The construction of the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms has begun. One of the largest energy projects in the history of Poland has entered the implementation phase

Two onshore substations, cable routes connecting the coast with the energy infrastructure, an O&M base in Łeba – the construction of onshore infrastructure for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms developed by Equinor and the Polenergia Group has begun. After the final investment decisions were made in May this year and closure of a record project finansing in the history of the Polish energy sector, one of the largest energy projects in modern Poland has entered the implementation phase. As a result, as early as 2028, clean renewable energy from the Baltic Sea will flow to more than 2 million Polish homes, supporting Polish's energy transition. At the same time, Polenergia and Equinor prepared the Bałtyk 1 farm, the largest and most advanced project of the second phase of offshore wind energy development, to participate in the offshore auction scheduled for December this year. A pre-qualification application in this matter has already been submitted to the Energy Regulatory Office.

Almost 200 people took part in the ceremony organized on June 26 in Warsaw celebrating the key decisions starting construction works on the onshore power infrastructure. The offshore part of the works will begin in 2026. Among the guests were representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland, Parliament, public offices and institutions, the Norwegian Embassy in Poland, industry organizations and associations, the financial sector and the media. 

- What we will create together on the Polish coast is much more than the infrastructure construction – it is a new foundation for the economy of the future, modern, clean and sustainable. Today, we are implementing the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects, which are a symbol of a new era for the national energy sector. An era in which innovation goes hand in hand with responsibility for energy-independent Poland, future generations and Earth Mother. Our farms are an impulse for the development of Polish industry and a great potential for the development of domestic companies. In the first half of next year, we are starting offshore installation works on the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects. However, for an effective energy transition, it is also necessary to settle the offshore auction in 2025. We have the Bałtyk 1 project fully prepared for it, which, as the largest and most advanced phase II farm, can play a key role in maintaining the pace of green transformation and building a strong domestic industrial base for the offshore sector - says Dominika Kulczyk, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Polenergia SA.

– Polish companies are already involved in the implementation of our offshore projects, also as main suppliers, and many domestic plants produce key components for offshore wind farms. We want to further increase our contribution to the development of the domestic industry and invest in the development of Polish competences in the field of offshore wind energy. Based on the experience with Bałtyk 2 and 3, we have the ambition to achieve the level of up to 45% of the content for the next project under development – Bałtyk 1. However, it is crucial to ensure investment continuity by settling the auction this year – says Michał Jerzy Kołodziejczyk, President of the Management Board of Equinor in Poland.

Currently, work related to the construction of onshore infrastructure for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms with a total capacity of 1440 MW is in full swing. Two onshore power stations are being built in Pęplino near Ustka. They are carried out by Hitachi Energy, and a significant part of the advanced equipment for the station will be manufactured in its facilities in Łódź. The Polish company Erbud is also a key subcontractor for construction works. At the same time, the construction of routes for power cables is underway. The onshore connection corridor will measure a total of approx. 14 km. Polish companies were selected for the production of cables and the preparation of special cable routes – Enprom and Tele-Fonika Kable. Closer to the sea, near Ustka, drilling work is being carried out using horizontal directional drilling technology, which allows cables to be laid underground without the need for an open trench. The contractor for this part of the investment is Hanab, and the Polish company ZRB Janicki is responsible for the project. In Łeba, Erbud has started the construction of an operations and service base that will provide service for offshore wind farms. The facility is to be completed in the middle of next year. Dozens of qualified specialists will find employment here.  Safety is a priority for Equinor and Polenergia, which is why they take the utmost care to ensure the highest standards during construction works.

At the same time, preparations for work at sea are underway. This year, the Polish research company MEWO inspected the seabed for potential unexploded ordnance. Work related to the removal of undersea boulders from the future route of export cables will also begin soon. Installation works, including the driving of monopiles, are scheduled for the first half of 2026. Dozens of ships will be involved in the naval installation campaign, including one of the largest vessels in the world - the over 200-meter Thialf ship. The first electricity from the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects will flow in 2027, and in 2028 the commercial stage of operation of the farms will begin.

The Bałtyk 1 offshore wind farm – the largest and most advanced project of phase II offshore development – for which the process of qualifying for the auction – formal confirmation of meeting the conditions – has also been initiated, is also waiting in line. Bałtyk 1, which will have a capacity of up to 1560 MW,  has a connection agreement with the transmission system operator TSO (pl.: PSE) and a final environmental decision. A supply chain plan for the project is also ready. Obtaining building permits and making the final investment decision is planned for 2027, and the commercial phase will start in 2032. In total, the three Baltic projects can supply green energy to over 4 million households in Poland.