By Areta Kempińska, managing partner, Bireta Professional Translations

 

The green transition is accelerating across Europe, and Poland is right in the middle of it. With offshore wind projects in the Baltic Sea, nuclear energy back on the agenda, and a growing list of ESG requirements, the stakes are high. But while infrastructure, technology and policy grab headlines, one critical factor often goes unnoticed: language.

Large-scale energy projects don’t succeed on engineering alone. They rely on precise, secure and coordinated communication across dozens of stakeholders. That means translating complex documentation, ensuring everyone speaks the same technical language, and doing it fast and securely. As a language-services provider working on some of the most ambitious energy projects in Poland, we see this challenge up close.

Where projects stall without words
A typical offshore wind or nuclear project involves a web of players: international investors, government agencies, local contractors, regulators, environmental experts, and community groups. They speak different languages, operate in different legal systems, and come with different expectations. Add to this thousands of pages of documentation. In fact, a single environmental impact assessment for an offshore wind farm can exceed 1,000 pages – all of which may need translation – covering everything from environmental assessments to technical designs and procurement procedures.

The complexity doesn’t end with volume. Each document must comply with national and EU regulations; it must meet tight timelines and align with multiple technical standards. Stakeholders need to understand not just the words, but the intent behind them. Translation errors can introduce legal ambiguities, engineering risks, or non-compliance with ESG disclosures. Misunderstanding even a subtle term in a permit or contract can lead to serious consequences – for example, a mistranslation in tender documentation could result in a bid being rejected. Polish authorities have similarly cautioned that poor-quality translations in environmental impact assessment reports can stall the approval process.

If just one critical detail is lost in translation, the results can be dire. Permits might get delayed, tenders invalidated, or contracts misinterpreted. In a sector where delays cost millions, clarity is non-negotiable. It’s no surprise that even short holdups quickly rack up costs and erode trust. In fact, industry research finds that miscommunication issues are responsible for over 50% of all project rework (and billions in extra costs) on construction projects. That’s why communication must be treated as a project risk factor, not as an administrative afterthought.

Language as operational infrastructure
At Bireta, we treat translation the same way others treat logistics or safety protocols – as part of the project’s infrastructure. That means more than just converting words from one language to another. It means building and managing multilingual glossaries tailored to each project, aligning terminology across dozens of contributors, and verifying every translation through a two-step quality control process.

For example, during work on offshore wind projects in the Baltic, we supported clients through every stage – from environmental impact assessments and legal filings to supplier documentation and investor communications. Terminology around marine biology, electrical engineering, and Polish permitting law needed to stay fully aligned across all languages.

The same applies in the nuclear sector, where documentation includes everything from site studies and licensing procedures to technology descriptions and stakeholder consultations. To help clients stay consistent, we developed a specialised glossary of nuclear terminology in cooperation with the Nuclear.pl Foundation. This digital glossary is a unique tool on the Polish market, helping reduce ambiguity and increase project efficiency.

Information security is trust currency
Trust doesn’t come just from accuracy. It comes from protecting the confidentiality of every document and conversation. Many of the projects we work on involve sensitive data, whether it’s supplier pricing, strategic agreements, or internal risk assessments. That’s why Bireta has invested in ISO 27001 certification and an accredited ICT system approved by the ABW, Poland’s internal security agency, allowing us to handle restricted information directly within our secure infrastructure.

Confidentiality is especially important in competitive tenders, negotiations with international suppliers, or in the early-stage planning of strategic energy assets. When language service providers can guarantee information security, project owners can move faster and more confidently.

In addition to certification, we maintain strict protocols for assigning teams, managing access to documents, and implementing quality assurance. Every client file is handled by trained staff with verified backgrounds, and translation memory tools are secured in closed environments. These are not just good practices – they are essential safeguards in the current geopolitical and economic context.

With climate-related risk disclosures becoming more prominent and ESG scrutiny growing, businesses can’t afford communication gaps. Nor can they risk data leaks or misinterpretations. In that sense, secure language services are part of a company’s reputation management strategy, especially when dealing with foreign stakeholders and public institutions.

What COP30 signals for business
COP30, held in Belém, Brazil in November 2025, has brought a sobering message to the global stage. Despite significant strides in renewable energy and decarbonisation, the scientific consensus remains deeply pessimistic: the world is not on track to meet the critical target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. With fossil fuel emissions continuing to rise, the projected global temperature increase could reach up to 3°C by 2100, triggering irreversible climate impacts. This stark reality is underscored by the absence of major political leaders, such as US President Donald Trump, whose dismissal of climate science casts a shadow over efforts for collective action. Yet, even in the face of such setbacks, there is a growing realisation that we cannot afford to turn our backs on decarbonisation. Many global leaders and businesses, particularly in the Global South, are forging ahead with clean energy transitions, recognising that the decarbonisation of the global economy is now irreversible. Despite political polarisation, renewable energy investments are outpacing fossil fuels – something that will define the global economic landscape in the coming decades.

For businesses, COP30 signals both the urgency and the opportunity of the green transition. While the climate crisis deepens, there is still momentum in the renewable sector. It is more crucial than ever for companies to remain committed to sustainability goals, as global supply chains, investors, and regulatory bodies demand stronger actions to meet climate commitments. The transition to clean energy, while challenging, is the only viable path forward. For companies, particularly those in energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing, maintaining a focus on renewable investments and decarbonisation strategies will provide long-term stability and market competitiveness. It is clear that the world will continue to push for cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions, and companies that align with these priorities will lead in the next era of global growth. Rather than turning back, this moment calls for bold action and support for the shift to green energy – a transition that remains both necessary and inevitable.

Translation will continue to play a critical role not just in glossy sustainability reports or investor decks, but in the day-to-day documents that keep projects moving – from design reviews and tender submissions to training materials and audit responses. The more complex the sector, the more vital it is to get every word right. Looking ahead, we see growing demand for language services in rapidly evolving green sectors like hydrogen energy, energy storage, wind power, biogas and biomass. These industries face the same multilingual challenges and require the same strategic approach to communication to ensure alignment, compliance and trust among stakeholders.

No transition without communication
The green transformation is not just a matter of technology or policy. It’s also about making sure everyone understands what needs to happen – in every language involved. That means clear documentation, consistent terminology, and a trusted process for getting messages across. Poland’s energy transition spans everything from EU directives to local community meetings, and each level requires accurate, context-aware translation to keep all parties on the same page.

We’ve learned that behind every successful infrastructure project, there’s a foundation of solid communication. The ability to coordinate across cultures, industries, and borders is what turns plans into action. In Poland’s case, this coordination will be crucial for meeting EU climate targets, attracting long-term investors, and building public support.

As Poland works to meet its green transition goals, the path to decarbonisation remains challenging. However, continued support at every stage of this journey, whether through clear communication or strategic alignment, remains crucial. We hope to contribute to this effort by providing the language services needed to help stakeholders navigate this complex transformation.