Offshore wind farms Bałtyk getting closer: Summary of 2024

The year 2024 was an important period for offshore wind energy in Poland, including the projects developed by Equinor and Polenergia. The Companies obtained a set of permits for the Bałtyk 2 and 3 projects, both of which will enter the construction phase this year, and prepared the Bałtyk 1 project, the largest planned offshore wind farm in the Polish Baltic, for the auction in 2025.

Progress on the Bałtyk 2 and 3 projects and Bałtyk 1

Obtaining a complete set of permits for Bałtyk 2 and 3 in 2024 cleared the way for the start of preparatory work that will lead to building the connection infrastructure. The work mentioned above is already underway in and around the land parcels designated for the construction of onshore substations in the municipality of Ustka and along the route of the cable corridor. Meanwhile, in the offshore part, Companies have begun further advanced geophysical research of the seabed aimed at determining the exact geological conditions in the areas where the foundations of the wind turbines will be placed. The research is being carried out using modern 3D technology and specialized vessels such as Deep Helder to precisely identify the seabed and minimize the environmental impact on the Baltic Sea.

In 2024, Equinor and Polenergia entered into strategic agreements for the supply of key components and services for the Bałtyk 2 and 3 projects. Among the suppliers with whom agreements were signed last year were:

• Tele-Fonika Kable - supply of land cables manufactured at the factory in Bydgoszcz,
• Siemens Gamesa - supply of offshore wind turbines,
• Sif Group - production of monopiles,
• Ramboll - design of foundations and project documentation,
• Heerema Marine Contractors - transportation and installation of foundations and offshore substations,
• Smulders Projects and Sif Group consortium - supply of transition elements with equipment, some of them manufactured at Smulders' Polish facilities,
• Enprom - construction of cable tracks in the onshore part,
• Cadeler - vessels for wind turbine installation,
• Visser & Smit Hanab - construction of horizontal drilling in the area of the export cables' exit to land.

A special aspect that the Companies care about is the presence of Polish firms among the main suppliers of components and services, and the use of Polish facilities by other entities involved in the emergence of the Bałtyk projects. What is equally important, all the main companies with which contracts have been signed in 2024 are firms registered in Europe.

Cooperation with Polish industry

In 2024, Equinor and Polenergia organized two editions of Supplier's Day, an event directed to Polish companies that provides an opportunity for local enterprises to become involved in the offshore supply chain.

The meetings have been held since 2019. Since then, they have already been organized five times, with a total of almost 250 companies participating, including about 170 registered in Poland. The events are an opportunity for domestic firms to build relationships with suppliers and contractors of the Bałtyk 2 and 3 projects. In addition, Equinor and Polenergia have already started work on building a supply chain for the Bałtyk 1 project. Last year, Polish companies were able to participate in a survey to check the possibility of joining the project, as well as in a workshop for those interested in cooperating on the Bałtyk 1 farm.

– We are committed to involving domestic companies in the implementation of our Bałtyk projects. The Supplier Day events create an opportunity for Polish suppliers to dialogue with our key partners and build common potential in the offshore market – said Andrzej Popadiuk, Stakeholder Manager, Equinor Poland.

Education for offshore

Education was an important area of activities implemented by the Companies in 2024. Equinor and Polenergia have been involved in a number of educational programs, through which several thousand elementary, high school and college students had the opportunity to expand their knowledge of offshore wind energy and renewable energy sources.

As part of building a transparent dialogue and improving the skills of the domestic staff, Equinor and Polenergia also organized a workshop on offshore traffic coordination in the context of the construction and operation of offshore wind farms for administrative representatives. Participants were able to learn more about specialized communication systems, crisis management or the use of OSEM (Offshore Energy Manager) software in operational work.

In line with the Companies' “Good neighbor for many years” approach, Equinor and Polenergia actively supported local events in the region, such as the Redzikowo Municipality's Resident's Day, the 2nd Łeba Fish Festival and the District and Municipality Harvest Festival in Swołowo. The initiatives were an opportunity to integrate with residents and promote the role and benefits of offshore wind energy. The Companies also continued their quarterly informational meetings with the local community, during which they presented detailed information on project progress, future plans and emerging infrastructure.

An important element in raising public awareness of renewable energy sources was last year's opening of Poland's first exhibition dedicated to offshore wind energy, “Baltic Sea. Sea of Green Energy”. This is an interactive exhibition, located in the Maritime Culture Center, a branch of the National Maritime Museum in Gdansk at 21/25 Tokarska Street, which has become a unique platform for popularizing knowledge about offshore wind energy among the youngest, youth, as well as adults.

– Our exhibition is an initiative that combines education and innovation. I am convinced that popularizing knowledge through such activities helps build awareness of offshore wind energy and the role of offshore in Poland's energy future – said Marta Porzuczek, director of the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Department at Polenergia Group.

Plans and prospects for the future

The year 2025 marks the next chapter in the implementation of the Bałtyk 2 and 3 and Bałtyk 1 projects, which looks to be very intense. There are many challenges ahead of the Companies, as the final investment decision for the Bałtyk 2 and 3 projects is scheduled to be made in Q1, and construction work is set to begin. The farms, with a total capacity of 1440 MW, will be located in the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, between 22 and 37 km from the coastline.

In addition to the connection infrastructure, substation, landfall drilling, the construction of a service base in Łeba will also begin, which will serve as a logistics and operations center for the Bałtyk 2 and 3 offshore wind farms.

On the other hand, the Bałtyk 1 project, which will be 81 km from the shore, obtained in 2024, among other things, a decision on environmental conditions for the offshore wind farm and a decision approving a geological works project to detail information on ground conditions for the future foundation of wind turbines, substations and internal cables. CPT soundings were conducted on this basis. The results of the surveys will form the basis for determining the bearing parameters that guarantee the safety of the foundation of the structures. A milestone for Bałtyk 1 project will be participation in an auction, the successful outcome of which will allow the project to be implemented.