Shell Enters Race to Build Wind Farms Offshore Poland

Amber Baltic Wind Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shell, has submitted proposals for new offshore wind locations in the Polish Baltic Sea zone as part of the government’s latest tender.

The sites included in the tender will help deliver Poland’s ambition of reaching 11 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2040, Shell said.

The Polish part of the Baltic Sea could host as much as 28 GW of offshore wind by 2050, according to WindEurope.

With decades of experience delivering complex offshore projects in the North Sea, strong offshore wind capabilities, and a significant presence in Poland, Shell could support Poland in realising the potential of its vast wind resources to help transition its energy mix, the energy major said.

Shell has also signed the Polish Offshore Wind Sector Deal, which aims to develop local content in the supply chain supporting the construction and operation of offshore wind farms. Under the Sector Deal, the industry commits to the creation of up to 60,000 direct and indirect jobs in Poland’s wind industry by 2040.

“Shell has been an energy partner for Poland for 30 years and we continue to stand ready to support Poland in delivering a more secure and sustainable energy system,” said Shell Poland Country Chair, Piotr Kuberka.

”Offshore wind has a chance to become a cornerstone of both the Polish energy transition as well as energy independence. It is equally an important part of Shell’s plans for Poland as we look to expand our lower-carbon businesses and help a range of sectors decarbonise. By signing the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, we have also committed to working with Polish communities and businesses to bring new high-skilled jobs and help develop local supply chains.”

Shell currently has about 21 GW of offshore wind projects in operation, under construction, and in the funnel of potential projects across Europe, Asia, and North America. The energy company said it also wants to work with customers, policymakers, and investors to integrate power from offshore wind farms into decarbonisation opportunities across a diverse range of sectors.

Shell is not the only major developer to submit one or more applications for offshore location licenses in the Polish Baltic Sea.

German energy company RWE has submitted bids for all of the eleven areas the Polish government had offered in this tendering round.

Polish energy companies PKN Orlen and PGE separately submitted multiple applications back in February, and PGE has also applied, together with Ørsted, for an area adjacent to their Baltica offshore wind project.

SSE Renewables is bidding for a site together with Acciona Energia, and TotalEnergies has teamed up with KGHM, a Polish state-owned mining corporation, to jointly participate in the tender.

The auction has also attracted bids from the floating wind specialist, Simply Blue Group, as well as Sweden’s Eolus Vind.

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