Baltic Sea and Polish Ports as Key Elements in Energy Transition and Security

Abstract

The Baltic Sea has become a strategic energy corridor for Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. It illustrates the dual challenge of maintaining short-term energy security while advancing long-term decarbonization. This paper investigates the role of Polish ports as critical nodes in this transformation. Using a qualitative and exploratory research design that combines policy analysis, secondary data, and case studies of oil, gas, and offshore wind facilities, the study shows how large ports consolidate their roles as gateways for fossil fuel diversification, while smaller ports are integrated into the offshore wind supply chain as service and maintenance bases. The analysis highlights the interdependence between European and national policy frameworks (REPowerEU, TEN-E, PEP2040) and port development, demonstrating how institutional conditions shape infrastructural resilience. At the same time, geopolitical risks and subsea vulnerabilities underline the necessity of treating ports as critical infrastructure requiring reinforced protection. The paper concludes that Polish ports act simultaneously as guarantors of immediate energy resilience and enablers of renewable transition, positioning the Baltic Sea as a cornerstone of Europe’s evolving energy architecture.