśka and Vice-Presidents of the Management Board: Ilona Deręgowska, Łukasz Kotapski, and Krzysztof Telega.

The event brought together representatives of government administration, local governments, energy companies, and the SME sector, focusing on building a strong and competitive supply chain for both onshore and offshore wind energy. It also provided a space for discussion on the role of domestic companies in the energy transition, regulatory barriers, and mechanisms for financing investments in the sector.

“In building the country’s economic independence, we must consistently strengthen the domestic component in supply chains, especially in strategic sectors such as energy. The Polish Wind Energy Suppliers Forum is a space where we bring together the administration, state-owned companies, and entrepreneurs to jointly create a strong, competitive industrial ecosystem. We want the unprecedented scale of investment in energy transformation to translate as much as possible into the development of Polish companies, technologies, and competencies. This is not only a business task, but also a strategic one—from the point of view of national security and the long-term resilience of our economy” – said Minister of State Assets Wojciech Balczun.

“The energy transition requires a strong industrial base. Our task is to create financial and organizational conditions that will enable Polish companies, including those from the SME sector, to participate in the supply chain for wind and nuclear energy. We are analyzing the possibilities of ARP’s involvement, through our companies from the energy sector, in other projects, including those related to the Polish nuclear program. It is crucial that investments made in the country bring lasting value to the domestic economy, build competencies and jobs, and strengthen industrial independence” – said Bartłomiej Babuśka, President of the Management Board of ARP S.A.

Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska referred to the importance of local participation of Polish companies in energy investments.

“The energy transition must strengthen our technological and industrial independence. We cannot replace one dependency with another. That is why we are focusing on local content, so that investments in renewable energy sources, including offshore wind energy, involve Polish companies and employees as much as possible and really strengthen the country’s energy security” – said Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska.

Arkadiusz Marchewka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure, pointed to the key role of ports in the development of offshore wind energy.

“Without modern and efficient port infrastructure, it is not possible to build a strong offshore sector, which is why we are consistently investing in the development of the maritime economy and Polish ports. Record transshipment results and growing port profits show that we are on the right track, and the investments being made—including new terminals and infrastructure expansion—will create a solid foundation for the development of offshore wind energy and the entire domestic supply chain” – emphasized Arkadiusz Marchewka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure.

The importance of local entrepreneurs in creating the domestic supply chain was also highlighted.

“If we want to have a serious discussion about local content, it is in places like Szczecin that this discussion should take place. It is here that companies with the competence and potential to become part of the national offshore supply chain operate. The role of local government is to combine the ambitious framework created at the government level with the energy and commitment of local entrepreneurs. Only in this way will the Polish offshore wind energy program become a real stimulus for the development of the regions and the entire economy” – explained Olgierd Geblewicz, Marshal of the West Pomeranian Province.

The panel discussion “Local content as a tool for the development of Polish industry,” in which Ilona Deręgowska, Vice President of the Management Board of ARP S.A., took part, discussed, among other things, strengthening the competence of the domestic labor market, the role of state-owned companies in building the value chain, and the challenges facing Polish component suppliers.

“Today, we are implementing an unprecedented economic project aimed at strengthening Polish companies in the process of implementing strategic investments. Local content is no longer just a slogan, but has become a real element of state policy. Inspired by Minister of State Assets Wojciech Balczun, the Local Content Team, which I have the honor of leading, is working on comprehensive solutions that will translate into sustainable GDP growth in the coming years and build a strong, competitive industry in Poland” – said Ilona Deręgowska, Vice President of the Management Board of ARP S.A.

The team consists of three working groups: methodology, legislation, and good practices. Their task is to develop a quantifiable definition of local content, create consistent regulations, and develop standards that can be implemented by both state-owned companies and private entities implementing strategic projects.

The energy transition needs Polish companies

Another important topic of the debate was the barriers hindering the increase of Polish companies’ participation in energy projects, particularly in the wind sector. Among other things, the limited number of global suppliers of key technologies, the financial advantage of large contractors, and the problem of negative cash flow in infrastructure projects, which excludes many companies from the SME sector, were pointed out.

The 2nd “Energy from Poland – Local First” Forum is part of a broader initiative to strengthen the potential of the Polish wind sector and integrate small and medium-sized enterprises around strategic energy transition projects. ARP S.A. is consistently involved in activities aimed at building a national value chain, treating local content as one of the key tools of the state’s long-term industrial policy.

Source: Industrial Development Agency JSC