The year 2022 was full of events that are permanently changing the conditions for the offshore wind industry. We asked industry leaders and key policy-makers for their assessment of what has been achieved in the past year and what the forecasts are for 2023. In today’s interview of the „Baltic Sea Offshore Wind – 2022 Summary & 2023 Outlook” series, we present the opinion of Jarosław Trybuchowicz, CEO of Orlen NEPTUN and Baltic Power.
2022 Summary
1) From my perspective the most important developments for the offshore wind industry in 2022 are…
It is undoubtedly the perception of the role of offshore wind energy in ensuring energy security in Europe. Both the European community and individual countries declare their willingness and, more importantly, the necessity to develop offshore wind projects. Achieving a sevenfold increase in installed capacity in Europe by 2030 and an installed capacity of just over 19 GW may seem challenging today, but the dynamics of the offshore wind sector in recent years show that this is not unattainable. Geopolitical situation and even greater rise of renewables is a turning point that we, as a relatively young energy sector, need to exploit effectively.
2) Our main achievements in 2022 are…
The key developments for Orlen NEPTUN are first and foremost the launch of a process of granting concessions for new areas for offshore wind farms and PKN ORLEN’s strategic decision towards the construction of an installation terminal in Świnoujście. In the case of new concessions, we are talking about the application process starting in 2022 for areas with a total capacity of approximately 10-11 GW. Orlen NEPTUN, as the company responsible for new offshore wind projects in the ORLEN Group, strives to acquire as many of the available concessions as possible. We have expertise and, more importantly, resources to timely prepare and execute this type of investment, an example of which is the first of projects developed by the ORLEN Group, i.e. Baltic Power – the most advanced project being implemented in Poland. The decision to build Poland’s first installation terminal for offshore wind farms, which will be operational in 2025, is another of the arguments for ORLEN Group’s readiness and leading role in the Polish offshore wind sector.
2023 Outlook
3) An important challenge for offshore wind development in 2023….
2022 has redefined the role and challenges of offshore wind energy. The need to secure supply chains for current projects is a very important prelude and indicator for further projects in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea, which brings plans to build almost double the capacity. Securing local supply chains and personnel for the construction and future operation of the farms is an obvious task and at the same time a great challenge for the entire sector. However, the most important point, in my opinion, resulting directly from the events of 2022, is the security of the offshore infrastructure and its resilience against interference by external actors.
4) In 2023 we will focus in particular on…
Orlen NEPTUN is focusing on two aspects, and 2023 will be a landmark year for both. On schedule, we will start construction work on Poland’s first installation terminal for offshore wind farms. This will be one of the most modern terminals in Europe, capable of handling the largest jack-up units dedicated to the installation of 15 MW turbines. The terminal, as envisaged, will firstly serve to install components of the Baltic Power farm being built jointly by ORLEN Group and Northland Power, followed by further investments in the Baltic. The second aspect are awaiting us this year pending decisions regarding new locations for farms in the Baltic. We are talking about a total capacity of around 10 GW to be built by 2040. Orlen NEPTUN wants to secure as many concessions as possible in order to ensure timely implementation of projects through synergy effects and to achieve the lowest possible financial outlay. ORLEN Group is also interested in developing projects in the Baltics and, as previously announced, will participate in the auction scheduled for 2023 for the first 700 MW offshore wind farm in Lithuania.
