Largest wind farm project in the Baltic Sea prepares for auction

Equinor and Polenergia are advancing the largest offshore wind farm project in the Balitic Sea, the Bałtyk, by applying for environmental approval for its connection infrastructure. This initiative is a pivotal moment for the auction set in 2025, marking a significant leap in Poland’s journey towards energy independence and security.  Highlighting the strategic importance of this project, both companies shared, The implementation of the Bałtyk 1 wind farm will benefit from the best solutions developed in the construction of the earlier projects, Bałtyk 2 and 3. This will significantly streamline the investment process - both companies emphasize.

The Bałtyk 1 offshore wind farm is one of three collaborative projects between Equinor and Polenergia. Together, these projects, Bałtyk 1, Bałtyk 2 and 3, boast a combined capacity of up to 3 GW – enabling the provision if renewable energy to more than 4 million Polish households. Bałtyk 1 distinguishes itself as the project with the highest capacity under construction in the Baltic Sea, promising up to 1560 GW.  

Situated approximately 80 kilometres off the coast, Bałtyk 1 offshore wind farm will transport electricity to the Polish Power Grid’s Krzemienica in Redzikowo municipality via underground cables The design choice underscores a commitment to preserving the regions tourist appeal and monomialising environmental impacts.

The project incorporates innovative strategies for the onshore power exit, particularly the utilisation of a shared corridor with Bałtyk 2 and 3 for enhanced efficiency. To date, Bałtyk 1 has secured essential permits and agreements to lay and maintain cables in the offshore section and a grid connection agreement with the transmission system operator.

– We are taking an active part in the country's energy transition by developing offshore wind energy. Our goal is to provide Poland with green energy produced from renewable sources. We have the highest quality technologies and solutions that we implement in our projects. Bałtyk 2 and 3 will be among the first offshore wind farms in Poland, and they are scheduled to come online in 2027. Bałtyk 1 is the most advanced project of the second phase, scheduled for auction in 2025. The green energy that will flow from all three offshore wind farms will provide stable renewable energy for more than 4 million households – says Michal Kołodziejczyk, Country Manager of Equinor in Poland.

The total distance from the connection point and the total planned capacity justifies the use of the first offshore wind farm power derivation using direct current (HVDC) technology. This technology has already been installed at the largest offshore wind farm in the world - Dogger Bank in the UK, where the first power was fed into the grid in 2023. Equinor is one of the shareholders in this project and will be operator in its operational phase. The experience gained from the UK will be transferred to Poland. An application to change the connection conditions for Bałtyk 1 to direct current technology has already been submitted to the Polish Power Grid.

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– The implementation of the Bałtyk offshore wind farms is crucial to Poland's energy transition. A common corridor section for the cable bringing power out of all three Bałtyk projects will significantly shorten the investment process, make it easier and cheaper. The construction of the Bałtyk 1 wind farm will benefit from the best practices developed in the construction of the earlier projects, Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3. This applies not only to the common infrastructure corridor, but also to the supply chain being built, the acquisition and training of future personnel, or the relations with local residents and local administration, which are very important to us. Investment continuity will allow a smooth transition between the two phases of offshore energy development in our country – says Jerzy Zań, CEO of  Polenergia S.A.

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The project has completed the collection of marine measurement and meteorological data during more than a year-long study of wind and wave intensity. This will help determine the expected energy production of the wind farm. In addition, last year's seabed surveys provided a preliminary understanding of the site's geological conditions relevant to the design process. This is essential research, that will be used to create the most production- and cost-efficient design.

The Bałtyk 2 and 3 offshore wind farms, due to come online in 2027, will have a capacity of 1440 MW. The projects already have contracted major suppliers of key components.  Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has been appointed as the turbine supplier, SIF Netherlands B.V. as the foundation supplier, and Hitachi Energy as the electrical systems infrastructure supplier. 

Equinor and Polenergia also already have secured contracts for the design, manufacture, supply and installation of internal cables and export cables for both projects. The internal cables will be supplied and installed by Seaway7. In turn, the contract for marine export cables was awarded to an international consortium formed by Jan de Nul and Hellenic Cables. The investment partners also signed an agreement with DNV, which will take care of certification of the offshore parts of the Bałtyk 2 and 3 wind farms. 

This year, construction work will begin on O&M base in Łeba, which, as a logistics and operations center, will be responsible for the safe and proper operation of offshore wind farms for 30 years of their operation. The base will employ about 100 people. All three projects will generate up to 10,000 jobs.