Goal 4 – Quality education

1400 students from seven secondary schools in regions related to the Baltic offshore wind farm projects took part in the next, third edition of “One sea, many benefits. Offshore wind energy in my region” project. The organizers were investors – Polenergia and Equinor. The project introduces students to the offshore sector and the new career opportunities it creates.

The latest edition of classes on biodiversity protection was conducted as part of the project Play Green with Us!^® These educational activities were carried out in local primary schools in the municipalities of Grabowo, Rajgród, Kwilcz, and in a kindergarten in the municipality of Żuromin.

The second edition of the educational project Play Green with Us! has come to an end. In the 2023/2024 school year, nearly 7,000 students from over 75 schools participated in the program. More than 2,600 lessons on ecology and climate protection were conducted.

“Baltic Sea. Sea of Green Energy” is the first exhibition in Poland dedicated to offshore wind energy. The exhibition was created at the Maritime Culture Center of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk. Behind the realization of the new tourist attraction located in the very center of the Old Town are Equinor and Polenergia – energy companies that are jointly developing three wind farms in the Baltic Sea with a total capacity of up to 3,000 MW.

Nearly 3000 pupils from 11 primary schools took part in an educational project run by Equinor and Polenergia in the Słupsk region. The aim of the investors’ campaign is to spread knowledge about offshore wind energy and the resulting benefits for the climate and the region among the youngest. Equinor and Polenergia jointly develop three wind farms in the Baltic Sea with a total capacity of up to 3,000 MW.

The Pelplin Town and Commune Office, in cooperation with primary schools in the Pelplin Commune and the Polenergia Group, organized an ecological Olympiad for primary school students from the Pelplin Commune.

From April 14th to 16th, the largest hydrogen fair in Poland, H2Poland, took place in Poznań.

From May 2024, we can watch the stork nest near the Primary School in Bierkowo live! This school is located in Słupsk County, where the Strzelino Photovoltaic Farm project is situated.

From September 2023 to April 2024, three cultural and educational projects were implemented in Lignowy Szlacheckie: ‘Senior Cafe,’ ‘Shine, Little Star, Shine,’ and ‘Kitchen Connecting Generations.’ They were organized by the Kociewskie Women’s Forum Association in collaboration with partners: the Senior Club and the Rural Housewives’ Circle. The funds for the events were provided by Polenergia, in accordance with the Group’s Social Engagement Policy.

The first semester of the second edition of the educational programme Play Green with Us!® has come to an end. Between September and mid-February, more than 800 lessons were delivered by teachers as part of the programme. Nearly 5,000 students participated in eco lessons, eco projects and eco competitions.

Polenergia is carrying out the Climate Reading campaign together with primary schools and kindergartens that are located near Polenergia Group’s existing or planned investments. Climate reading aims to encourage pupils to read books, especially those dealing with nature and climate protection.

Nothing promotes learning more than having fun. That is why Polenergia encourages all the Schools that are involved in the Play Green with Us!® project to organise interesting eco-contests and eco-projects. While participating in them, pupils not only gain new skills or extend their knowledge, but above all have fun.

Almost 120 works on offshore wind energy were created as part of an art competition organized by Equinor and Polenergia. The competition was the culmination of the education campaign “One sea, many benefits. Offshore wind energy in my region”, which was attended by almost 1500 students from six primary schools in the Słupsk region. The final of the competition with prizes took place in the Lądowisko Kultury in Redzikowo near Słupsk.

As part of the Climate Reading initiative, Maria Konopnicka Primary School in Miłoradz and Father Jan Twardowski Primary School in Kończewice, located near FW Szymankowo, organized an Inter-School Reader-Art Contest for students in grades I-VIII.

The Polenergia Group advocates for a responsible approach to business, the environment, and local communities. For this reason, we have become a Strategic Partner of the ESG Leaders Academy, organized by the Lesław Paga Foundation.

Construction permits for the Baltic II and Baltic III offshore wind farms, and further preparing the Baltic I farm project for auction are the most important milestones Equinor and Polenergia expect in 2024. The last 12 months have brought the implementation of the Baltic projects much closer. Three wind farms with a total capacity of 3 GW will supply more than 4 million households with renewable energy.

Almost one and a half thousand children from six primary schools in the Słupsk region take part in the educational project “One sea, many benefits. Offshore wind energy in my region”. The organizers – Equinor and Polenergia – have planned interactive classes and an art competition with attractive prizes in schools.

In September and October 2023, educational sessions led by a nature expert took place in five elementary schools on Polenergia Group’s initiative. The focal theme of this year’s edition was “Protecting Biodiversity – Cavity-Nesting Birds,” directing attention to a crucial aspect of ecosystems. Teaching methods were tailored to the participants’ age, creating an interactive and engaging educational space.

