Support for 18 GW of Polish offshore wind farms is set to reach EUR 144 billion

The cost of public support for planned Polish offshore wind farms with a total installed capacity of 17,9 GW is expected to exceed EUR 144 billion (roughly 3 619 billion CZK). Foreign news outlet Reuters reported this, citing Poland's PAP news agency.

According to the Polish Wind Energy Association, Poland has the potential to develop up to 33 GW of offshore wind capacity. In the first phase of tapping this potential, investors including the energy groups PGE, Orlen, Equinor and Orsted are preparing a total of 5,9 GW of offshore wind farms, which are expected to come online by 2030.

Auctions for operational support for a further 12 GW of offshore wind farms are due to begin next year. The Polish government has already said it will raise the maximum level of support for electricity from these sources after investors said the amount originally proposed was too low.

If the full 17,9 GW of installed capacity is built, total support is expected to reach EUR 144,2 billion. Assuming a capacity factor of 50 % and eligibility for operational support for 20 years, the average support paid would amount to roughly EUR 92/MWh.

New security measures

In addition to further developing offshore wind farms, Poland is also planning new security measures concerning these sources. These build on legislation passed in 2023, under which the Polish military can sink an enemy vessel heading towards Polish energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

"The events we have witnessed since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, and the hybrid threats you sometimes hear about in the media, are very significant," said Zbigniew Muszynski, director of the government security centre.

Arkadiusz Marchewka of the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure added in this context that Poland considers offshore wind farms to be a national interest.