First projects submitted. Applications for Equinor and Polenergia contest open until 23 October

Applications for the ‘Local Initiatives Powered by Wind’ contest, organised by Equinor and Polenergia, can be submitted until Friday, 23 October. The first proposals have already been received, but applications are still open. Organisations and institutions operating in municipalities neighbouring the onshore infrastructure of the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms can apply for funding of up to PLN 50,000 per project. 

The programme covers the rural municipalities of Ustka and Redzikowo, as well as the urban municipalities of Łeba and Ustka. The contest is aimed at organisations and institutions that work closely with local residents and have the best understanding of their needs. Thanks to the funding, they can turn their ideas into practical initiatives benefiting local communities, ranging from educational and environmental activities to social, sporting and cultural projects. 

As part of the first edition of the contest, the organisers plan to support approximately 4–8 projects. The total budget is PLN 200,000. 

– We want the funding to reach organisations and institutions that understand the needs of local residents and know how to translate that knowledge into practical action. The first applications have already been submitted, but there is still time to put forward new ideas. We encourage eligible organisations to take advantage of this opportunity and propose initiatives that will bring tangible benefits to local communities – says Marta Porzuczek, Director of the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Department, ESG Coordinator at the Polenergia Group. 

Eligible applicants include, among others, non-governmental organisations, local government bodies and their organisational units, schools and educational institutions, cultural institutions, libraries, rural women’s associations, volunteer fire brigades and sports clubs. 

Submitted projects may cover a wide range of areas, including community integration, education, renewable energy, the sea and the environment, nature conservation and biodiversity, safety, physical activity, culture and local heritage. When selecting the winners, the organisers will pay particular attention to whether the proposed initiatives address the real needs of local residents, engage the community and have the potential to deliver long-term benefits. 

– As we implement the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects, we regularly cooperate with local communities and regional partners. This gives us a good understanding of local circumstances and shows how important initiatives that engage and bring residents together can be. The contest is open to a variety of ideas from organisations and institutions that best understand local needs. We want to create an opportunity to turn these ideas into projects that will deliver long-term benefits to local communities – says Andrzej Popadiuk, Stakeholder Manager at Equinor Polska. 

Applications can be submitted electronically until 23 October 2026. The rules, application form and detailed information about the programme are available at: https://baltyk123.pl/en/contest-local-initiatives/  

The contest is part of the activities carried out by Equinor and Polenergia in connection with the construction of the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms. These projects are an important element of Poland’s energy transition and the development of the Pomeranian region. The farms’ combined capacity will be up to 1,440 MW, which will be enough to power up to 2 million households.