Poland has successfully completed its first competitive auction for offshore wind energy, which awarded support for three major projects in the Baltic Sea, with a total capacity of 3.4 GW.
Besides marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy transition, this event also has broader significance for the European offshore wind sector, as it confirms market growth and investor confidence in the further development of this energy segment, reports WindEurope.
The auction was conducted through a two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, providing investors with long-term price stability for a period of 25 years. Winning bids ranged from approximately 113 euros to 117 euros per MWh.
The projects are expected to deliver their first electricity to the grid by the end of 2032. It is estimated that the total electricity generation from these projects during the support period will reach around 330 TWh.
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In the supply chain, domestic companies are expected to account for over 40 percent, which will strengthen industrial capacity and expertise in coastal regions, while Poland moves closer to its goal of becoming a leading offshore wind hub in the Baltic Sea.
According to Poland’s offshore wind roadmap, new auctions are planned for 2027, 2029, and 2031, offering additional gigawatts of capacity.
For two major offshore wind projects that are already under construction in the Baltic Sea, with the first turbines installed, support was granted outside the auction system, involving global companies such as Ørsted and Northland Power.
If the current pace of development continues, Poland could reach 18 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, potentially exceeding 30 GW by 2050.
Energy portal
