Will energy from offshore wind farms in Poland be more expensive than in Denmark?
In recent weeks, reports have appeared in the media suggesting that the costs of building offshore wind farms in Denmark are significantly lower than in Poland. These comparisons are based on the results of Danish auctions, in which the winning prices were 504 and 542 Danish kroner per megawatt-hour (MWh), respectively. These data have sparked a discussion about the profitability of investments in the Polish offshore sector.
Experts point out, however, that directly comparing prices between the two countries is very difficult and can lead to erroneous conclusions. Support systems and tender conditions in Denmark and Poland differ from each other in many respects. Danish projects often include different infrastructure costs and different financing models, which makes these figures not fully comparable.
The Polish offshore wind energy sector is currently at an early stage of development. The construction of the first farms in the Baltic Sea requires huge expenditures on port infrastructure and the supply chain, which have already been developed in Denmark for years. Investments in Poland must take into account initial costs that mature Western markets no longer have to bear to the same extent.
In summary, although the results of the Danish auctions may seem attractive, one must remember the specific nature of each market. The development of offshore wind farms in Poland is a key element of the country's energy transition. The final energy prices from Polish farms will depend on many factors, including the pace of construction work and the stability of the legal environment in the coming years.