The “Ports of Power: Enabling Offshore Installation and Maintenance” panel at the Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Energy Summit 2025 in Gdansk underscored the indispensable role of port infrastructure in realizing the ambitious goals for offshore wind energy in the Baltic Sea region. The discussion, moderated by Zuzanna Nowak, Analysis Director at The Opportunity Institute for Foreign Affairs and Energy Expert at the I. Łukasiewicz Institute for Energy Policy, brought together industry leaders to examine the current state of port development, the challenges and opportunities for collaboration, and the strategies needed to meet the growing demands of the rapidly expanding offshore wind sector.

The panel featured Bartosz Fedurek, CEO of PGE Baltica; Marek Świerżyński, Engineering Associate Director, Ocean Winds; Lars Thomsson, Coordinator Energy Island Gotland; Stefan Rudnik, Investment Department Director, Port of Gdansk Authority and Jeppe la Cour, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Roenne. Their insights highlighted the critical need for strategic planning, investment, and cooperation to ensure that port infrastructure can effectively support the installation, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Bartosz Fedurek: Progress in Polish Port Infrastructure

Bartosz Fedurek provided an overview of PGE Baltica’s experience with port infrastructure development in Poland. He highlighted the distinction between installation ports and O&M ports, expressing satisfaction with the progress of the T5 installation hub in the Port of Gdansk. “We are happy to benefit from T5 in a way that the entire offshore wind turbine installation campaign, meaning 107, 14-megawatt Siemens turbines, will be installed from Gdańsk T5 hub.”

Fedurek also noted the selection of Doraco for the construction of their O&M base in Ustka, emphasizing the commitment to local content. He concluded that they are currently “on track” regarding port infrastructure for their projects.

Marek Świerżyński: Learning from the North Sea and Adapting to Local Needs

Marek Świerżyński, representing Ocean Winds, emphasized that ports are “not merely infrastructure but a fundamental element for the development of offshore wind energy, requiring long-term investments and continuous support for infrastructure development“. He shared the progress of their BC-Wind project, including the selection of a service port in Władysławowo and the final stages of selecting installation ports. Świerżyński advocated for Baltic ports to “take the insights and lessons learned from other ports in the North Sea, because these ports have already supported offshore wind farms, and they have the experience and knowledge“, while also stressing the importance of adapting to local conditions and market trends, particularly regarding the increasing size of components. He expressed optimism that Baltic port infrastructure would be ready within two years to support ambitious offshore wind targets.

Lars Thomsson: The Impact of Policy Uncertainty on Port Development in Sweden

Lars Thomsson highlighted the significant setback for offshore wind development and consequently port planning in Sweden due to a recent government decision to halt offshore wind park development in the Baltic Sea. “So, what we really need to do now is get a full plan in place for offshore in the whole Baltic, on the Swedish side, of course. And the port, we’ll deal with that afterwards“. Despite this challenge, Thomsson stressed the long-term perspective needed for port development, typically an 8-10 year timeframe. He emphasized the need for a reliable master plan and long-term agreements with major customers once the policy landscape becomes more favorable. He expressed optimism for the future, stating, “I’m very optimistic about the next 10 years, because offshore is our only option, provided we fix the green transmission infrastructure.

Stefan Rudnik: Transforming Gdansk into an Energy Hub

Stefan Rudnik detailed the Port of Gdansk Authority’s vision of becoming an “energetic hub in a multi-dimensional way“, balancing traditional cargo with the emerging needs of the renewable energy sector. He highlighted the redevelopment of a container terminal area into the T5 installation terminal, made possible by EU funding. ““So, we sat down and thought, well, maybe that could happen. And it did. But we all have to be aware that it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the EU funds from the national reconstruction plan, which were unblocked only in July last year.”. Rudnik emphasized their master plan for future development, including the inner port for universal cargo handling and the outer port for specialized terminals. He also pointed to their efforts in seeking funding for green initiatives like onshore power supply for vessels. Looking ahead, he envisions a strong synergy within the Gdansk region, with local manufacturers supplying the T5 terminal.

Jeppe la Cour: The Need for Cooperation and Addressing Uncertainty

Jeppe la Cour commended Poland’s proactive approach to port development, suggesting it’s a path other Baltic nations should follow. He highlighted the significant upfront investment (capex) and lower operating costs (opex) associated with port infrastructure. La Cour cautioned against the negative impact of uncertainty, referencing cancelled Swedish projects and redone Danish tenders. “One thing that is very poisonous if you want to build something long-lasting is uncertainty. My friend here mentioned earlier the cancelled Swedish wind farms and also the Danish tenders for the Baltic region that had to be redone. This creates uncertainty in the industry, which is not good when you have a heavy initial investment.”. He stressed the importance of greater cooperation between ports in the Baltic Sea region due to the clustered nature of offshore wind farm development and anticipated larger components and more specialized ports in the future.

Key Takeaways

The “Ports of Power” panel discussion highlighted the following crucial aspects:

  • Ports as Essential Infrastructure: The panel firmly established ports as more than just transit points; they are fundamental enablers of the entire offshore wind lifecycle.
  • Significant Progress in Poland: Poland is making substantial strides in developing port infrastructure to support its offshore wind ambitions, particularly in Gdansk and Ustka.
  • Policy Certainty is Crucial: Uncertainty in government policies, as highlighted by the Swedish experience, can severely hinder port development and investment.
  • Importance of Learning and Adaptation: Baltic ports should learn from the experience of established North Sea ports while adapting solutions to the specific conditions and evolving demands of the Baltic Sea.
  • The Need for Collaboration: Effective logistics and regional growth necessitate strong cooperation between ports, developers, and policymakers.
  • Long-Term Vision and Investment: Port development requires long-term planning and significant financial investment, often with a broader economic and energy transition perspective rather than solely direct returns from offshore wind projects.
  • Anticipating Future Needs: Ports must plan for increasingly larger wind turbine components and the potential for more specialized port functions.
  • EU Funding as a Catalyst: European Union funds play a vital role in enabling critical port infrastructure projects.

The panel concluded with a hopeful outlook for the future, envisioning a well-developed network of Baltic Sea ports capable of supporting the region’s ambitious offshore wind energy targets, provided that strategic planning, consistent support, and robust collaboration continue.