Minister of Climate and Environment of Poland, Anna Moskwa, met with Vice-Minister of Energy of Lithuania, Daiva Garbaliauskaitė. The meeting, which took place on January 13, 2021, concerned the possibility of cooperation in the area of gas energy and RES, in particular offshore wind energy.
The representatives of the Ministries discussed the possibility of cooperation between Poland and Lithuania in the area of renewable energy, including the development of offshore wind projects. During the meeting, both sides emphasized that the strategic partnership between Lithuania and Poland provides an effective basis for successful and timely implementation of strategic energy infrastructure projects that are important for Lithuania and the entire Baltic region – synchronization of the Baltic power system with the European grids and the Lithuanian-Polish gas interconnection – GIPL. Vice-Minister of Energy, Garbaliauskaitė, informed about the possibilities for Polish companies to import natural gas to Poland through the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Klaipeda. She urged companies from Poland to participate in the auction to be announced in the summer of 2022.
The meeting also discussed opportunities to expand, and strengthen cooperation between Lithuania and Poland in the field of renewable energy on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding on Enhanced Strategic Energy Cooperation signed between Lithuania and Poland in 2018. The two sides agreed to resume the activities of the bilateral working group on energy, which would be chaired by deputy ministers. Lithuania proposed that the next meeting of the working group be held in Lithuania in the first half of 2022.
Anna Moskwa pointed out that Lithuania, which consistently pursues the policy of transformation of its economy towards a low-emission one, is an important partner for Poland in strengthening regional energy security.
“One of the pillars of this transformation is renewable energy, with a large role of offshore wind, which is also an important element of energy policy for Poland,” indicated the Polish Minister of Climate and Environment.
Wind turbines in the Baltic Sea will be one of the pillars of Poland’s future energy mix. According to Poland’s Energy Policy until 2040, offshore wind capacity will reach 5.9 GW in 2030 and increase to 11 GW by 2040. This will account for 10 percent. of total offshore wind capacity in the Baltic Sea by 2050, estimated at 93 GW.
The Lithuanian side expressed willingness to cooperate with Poland also in the field of hydrogen development, including the exchange of experience and knowledge.
“We have similar goals in the hydrogen area, successful cooperation in the natural gas sector or the threat to energy security from the use of energy as a means of geopolitical leverage are important bases for working together to develop hydrogen economies. Poland can share its experience in this area with the Lithuanian side,” Garbaliauskaitė pointed out during the meeting.
Lithuania also has the ambition to develop offshore wind energy. The first offshore wind farm with a capacity of 700 MW could provide 25% of energy demand. There are also plans to build a second wind farm with a similar capacity of 700 MW. Lithuania is aiming to produce at least 50% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, and 100% by 2050.
We recently reported on BalticWind.EU that Lithuania’s energy ministry is seeking a contractor for a broad, and in-depth study, on the development, and use of hydrogen by 2050. This country is watching other countries in the Baltic Sea region develop, among other things, offshore wind energy and plan to use energy from the farms to produce hydrogen.
