A groundbreaking ceremony for the Baltic Towers offshore tower factory was held in Gdansk. The new factory, which will be located with direct access to the quay in Gdansk, is a key investment for the Polish renewable energy sector.
The factory will have the capacity to manufacture more than 150 towers a year. The construction of the offshore tower factory is being carried out by Baltic Towers, which was established as a result of cooperation between the Industrial Development Agency and the Spanish company GRI Renewable Industries, S.L. The plant is scheduled to start up in the second quarter of 2025.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together a number of guests, including representatives of the wind energy sector, as well as local and national authorities.
The foundation act was signed by the President of the Management Board of IDA Michal Dabrowski, Vice President of IDA Jakub Dulski, Owner of GRI Renewable Industries Jon Riberas, CEO of GRI Renewable Industries Antonio Barbosa, special guest – representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Poland Maria del Rocio Hualde Chico, representatives of the Board of Directors of Baltic Towers Jakub Wnuczynski, Bruno Orlando Lima Antunes, Marcin Jackowicz, Secretary of State and Minister of Maritime Economy Arkadiusz Marchewka, Pomeranian Voivode Beata Rutkiewicz, Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodeship Mieczysław Struk, Deputy Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodeship Leszek Bonna and Mayor of Gdansk Piotr Grzelak.
– The Tri-City is a place where history has always been at work and it is happening again today. With this innovative project, we are entering the first league of global business. We are starting a new chapter that will consolidate the positions of the Tri-City and Gdansk Shipyard in the European and global market – said ARP S.A. President Michal Dabrowski in his speech. – Yes, as I mentioned at the Europejski Kongres Przemysłu in Katowice, whoever does not understand that the world today is global is doomed to failure, and whoever understands this is destined to succeed. This success begins today and is called Gdansk.
Source: IDA
The Company’s main business is oriented around the production of wind towers for the OWF industry. In light of the plans to build the first Polish wind farms in the Baltic Sea, the global targets for the development of OWE in Europe and the United States, and thus the growing demand for new-generation offshore tower structures, this investment is a response to the needs of a rapidly developing market.
– The offshore industry is in a difficult moment, but this moment is also the beginning of a new dynamic. We have our 5 minutes to make the most of –emphasized Vice President of IDA Jakub Dulski speaking to the gathering. – Thank you very much to the people who have contributed to the fact that Ostrow Island is starting to live again. The history of this place, its fate, for the last 30 years was not obvious, it took a struggle to make the success we are witnessing work. Thank you for the support of the government representatives in the province, as well as representatives of the local government and the city of Gdansk.
The activities of Baltic Towers are strategic for the development of offshore wind energy. It’s a key sector of the economy from the perspective of national and regional authorities due to the need to build new sources of energy generation, especially renewable sources supporting the energy transformation of the industry, increasing the competitiveness of the Polish and European economy.
It is also important in the context of raising Poland’s role in the offshore wind energy market and increasing the region’s attractiveness to potential investors.
As Jon Riberas, Executive Chairman of GRI Renewable Industries, emphasized at the groundbreaking ceremony: “GRI, together with its partner IDA, is committed to building one of the most extraordinary wind tower facilities in the world. This joint venture in Poland will be one of the world leaders in the production of wind towers for the offshore market, contributing to the ambitious goals set by Poland and Europe to halt climate change.
The new Baltic Towers offshore wind tower factory will become a modern and innovative production center, occupying a key position in the construction of Poland’s supply chain for offshore wind, which will significantly affect the further development of the potential of the offshore economy in our region.
The entire production process will consist of many activities performed in the factory, i.e. cutting, welding and beveling of large-format metal sheets, coiling and welding, maintenance, painting and assembling of individual components into a finished product, as well as assembly of complex equipment inside the wind tower, will meet the highest technical, quality and environmental standards set by key customers in the OWE market. Innovative solutions applied already at the design stage will make the factory friendly to both employees and the environment, creating more than 500 highly specialized jobs.
The effects of this investment will be visible at the local level, supporting the development of the local supply chain for the plant under construction and contributing to the creation of new developments for the community of Gdansk and the surrounding area.
The laying of the cornerstone is proof that construction of the offshore tower factory is gaining momentum and moving forward on schedule.
Source: IDA
