The construction of wind farms in the Baltic Sea is not just an energy sticte project. In practice, it is an opportunity for significant economic development, especially in the northern regions of Poland. This is due, for example, to the scale of the needs that have to be met for the offshore farms to be built and then to operate effectively. Significant challenges and opportunities arise for ports, which are the basic facilities for offshore wind projects.
Port infrastructure and offshore wind
The wind turbine and the other components that make up an offshore wind farm are usually massive structures that must be transported under special conditions. This in turn requires, among other things, suitably prepared ports. Without them, such transport is simply not possible. The subsequent operation of the wind farm is also impossible, with servicing of the installation being an integral part of this. Hence, one of the most important challenges facing the managers of Polish ports is to adapt them to the needs of the offshore wind market.
The implementation of the indicated investments largely depends on finances. In fact, ports or local governments alone are not able to cover the costs of the necessary works, which means the need for substantial assistance from the government or external funding. In any case, the modernisation and expansion of ports located on the Baltic coast and their adaptation to offshore wind energy requirements is one of many examples of the positive impact of the offshore wind programme on the Polish economy.
What do we gain from offshore wind energy?
Offshore wind energy really can be a real economic driving force, especially for the coastal regions of northern Poland. Despite the fact that the offshore wind programme is still in its infancy in Poland, its first effects on the broader labour market or new technologies can already be seen. It is enough to point to the construction of a service base in Łeba and Władysławowo, as well as wind turbine tower factories in Gdansk and Szczecin. Each of these investments provides not only the necessary facilities for offshore wind farms, but also new jobs – including for experts in the technologies necessary for the implementation and operation of power plants at sea.