Vestas has confirmed that it is pausing development of its much-anticipated offshore wind factory in the Polish port city of Szczecin, citing a downturn in European offshore demand and uncertainty across key markets. The decision marks a notable recalibration by one of the world’s largest turbine manufacturers and underscores the growing strain on the continent’s offshore wind supply chain.
Announced in early 2024, the Szczecin project was designed to anchor Vestas’ European offshore manufacturing base. The investment was to include a state-of-the-art blade production facility and an offshore nacelle and hub assembly line dedicated to the company’s flagship V236-15.0 MW turbine. Scheduled to open by 2026, the plant was expected to generate over a thousand direct jobs and position Poland as a critical industrial hub for the Baltic offshore sector.
Speaking to the media, Vestas confirmed that the project is being “paused” rather than cancelled. Company representatives noted that while long-term prospects for offshore wind remain strong, the short-term market environment has become more challenging than anticipated. Delays in project tendering, rising interest rates, and escalating costs across the supply chain have combined to soften near-term demand for large-scale turbine components.
Industry analysts say the move reflects a broader cooling in Europe’s offshore build-out pipeline. Several developers have postponed or scaled back projects in recent months, particularly in northern Europe, where inflationary pressures and grid bottlenecks have disrupted investment timelines. “This is a pragmatic step by Vestas,” said one market commentator. “Without firm project visibility, large capital commitments for new factories are difficult to sustain.”
Locally, the pause has dampened optimism in the Szczecin and Goleniów region, which had anticipated a surge of employment and supply-chain activity tied to the factory. Vestas’ acquisition earlier this year of an existing onshore blade facility in Goleniów means the company will retain a manufacturing presence in West Pomerania, but the scale of the promised offshore expansion has been curtailed — at least for now.
The decision also highlights the fragile balance between industrial ambition and market reality in Europe’s offshore wind sector. Policymakers have called for greater local content and European manufacturing independence, yet manufacturers remain hesitant to invest without stable long-term demand signals.
In its statement, Vestas reaffirmed its commitment to Poland and the wider offshore market, signalling that the Szczecin project could be revived if conditions improve. “We continue to believe in offshore wind as a vital pillar of the energy transition,” the company said. “Our decision reflects timing and market readiness, not our commitment to the sector.”
For now, the pause in Szczecin serves as a reminder that even the strongest players in renewable energy are being forced to navigate a turbulent period for offshore wind — a sector still poised for long-term growth, but currently weathering short-term headwinds.
