Offshore wind farms as critical infrastructure in the era of hybrid threats – a new dimension of Poland’s energy security

Offshore wind farms (OWFs) are becoming a key component of Poland’s energy security. Due to location and nature, they are vulnerable to hybrid threats. The author of the article discussed OWFs as a new component of critical infrastructure in the context of incidents in the Baltic Sea since 2022 and analysed the degree of OWF resilience in terms of hybrid threats. She described legal and organisational gaps in the Polish infrastructure protection system, pointed out best practices used around the world, and made recommendations for the administration and operators in Poland. She drew attention to the need to test the resilience of OWFs using digital twin simulations and red teaming exercises. The author advocates a complex approach to OWF security, integrating legislative, technological and organisational measures. The article contributes to the discourse on redefining Poland’s energy security in an era of competition below the threshold of war.