Polish energy is on the threshold of revolutionary changes. The current burden of energy production, concentrated in the south of the country, is beginning to shift northwards. This is not just a matter of building offshore wind farms or nuclear power plants – it is a comprehensive transformation that brings with it a number of infrastructural and organisational challenges.
Polish energy is on the threshold of revolutionary changes. The current burden of energy production, concentrated in the south of the country, is beginning to shift northwards. This is not just a matter of building offshore wind farms or nuclear power plants – it is a comprehensive transformation that brings with it a number of infrastructural and organisational challenges.
Faced with global climate change and increasing demand for clean energy, Poland's energy sector is facing an unprecedented challenge. The traditional model, based mainly on coal-fired power plants located in the south of the country, is giving way to a new paradigm. The centre of gravity of Polish energy is shifting northwards, driven by ambitious offshore wind farm projects and Poland's first nuclear power plant.
For decades, Polish energy production has relied on coal, with its heart beating in the south of the country. The largest power plants, such as Bełchatów, Kozienice, Opole, Jaworzno, Połaniec, Rybnik, and Turów, formed the foundation of the Polish energy system. However, the changing energy mix and new investments in renewable energy sources are slowly but inevitably altering this reality.
The key element of this transformation is the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant at the „Lubiatowo-Kopalino” location. Situated just a kilometre from the Baltic Sea, this power plant will use seawater for reactor cooling. This project is not only a symbol of technological progress but also a logistical challenge – a significant portion of the components required for construction will be delivered by sea and unloaded at a specially designed MOLF (Marine Off-Loading Facility) jetty.
The project schedule envisages the launch of the first unit with a capacity of 1-1.6 GW in 2033, with the subsequent two units to be implemented at intervals of 2-3 years. Ultimately, the power plant is to achieve a capacity of around 4 GW, which will meet the energy needs of approximately 12 million households.
Alongside the nuclear project, offshore wind farms are planned for the Baltic Sea. This is a venture of enormous scale – by 2040, offshore wind turbines are expected to be capable of producing approximately 10 GW of energy. For comparison, in May 2023, the total installed capacity in the Polish energy system exceeded 67.7 GW.
However, ambitions reach much further. If all planned locations are utilised within the three development phases, the offshore wind farms could achieve a production capacity of 33 GW, which translates to 130 TWh annually. This is an impressive figure, considering that the country's estimated energy demand is 190 TWh in 2030 and 210 TWh in 2040.
Energy transformation is not just about building new energy sources. It is also a huge challenge for the Polish economy and industry. It is necessary to create appropriate supply chains, develop port and land infrastructure, as well as train qualified personnel.
An installation terminal for offshore wind farms is already being built in Świnoujście, and another is planned for Gdańsk. Service bases are being created in smaller ports. The Ministry of Infrastructure is working on expanding the roads and railway lines leading to the planned nuclear power plant.
Energy transformation also brings social and economic challenges. Thousands of new employees will appear by the sea – from construction crews and engineers to personnel operating new facilities. This, in turn, generates housing and social needs, and also presents new challenges for the education system, which must train staff for the needs of new energy sectors.
As the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix grows, the issue of energy storage is becoming increasingly important. Currently, when electricity generation exceeds system capacity, renewables are shut down, leading to the loss of potentially useful energy.
Over the next three years, Poland plans to increase its energy storage capacity to around 3 GW. According to data from the Energy Regulatory Office, there are currently 12 energy storage facilities in the country with a capacity of at least 50 kW, the largest of which are pumped-storage power stations, accounting for 85% of the total capacity of registered storage facilities.
Energy storage technologies are highly diverse – from pumped-storage power plants, through compressed air systems, to classic batteries and domestic storage solutions using, for example, soil heating. The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management is preparing a subsidy programme for investments in energy storage, which could significantly accelerate the development of this sector.
The transformation of Poland's energy sector is opening new opportunities for businesses and specialists from various industries. Demand will encompass both specialised energy and engineering services, as well as everyday services essential for the functioning of the new infrastructure and its personnel.
To better understand the scale and scope of the upcoming changes, as well as to find your place in the new business reality, it is worth following industry events. One of them will be the PowerConnect Energy Summit, which will take place at the AMBEREXPO Exhibition and Congress Centre in Gdańsk on March 26-27, 2025. This event will bring together key players from the energy industry and related sectors, offering a platform for knowledge exchange and business networking.
Poland's energy transformation is a process that will change not only the energy landscape, but also our country's economy and society. The shift of the energy centre to the north poses new challenges, but also opens up enormous opportunities for innovation, economic development, and job creation. Whether Poland becomes a leader in clean energy in the region depends on our ability to adapt and exploit these opportunities.