Activities for climate education are part of the Polenergia Group’s Sustainable Development Strategy. We take all environmental activities very seriously, including those carried out as part of school or pre-school education. That is why we are committed to support those educational institutions that operate in communities where Polenergia projects are located and engage in our ‘Green Game’ project. In line with this commitment, we have partnered with the General Education Lyceum No 1 in Nowa Sarzyna to take patronage over their Hydrogen Technology Class.

High school student, college student, PhD student! Together with the University of Gdańsk, we have a unique opportunity for you to express your passion and share it with others! We invite all high school students, students, and PhD students to participate in the third edition of the “My Studies for the Planet” competition under the slogan “The invigorating element of wind and sea” organized by the Faculty of Philology of the University of Gdańsk.

The pace of energy transformation in Poland and the impact of investments in offshore wind farms on it were the main topics of the meeting with the inhabitants of the Słupsk Commune. Its participants also asked about the Baltic II and Baltic III projects, including the route of the cable connecting the sea and land parts of offshore farms. It was another information meeting organized by Equinor and Polenergia as part of consultations and dialogue with the local community.

In recent years, sustainability has been gaining more and more attention around the world. Developing societies are looking for increasingly ecological ways of obtaining energy to reduce the negative impact on the natural environment.

The first edition of the educational project Play Green with Us! has ended. From September 2022 to June 2023, over 70 educational institutions took action in support of climate and environmental protection by implementing environmental scenarios.

The aim of the competition was to raise awareness among children about the potential of renewable energy sources. The level of the competition entries was very high, in terms of both content and art.

As part of the “Graj z nami w zielone!” initiative, a series of 12 nature lessons were conducted to familiarize children with the importance of biodiversity conservation. The classes took place in the vicinity of the Polenergia Wind Farms in Kostomłoty and Dębsk.

On June 1, 2023, on the occasion of Children’s Day, we announced the competition “Nature as the energy of the future”! The aim of the Competition is to make children aware of the advantages of using renewable energy sources, such as sun, wind, water, in the production of devices.

In 2023, World Environment Day celebrates its 50th anniversary. Since 1973, this day has been organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and observed annually on June 5th, becoming one of the largest global platforms for environmental protection, engaging millions of people worldwide in the conservation of our planet.

Climate action is the number one topic today. Polenergia is aware of that and strives to be active in this area wherever its assets are located or wherever new projects are to be developed.

On May 20th, we celebrated World Bee Day. It was an excellent opportunity to talk to children about the importance of bees and other insects for the natural environment and economy, as well as to promote ecological attitudes.

Polenergia supports nature conservation efforts and actively engages in increasing its employees knowledge about the importance of biodiversity conservation.

The educational project of Polenergia, UNEP/GRID-Warszawa and the Kulczyk Foundation Play Green with Us!^®, which started in the spring of 2022, is being implemented in almost 70 educational institutions wherever the Group’s facilities are present.

This spring, we set out on a journey to the Polish preschools and primary schools with our Play green with us!^® project. What was our purpose? Together with the educational facilities located at the territories covered by the green investments of the Polenergia Group we want to raise awareness in the areas of ecology, climate protection and environment.

The “Baltic Offshore Wind Farm Information Centre” has started its operations in Łeba. It is the first year-round information and educational point on offshore wind energy in Poland. One of its most important tasks is to spread knowledge about joint projects implemented in the Baltic Sea by Equinor and Polenergia. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Polish Parliament, provincial and local authorities and activists of local organizations.

Residents of Ustka asked about the benefits for Pomerania, completed surveys of the seabed, environmental protection measures and educational opportunities in the growing offshore wind industry during a meeting with representatives of Equinor and Polenergia.  This was another meeting as part of the dialogue conducted by the companies with the local community.

Several thousand people – primary and high school students – visited the Equinor and Polenergia stand at the first EDU Offshore Wind Career Fair, held in Gdansk on March 14-15. This is a good sign, proving that the offshore wind industry and our Bałtyk projects can be an attractive place for them to work.

The Polenergia Group, together with Equinor, Rumia Municipality and Rumia Invest Park signed a Letter of Intent on the plan to cooperate as part of the Pomerania Offshore Wind Energy Competence Centre. The parties declare their desire to reinforce the labour market necessary for efficient development of wind energy at the Baltic Sea.

Tens of thousands of specialists will be employed in offshore wind farm projects in the Baltic Sea. Employers who are looking for qualified staff presented students with a wide range of professional opportunities during the Offshore Career Day 2022 Catch the Big Fish! The stand of Polenergia and Equinor was visited by several hundred people interested in a career offshore.

This is the eleventh edition of one of the most popular programs of the Lesław A. Paga Foundation, which helps in the development of talented students and graduates who not only want to develop in the energy industry, but also understand that business is based on good relations and commitment.

The Polenergia Group joins the UN Global Compact Network Poland initiative and puts its signature under the call for implementing the comprehensive and reliable education on climate change to schools as soon as possible.