Under the guiding theme “Tomorrow’s energy starts today,” ORLEN is implementing a strategy designed to reinforce energy independence not only for Poland but also the broader region where it operates. “This is the largest development program in the history of Poland’s energy sector,” says Ireneusz Fąfara, the CEO and president of the Management Board of ORLEN. ORLEN Group’s presence spans several European countries, including Czechia, Germany, Austria, Lithuania, Hungary and Slovakia. Its plans include ramping up natural gas production from its own fields, building four offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea, developing large-scale energy storage facilities, and constructing at least two small modular reactors (SMRs).
Over the next decade, ORLEN aims to supply the market with 27 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually — a volume sufficient to meet Poland’s entire domestic demand. This supply will be sourced through a mix of the group’s own production assets in Poland, Norway and North America, as well as through long-term commercial contracts with external suppliers. The group expects to increase its own production from 8.6 to 12 billion cubic meters per year, and to raise the volume of contracted deliveries from 5 to 15 billion cubic meters annually. Natural gas plays a vital role in the energy transition, acting as a bridge between the country’s current coal-dominated energy mix and its future low- and zero-carbon system. As demand for the fuel is set to rise, ORLEN is positioning itself to meet those needs. The company itself will require additional volumes to fuel its newly built CCGT units, with a target of reaching 4.3 GW in installed gas-fired capacity — enough to supply electricity to 7.5 million households.
While gas is a critical transition fuel, ORLEN does not view it as a final destination. That’s why it is simultaneously making substantial investments in renewable energy and nuclear power , with plans to construct four offshore wind farms. Among its flagship projects is Baltic Power, which is scheduled to begin delivering electricity in 2026. With a capacity of up to 1.2 GW, it will be among the world’s first offshore wind farms to utilize 15-MW turbines. Baltic Power is expected to generate approximately 4,000 GWh of zero-carbon electricity annually — enough to avoid 2.8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year compared with conventional sources. Work is also underway on a neighboring offshore project, Baltic East, which will add another 1 GW of capacity. The Baltic Sea offers ideal conditions for offshore wind development due to its strong and consistent wind patterns and relatively shallow waters. In addition to its offshore initiatives, ORLEN will continue to expand its onshore wind and solar power portfolios. Altogether, the group aims to achieve 12.8 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2035.
While gas is a critical transition fuel, ORLEN does not view it as a final destination. That’s why it is simultaneously making substantial investments in renewable energy and nuclear power
As the energy mix evolves, strategic investment in distribution infrastructure becomes imperative. Therefore, ORLEN plans to expand, modernize and digitize its power distribution networks to accommodate the growing number of renewable energy sources and meet the increasingly complex demands of the system built around renewables. Nearly €9.5 billion will be allocated to this grid development plan. The strategy also includes the construction of energy storage facilities, with a target capacity of 1.4 GW by 2035. A key component of ORLEN’s transition roadmap is the deployment of at least two SMRs, with a combined capacity of 0.6 GW .
