Highlights 

• Urszula Zielińska, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, presented a plan to build 100 GW of renewable energy capacity in Poland by 2040 during the WindEurope 2026 conference in Madrid, which took place on 21–22 April 2026.  
• She emphasised that Poland wants to become one of the largest markets for renewable energy in Europe.  
• The Deputy Minister also announced plans to accelerate the energy transition through the development of wind energy (onshore and offshore) and other green technologies.  
• She highlighted the strategic role of the Baltic Sea in the development of offshore wind.
• As the Deputy Minister said, the expansion of renewable energy will lead to lower prices and greater energy independence for the country. 

WindEurope is the largest wind energy event on the continent. This year, it attracted nearly 20,000 participants to Madrid – EU ministers, CEOs of global energy companies, investors and developers. Poland went there with a clear message – 100 GW by 2040 is a scale unmatched by anyone else in the region. 

From the conference’s main stage, Deputy Minister Zielińska presented a plan that is already making a big impression on the European industry: Poland will build 100 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity by 2040. For comparison, that is more than the total installed generation capacity of the Polish power system today. It is a civilisational leap. 

Poland is undergoing a historic transition from a coal-based system to one based on renewable energy sources and nuclear power. This is a strategic investment in the security, sovereignty and competitiveness of our economy. In the coming years, wind energy – both onshore and offshore – will play a key role in electricity generation, whilst supporting the stability of the system and reducing bills for consumers

– said Deputy Minister Zielińska during a high-level panel discussion. 

We are open. Poland wants to be a strategic destination for investors 

– added the Deputy Minister. 

In Madrid, the Deputy Minister met with representatives of the world’s largest offshore wind companies and with ministers from EU member states. The message was consistent: 

• The Polish government is unblocking what has been at a standstill for years – investment processes in onshore wind energy are being developed, and the biomethane market, energy storage facilities and offshore wind farms are being expanded. 
• The Baltic Sea is a strategic investment area for offshore wind energy across the EU. The shallow waters mean lower costs than in Norway, Spain or Portugal, where more expensive floating turbines are required. 
• The results of the December 2025 auction confirmed the market’s maturity. 
• The legal framework is stable and predictable. 

What does this mean for Poles? 

Every gigawatt of new renewable energy capacity means less imported gas, less money sent to other countries, and cheaper energy here at home. Onshore wind power currently costs PLN 221 per megawatt-hour. Coal-fired power costs PLN 811. Each of us bears this unnecessary cost in our bills. The 100 GW by 2040 programme is designed to remove this additional cost from the end consumer. 

The Baltic Sea is one of the key areas for Poland’s energy security. The investments we are implementing and planning are projects with specific timetables, contracts and capacities that will be connected to the grid as early as this year and within this decade  

– emphasised the Deputy Minister. 

The visit to Madrid was an invitation addressed to the global industry and investors who will decide in the coming years where to invest their billions. Representatives of the Polish government travelled to Madrid to encourage them to invest in our country.