September 15 is a landmark date for the Polish offshore wind energy sector. On that day, the sector deal was signed to develop a new industry. The document was signed by about 200 signatories, but the Polish government is already encouraging more entities to join the agreement.
At the initiative of the Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, the Government Plenipotentiary for Renewable Energy Sources, Ireneusz Zyska – representatives of the Polish government and key representatives of the offshore wind energy sector signed the “Polish Offshore Wind Sector Deal”. The purpose of the agreement is to support the development of the sector in Poland and to maximize the participation of Polish entrepreneurs in the supply chain for the offshore wind farms built in the Polish exclusive economic zone.
The sector deal was initiated by the Ministry of Climate and Environment with a letter of intent on cooperation of the offshore wind energy sector signed in July 2020. This event enabled the beginning of intensive cooperation between entities interested in the construction and development of the emerging sector of the Polish economy, namely offshore wind energy.
The parties to the agreement are representatives of the government administration: Minister of Climate and Environment, Minister of State Assets, Minister of National Defense, Minister of Interior and Administration, Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Education and Science, Minister of Finance, Funds and Regional Policy, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister of Development, Labor and Technology, Government Plenipotentiary for the Renewable Energy as well as representatives of local government units, entities of the education system, higher education and science, financial and budgetary units of investors and the industry – Polish Wind Energy Association and Polish Offshore Wind Energy Association.
The agreement is intended to be a permanent platform for cooperation between the government and local self-government bodies, current and future investors and operators of offshore wind farms in Poland, as well as representatives of the supply and service chain, scientific and research units and financial and insurance institutions.
Poland is looking for its own recipe for developing offshore wind
During the event, a letter from Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to the participants was read out. He pointed out that the development of offshore wind energy gives Poland a chance for a technological leap. Offshore energy will provide access to cheap energy and strengthen the competitiveness of companies.
The Minister of Climate and Environment, Michał Kurtyka, said that this is a historic agreement for Poland. – If you don’t count Britain, our agreement is the first of its kind in the European Union, he said. This proves that Poland can integrate in the face of a challenge. Energy transformation will not succeed if Poland does not bet on new industries and cooperation. And Poland’s plans are ambitious – installation of 5.9 GW in 2030 and reaching 11 GW by 2040, which will cover about 20 percent of the country’s energy needs. demand for energy in Poland. The Polish government especially counts on the development of industry and Polish companies.
Kurtyka pointed out that the Polish sectoral agreement was the first to appear after the publication of the EU strategy for the development of offshore energy. – We have stopped being an outsider, the minister said.
Poland must build its own recipe for offshore wind energy development. This prescription is the agreement that was developed in six working groups. On the part of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the main architect of the agreement was Ireneusz Zyska. He said offshore wind energy is key to the energy transition, but also to the economy.
– Maximising the share of Polish entrepreneurs and intellectual property in the offshore wind energy sector was our goal while creating the industry agreement. This is where the modern history of Poland’s economy is being created, said Zyska.
The Deputy Minister added that the Polish Offshore Wind Sector Deal is a kind of constitution of the Polish offshore wind sector. Poland has a unique chance to become a leader not only in the Baltic Sea region, but also in Europe based on British models.
Mariusz Witoński, president of the Polish Offshore Wind Energy Association (PTMEW), said that offshore wind energy will provide tens of thousands of jobs and billions of investments. This is the return of Polish industry on a large scale to European and world markets. Janusz Gajowiecki, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW) expressed a similar opinion. The representative of the largest wind industry organization pointed out that thanks to foreign investors the Polish supply chain and “local content” will go beyond the waters of the Baltic Sea.
