The Sejm adopted an amendment to the Offshore Wind Energy Act

On 9 October 2025, the Sejm adopted an amendment to the Act on the Promotion of Electricity Generation in Offshore Wind Farms. This is an important step that will facilitate the construction of wind farms in the Baltic Sea and other renewable energy projects. The legislative changes aim to reduce legal loopholes and inconsistencies. The Sejm’s decision can be interpreted as a signal that offshore wind energy is a key pillar of Poland’s energy transition.

What does the new offshore wind energy act introduce?

The amended Act on the Promotion of Electricity Generation in Offshore Wind Farms emphasizes, in its justification, the role of renewable energy sources in ensuring Poland’s energy security.

The offshore act is designed to remove investment barriers and strengthen the protection of consumers and the economy against uncontrolled increases in energy prices. It also enhances energy security by reducing dependence on imported raw materials and supporting the development of Poland’s offshore wind energy sector. The solutions are intended to facilitate the growth of renewable energy sources, notes Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska.

In practice, according to the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the new provisions will make it possible to establish energy cooperatives also in urban municipalities. Energy purchases by local government units within energy clusters will be simplified. The amendments also cover biomass energy production. In such cases, the criteria for sustainable development and greenhouse gas emission limits have been clarified and standardized.

A new feature introduced by the amendment is the so-called intervention auctions. If the act enters into force, these may be held in 2026 if the auction planned for 2025 is not concluded (for instance, due to an insufficient number of bids). This will give investors a second chance to receive support in the form of Contracts for Difference (CfDs), ensuring continuity of offshore wind energy investments. The amendment introduces a “one offer per one farm” rule within a given location area. It also allows for additional capacity to be submitted to projects already supported in Phase I, with the total additional capacity capped at 200 MW for the entire phase.

The Energy Regulatory Office has announced that the first auction for investors will take place on 17 December 2025, with projects of up to 4 GW in total capacity eligible for support.

Digital maps of renewable energy potential – sources of information on valuable locations

The Offshore Wind Energy Act is also intended to facilitate the search for optimal investment sites. It provides a legal basis for the creation of digital maps of renewable energy potential, which will identify areas with favorable conditions for developing various forms of renewable energy: solar, wind, or geothermal. These maps will inform investors about grid capacity saturation and available connection power in specific locations. They will also support the designation of Renewable Energy Acceleration Areas (OPRO).

It is worth noting that similar tools are already being developed and made available by both companies and institutions. The legislative change aims to standardize and streamline the process of creating such maps.

Not only offshore wind energy – favorable changes for tenant prosumers

On 9 October 2025, the Sejm also adopted amendments to several other laws. One of them concerns tenant prosumers, such as housing cooperatives and homeowners’ associations. The new provisions stipulate that such investors will no longer be limited to installing systems only on buildings – they will also be allowed to place them on other surfaces, such as garage or carport roofs.

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