The Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Summit 2025, held at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk, was an important event for offshore wind development in the Baltic Sea region. Aimed at fostering regional coordination, the programme addressed key issues including energy security, infrastructure development, technological innovation and human resource development.
Award for Energy Integration
The summit opened with the presentation of the first ‘Baltic Wind Award,’ honouring the historic integration of the Baltic States into the European energy grid. This momentous achievement marks the severing of long-standing ties with Russian and Belarusian networks, strengthening European energy security. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and the European Commission were jointly honoured for this strategic achievement. Dan Jørgensen, EU Energy Commissioner, praised the synchronisation as a ‘historic event for the European Union’ and highlighted the European Commission’s financial commitment of more than €1.2 billion to support grid integration. ‘This would not have been possible without the strong cooperation of the countries in the Baltic Sea Region and the full political, technical and financial support of the Commission, working together with the Member States to make the Energy Union our common reality,’ said Commissioner Jørgensen.
Ambassador of Estonia to Poland Miko Haljas accepting the Baltic Wind Award
Key Pillars for Discussion
The summit brought together more than 200 international participants, including industry leaders, policy makers and experts, who took part in discussions across ten panels and keynote presentations. The event focused on four key pillars:
- Security: Participants highlighted the key role of offshore wind energy in strengthening energy security and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister and President of the European Parliament, stressed that an efficient energy system is essential for European defence and industry. ‘We do not want to pay billions of euros for energy supplies to a state ruled by an aggressive despot like Putin. That is why energy development and protection are crucial,’ Buzek said.
- Infrastructure: Discussions focused on the development of a robust energy infrastructure to support the development of offshore wind energy.
- Supply Chain: The importance of creating a strong and independent supply chain for offshore wind energy was emphasised. Jerzy Buzek stressed the need for the EU to be independent from external production in all parts of the supply chain. ‘We need to mobilise much more resources under the multiannual financial framework. We cannot rely on favourable winds for security, we have to rely on ourselves. The time for action is now,’ he concluded.
- Workforce and Innovation: The summit addressed the need for skilled professionals and technological advances to drive the offshore wind sector.
Baltic Sea: the Wind Energy Centre
The Baltic Sea region is fast becoming the main investment location for offshore wind energy, alongside the North Sea. Commissioner Jørgensen highlighted Poland’s ambitious plans to significantly increase its offshore wind energy capacity, predicting that Poland could account for almost half of the total offshore wind energy capacity in the Baltic by 2040. Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Minister for Climate, emphasised that offshore wind energy in the Baltic is not only an opportunity for clean energy, but also a boost for energy security and economic development across the region. ‘Offshore wind energy is the key to energy sovereignty and independence from fossil fuels. It is also an opportunity for Polish companies. The development of this sector will create new jobs and contribute to building a green economy in our country,’ – she stated.
Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania Airidas Daukšas accepting the Baltic Wind Award
Lithuania’s commitment to offshore wind energy
Airidas Daukšas, Deputy Minister of Energy of Lithuania, underlined Lithuania’s commitment to the development of renewable energy sources, including offshore wind energy. ‘Lithuania has set ambitious targets for offshore wind energy development, aiming to increase energy independence and renewable energy production,’ Daukšas noted. Lithuania plans to build two offshore wind farms with a total capacity of 1.4 GW and aims to increase the installed capacity of offshore wind energy to 4.5 GW by 2050.
In her speech, Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska emphasised that offshore wind energy in the Baltic Sea is not only an opportunity for clean energy, but also for strengthening energy security and economic development of the entire region. ‘Offshore Wind is the key to energy sovereignty and independence from fossil fuels. It is also an opportunity for Polish companies. The development of this sector will create new jobs and contribute to building a green economy in our country,’ – said the Climate Minister.
Hennig-Kloska assured that the Polish government is doing everything to accelerate the energy transition process. ‘We want the installed capacity of offshore wind energy to be close to 6 GW by 2030. By 2040, it should already be 18 GW’. – she conveyed.
Touching on the programme to build offshore wind farms, Hennig-Kloska pointed out that such investments strengthen energy security and the competitiveness of the Polish economy. ‘We have prepared a draft amendment to the Offshore Wind Act, which introduces improvements for projects already underway. It aims to improve the efficiency and flexibility of processes related to the construction and operation of offshore wind farms. These solutions are intended to accelerate investments so that the Baltic is the centre of our country’s economic development, but also the heart of modern energy,’ she explained.
The climate minister also added that the Polish government is investing in the construction and modernisation of the electricity grid and the development of energy storage to maximise the potential of clean energy coming from the Baltic Sea.
Challenges and Future Directions
While the summit celebrated significant progress in offshore wind development, it also touched on the challenges that lie ahead.
Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope, called for continued changes in European policy to ensure consistent support for offshore investment. He highlighted EU regulations that offer bonuses to companies switching to clean energy, provided the energy is produced locally, arguing that this excludes offshore farms if the green energy consumer is far away. Dickson stated: ‘It cannot be the case that the Commission only supports wind or solar energy that is produced nearby. Not everyone has the capacity to do that; that is bad for offshore wind energy. I appeal to you, put pressure on the Polish government not to agree to such regulations.’
Janusz Gajowiecki, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association, pointed to disinformation and propaganda attacks by Russian services to undermine offshore wind energy projects. He noted: ‘It is well known that Putin hates RES, especially wind energy, because these are energy sources over which he has no influence. Therefore, false information, rumours and half-truths are spread to slow down investment processes. This year we have seen a particular increase in such activity. Unfortunately, these waves of rumours are sometimes echoed in various circles and media. And it is important to be aware that these are deliberate provocations on the part of Russia, aimed at undermining the energy security of Europe and Poland.’
Looking to the Future
The BalticWind 2025 Offshore Wind Summit demonstrated the importance of collaboration, innovation and strategic planning in moving towards a sustainable energy future. Looking to the future, BalticWind.EU is pleased to announce that the second edition of the Summit will take place in Brussels this October, providing a platform for further dialogue between key stakeholders and EU institutions on integrating the resources of the Baltic Sea region for the advancement of offshore wind energy investments. The Summit will return to Gdansk in 2026, where we will continue to build partnerships and drive progress in this key sector.
