Poland enters offshore wind and is catching up faster than anyone in Europe

Poland will launch its first offshore wind farms this year, a historic step for a country that still generates more than half of its electricity from coal.The shift is not just technological but geographic: the centre of gravity of Poland’s energy system is moving from the coal-heavy south to the cleaner north, where offshore wind projects - alongside a planned nuclear plant - are set to anchor a new phase of the transition.In this episode of The Warsaw Wire, Alicja Ptak speaks with Marianna Sobkiewicz from the Polish Economic Institute (PIE) about how Poland’s offshore market compares with Western Europe, why foreign partners dominate early projects, and whether offshore wind can truly transform Poland’s economy and energy security.Poland may be 30 years late to offshore wind, but that “fashionably late” entry means it can benefit from mature European technology, experienced international partners and proven financing models. Combined with the size of its economy, this has allowed Poland to scale up faster than most of its Baltic neighbours, accounting for nearly 40% of offshore capacity auctioned in Europe last year.If you want to learn more, read Marianna's recent report on changing ownership models in offshore wind in Europe, with a particular focus on the Baltic Sea and Poland:https://pie.net.pl/morska-energetyka-wiatrowa-moze-odpowiadac-za-nawet-21-proc-produkcji-energii-elektrycznej-w-polsce-w-2040-r/