During the panel discussion "Transformation 2030+. Ports as Energy Hubs and Decarbonisation of the Polish Economy," moderated by Robert Grzegorowski, Advisor to the Management Board of Energa (Orlen Group), participants discussed the evolving role of ports as energy hubs, whether this role is changing, and to what extent it is driven by EU legislative requirements.

The discussion brought together Andrzej Chmielecki, Vice President for Finance and Economics at the Port of Gdynia Authority, Marcin Osowski, CEO of ASE Baltic – ASE Group, Katarzyna Szczycińska, Head of the Development Department and Acting Director of the Strategy and Development Department at the Port of Gdańsk Authority, Adam Kłos, Business Development Director at El Professional, Ewa Gawryś-Osińska, CEO of Gaspol, Krzysztof Sadowski, Vice President for Infrastructure at the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority, and Dominika Milion, Sustainability Director at Baltic Hub.

One of the key messages highlighted at the outset was that a modern port is no longer merely an interface between maritime and land transport but has become a crucial element of critical infrastructure.

Andrzej Chmielecki of the Port of Gdynia emphasised the strategic importance of the port's energy security. Faced with the risk of power supply disruptions and an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment, the port is developing plans for its own energy storage facilities and renewable energy projects in cooperation with external partners. A modern port is no longer simply an energy consumer but a comprehensive logistics hub capable of generating and distributing electricity.

– Today it is impossible to imagine a port operating without electricity. The port's role is to provide access to electricity for all stakeholders – operators, terminal companies and every entity using the port's infrastructure – said Andrzej Chmielecki, Vice President for Finance and Economics at the Port of Gdynia Authority.

The Port of Gdynia representative stressed that the role of ports in the electricity sector continues to grow, with reliable power supply becoming a prerequisite for the functioning of the entire port ecosystem.

– We must develop solutions based on our own energy sources and storage facilities. We would also like to be able to generate electricity within the administrative boundaries of the port – Chmielecki stressed,

Later in the discussion, participants underlined that ports have served as energy hubs since the very beginning of their existence. What has changed over time are the energy carriers themselves – from coal and crude oil to new alternative fuels.

– It should be said plainly: ports have always been energy hubs. Only the energy carriers have changed. One only needs to visit the terminals to see that decarbonisation remains a slogan while coal handling is still continuing at full speed – said Marcin Osowski, CEO of ASE Baltic – ASE Group

In this context, he also offered a critical assessment of the pace and manner in which the European Union's decarbonisation policy is being implemented. According to Osowski, the uncritical adoption of decarbonisation targets may undermine the competitiveness of Polish industry and ports, particularly given that electricity prices in Poland remain among the highest in Europe.

– We are struggling with declining competitiveness, among other things as a result of the uncritical adoption of the decarbonisation agenda. This is a characteristic feature of the European Union, although even within the EU individual countries approach the issue very differently – says Osowski.

He cited Lithuania and its energy projects as an example, highlighting the rapid implementation of infrastructure in Klaipėda.

– Our neighbour Lithuania is delivering energy projects much faster. Their FSRU terminal was built in three years, whereas in our case it took eight years just to reach the project stage. We still have a great deal of work ahead of us – he said.

He also stressed that Polish ports should already be preparing infrastructure for Onshore Power Supply (OPS), electrification and new fuels such as green methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.

An important contribution to the discussion also came from Katarzyna Szczycińska of the Port of Gdańsk Authority.

– We are facing diversification of cargo groups and the associated modernisation of port infrastructure. This is a process that will involve not only port authorities but also terminal operators and customers. Today, around half of all cargo handled – nearly 40 million tonnes – consists of crude oil, while almost seven million tonnes is coal. The energy transition will gradually reduce the share of these commodities in favour of green energy from offshore wind farms and photovoltaic installations – said Szczycińska.

Support for this transformation will also come from the FSRU LNG terminal currently being developed in the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk, as well as from the expansion of nuclear energy. Alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen will likewise play an increasingly important role, although it remains uncertain which of them will ultimately become dominant. Shipowners are already preparing fleets capable of operating on new fuels, while ports will need to develop the infrastructure required to supply them.

The Port of Gdańsk, however, is not only a cargo-handling hub but also a modern enterprise actively managing its own energy consumption while developing a business model based on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)principles.

In accordance with European Commission requirements, ports must have operational OPS infrastructure in place by the end of 2029. The Port of Gdańsk is already at an advanced conceptual stage and is preparing subsequent phases of implementation.

Planned projects include the construction of a second rail connection, further development of intermodal transport, deployment of OPS systems, construction of a second Main Power Supply Point, and expansion of the port's own energy storage facilities.

As Katarzyna Szczycińska emphasised, the transition extends well beyond energy issues, encompassing the broader modernisation of cargo-handling infrastructure, the progressive electrification of port equipment, and the automation of logistics processes.

In the concluding part of the discussion, participants presented the concept of the port as a local energy system—effectively a microgrid capable of achieving a degree of energy autonomy. Under this model, the port would simultaneously generate electricity on-site, store it, distribute it to industrial consumers, and provide energy-related services to the surrounding city and region. It was also noted that, during times of crisis, ports could play an important stabilising role within local energy systems by supporting critical infrastructure such as hospitals, public transport and municipal services.

The panel concluded that the energy transition of ports is already underway rather than a distant prospect. Successfully delivering this transformation will require coordinated action at the strategic, regulatory and operational levels, together with close cooperation among all stakeholders across the maritime sector.