Poland will launch its first offshore wind farms this year, a historic step for a country that still generates more than half of its electricity from coal.The shift is not just technological but geographic: the centre of gravity of Poland’s energy system is moving from the coal-heavy south to the cleaner north, where offshore wind projects - alongside a planned nuclear plant - are set to anchor a new phase of the transition.In this episode of The Warsaw Wire, Alicja Ptak speaks with Marianna Sobkiewicz from the Polish Economic Institute (PIE) about how Poland’s offshore market compares with Western Europe, why foreign partners dominate early projects, and whether offshore wind can truly transform Poland’s economy and energy security.Poland may be 30 years late to offshore wind, but that “fashionably late” entry means it can benefit from mature European technology, experienced international partners and proven financing models. Combined with the size of its economy, this has allowed Poland to scale up faster than most of its Baltic neighbours, accounting for nearly 40% of offshore capacity auctioned in Europe last year.If you want to learn more, read Marianna's recent report on changing ownership models in offshore wind in Europe, with a particular focus on the Baltic Sea and Poland:https://pie.net.pl/morska-energetyka-wiatrowa-moze-odpowiadac-za-nawet-21-proc-produkcji-energii-elektrycznej-w-polsce-w-2040-r/

In this episode of The Warsaw Wire, host Alicja Ptak, deputy editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland, speaks with Paweł Wiejski, climate and energy expert, about how insights from the recent winners of the so-called “Nobel Prize in economics” can be applied to Poland’s shift away from coal.Drawing on the work of economists Philippe Aghion, Peter Howitt and Joel Mokyr, the conversation explores why innovation, institutions and creative destruction matter so much for Poland's energy future.To learn more, read Paweł's recent article for Instytut Zielonej Gospodarki (Green Economy Institute) on the subject:https://www.izg.org.pl/instytucje-innowacje-nobel-transformacja/Other articles featured in the video:https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/12/15/polands-president-signs-bill-facilitating-coal-mine-closures-and-compensation-for-miners/https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/eu-relent-combustion-engines-ban-after-auto-industry-pressure-2025-12-16/https://notesfrompoland.com/2021/05/31/polish-government-and-miners-reach-coal-phaseout-deal-but-doubts-remain-over-eu-approval/Thumbnail image credit: Greenpeace Polska/Flickr.com (CC BY-ND 2.0), Daniel Eliashevsky/Pexels, Easy-Peasy.AI, Collage created by Alicja Ptak

Poland is undergoing one of the most dynamic economic transformations in Europe. Ten of the EU’s 20 fastest-growing cities of the past 15 years are in Poland.

Among them: Katowice. Located in the country’s south and long associated with coal and heavy industry, Katowice has rapidly reinvented itself as a hub for technology, gaming, and foreign investment, a shift increasingly recognised by international outlets, including the Financial Times.

In this episode, we speak with the FT’s Central Europe correspondent, Raphael Minder, about why he chose to focus on Katowice’s transition in his recent story, what he learned while during his reporting , and how the city’s evolution reflects broader trends in Poland’s economy and energy transition.

We also explore:

Why Katowice stood out among Poland’s fastest-growing cities

• His first visit to Katowice under the communist regime, and how the city has changed since
• The new gaming and tech hub rising in former coal mines
• Poland’s economic strengths, talent pool, and demographic challenges
• How political continuity (or lack of it) shapes long-term development

You can read Raphael's story here:

https://www.ft.com/content/6c28ddd1-0326-4b93-8214-e62ae57643af