Interview with Jarosław Dybowski, Executive Director for Energy PKN Orlen - Nobilis Media

We continue pre-investment works. We are finalizing environmental research, which must have covered two winter seasons. We also carry out wind measurements. We have completed initial geotechnical surveys of the seabed, thanks to which we obtained good starting material for the next stages of design work. We also meet the conditions for connecting the farm to the National Power System. We also have a preliminary technical concept behind us, and we want to choose an industry partner by the end of the year. Construction of an offshore wind farm is a very complex and multi-stage process. Despite all its complexity, work is progressing according to the adopted schedule so far.

We are aware of the opportunity for the development of offshore wind energy for the economy. Construction of a wind farm is not possible without proper logistic facilities, port infrastructure or even the availability of the materials themselves, which naturally opens up new development opportunities for companies and regions. Our farm is located in the central part of the Polish coast, west of Łeba. The investment and operational port will certainly be chosen so as to minimize the time needed for transport both in the investment and operational phase. However, we hope that in the future there will be opportunities to invest in offshore wind energy located in the western part of our coast. However, the current location does not exclude the involvement of companies from Western Pomerania. In Poland, companies providing elements of offshore wind farms and auxiliary infrastructure have been operating for a long time, which are used in the construction of farms around the world. We want to use this experience and potential, inviting Polish entities to tenders and cooperation. This may be a new impulse for business development, also from the area of ​​West Pomerania. However, you have to remember that a lot will depend on the companies themselves. Cooperation within the future supply chain for offshore farms will require appropriate preparation and investment.

Investments in offshore wind farms are a completely new area for the Polish energy sector. Conducting such a huge and complex project requires precise coordination of many work streams and conducting them in accordance with the set schedule. That is why it is so important for PKN ORLEN to acquire - by the end of this year - an industry partner who has the knowledge and experience in implementing similar investments. It is also important to secure the project on the regulatory side and in terms of power output through the preparation of network infrastructure at the National Power System level. Undoubtedly, the element that the business environment awaits is the so-called offshore act. Its adoption will certainly be a new impulse for the development of the entire offshore wind energy sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant impact on the economy at many levels. However, so far, all investments implemented by PKN ORLEN, both those being in preparation and the offshore wind farm project, are proceeding as scheduled.