Meeting with residents about the Bałtyk offshore wind farms in Ustka

Equinor and Polenergia, the companies implementing the joint projects of the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms, organized an information meeting for residents, which took place on December 6 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Ustka City Hall. On the occasion of St. Nicholas Day, the youngest participants were treated to an educational play area and sweet treats.

During the meeting, representatives of the companies talked about the planned investments in the Bałtyk II and Bałtyk III offshore wind farms.

Both projects, with a total capacity of approx. 1.5 GW, will supply almost 2 million households with renewable energy and strengthen the energy security of Poland. The investments are an important element in the ongoing energy transition in Poland, which is expected to build up to 18 GW of capacity in Polish offshore areas by 2040.

During the meeting, residents received the most important information about the projects, including:

• the scope of the work currently being carried out,
• investment schedule,
• environmental protection in the planning and implementation of offshore wind farms
• benefits and impact of offshore wind farms on the development of the region,
• career prospects in the offshore wind energy industry.

Representatives of the companies also answered residents' questions about employment opportunities and prospects in the sector, as well as listened to their opinions and comments on planned investments. The offshore wind farms being built by Equinor and Polenergia will provide jobs for up to 10,000 technicians and engineers, and the service base in Łeba will provide jobs for 100 specialists, in the field of administration and logistics, among other things.

During the discussion, the topic of the implementation of connection infrastructure, which is an integral part of offshore wind farms, was also presented. The cable connecting the offshore wind turbines with the onshore substation will run through the towns of Pęplino, Lędowo, and Duninowo (in the Ustka Commune) and Bruskowo Wielkie, Bruskowo Małe and Wielichowo (in the Słupsk Commune). The planned infrastructure will be connected to the existing Słupsk Wierzbięcino substation.

The organizers also invited the youngest residents to participate in the meeting by preparing a St. Nicolaus’s corner of games and educational activities with the participation of animators. The attractions included coloring books, wind-jigsaw puzzles, scattered letters, riddles, and sweet gifts. During the game, children could learn the principles of operation of offshore wind farms.

The meeting was another in a series of informational and educational meetings with the inhabitants of the Słupsk district, which are held as part of the dialogue conducted by Equinor and Polenergia with the local community. Investors regularly meet with representatives of the region's local communities to stay in touch with them and present the current status of their projects. Previous meetings with the inhabitants of Pomerania also took place in Łeba and Bruskowo Wielkie.

Detailed information on the progress of work in the projects can also be obtained in the "Information Centre on the Baltic Offshore Wind Farms in Łeba – launched by Equinor and Polenergia – the first year-round information and educational point on offshore wind energy in Poland. A service base will also be built in Łeba to support the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms.