Shell submits bid to bring offshore wind power to the Polish Baltic Sea

A wholly owned subsidiary of Shell has submitted proposals for new offshore wind locations in the Polish Baltic Sea zone as part of the latest government tender to help deliver Poland’s ambition of reaching 11 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2040.

The proposal by Amber Baltic Wind Ltd is aimed at supporting Poland in realising the potential of its vast wind resources to help transition its energy mix, Shell said in a statement.

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

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, the company said. Under the deal, the industry commits to the creation of up to 60,000 direct and indirect jobs in Poland’s wind industry by 2040, Shell said.

“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,” Shell Poland Country Chair, Piotr Kuberka, said in a statement.

“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,” he said.

Shell first entered the wind business over 20 years ago and currently boasts about 21 GW of offshore wind projects in operation, under construction and in the funnel of potential projects across Europe, Asia and North America.