Poland could generate up to 6 GW from expanding its offshore wind energy program, provided that 6 GW of marine turbines are built by 2025, Ernst & Young wrote in a report prepared for the Polish Wind Energy Association.
Poland could be adding €17.5 billion (PLN 73.8 billion) to its economy by 2025 if it develops its offshore wind energy sector to a potential six gigawatts, a new report by Ernst & Young has revealed.
The report, “offshore wind energy – analysis of benefits for the Polish economy and development determinants”, also said that the sector could potentially create 31.8 thousand new jobs from 2012-2025, mostly in the electro-engineering sector. Moreover, sectors badly affected by the economic crisis – maritime transport, shipbuilding and port industries – could gain five thousand new jobs by 2025, said the report.
Currently the country’s offshore wind energy target is for 500 MW by 2020, but the potential is far higher, says Wojciech Cetnarski, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA). The 500 MW target “seems underestimated”. “Last year’s amendments to the legislative framework (the Act on Maritime Areas and Maritime Administration) increased the interest of national and foreign investors,” Cetnarski added.
6 GW of offshore wind power would also avoid the emission of around 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, creating a saving of €0.4 billion (PLN 1.6 billion), the report says.
Meanwhile, an expansion of Polish offshore wind is expected to reduce electricity production costs. Based on trends forecast in the UK, the cost of production of 1 MWh in offshore wind farms commissioned in 2011 is around €170, a level set to fall by 29% if the UK reaches 18 GW of offshore wind by 2020.
Such a development could also provide over 31,000 jobs and tax revenue, the report said.
Ernst & Young experts wrote that Poland has very good natural conditions for expanding offshore wind power. The country also has the necessary technology potential, as it already exports related services.
Development in the sector has so far been blocked by a lack of regulations that would support it and by the lack of specific solutions allowing for the inclusion of offshore wind farms into the energy system, the experts also wrote.
Currently, the UK has the biggest volume of renewable energy sources installed (3 GW) and plans to have 18 GW at 2020. All EU member states plans to have at least 50 GW by then, but independent sources claim that number could be as high as 90 GW.