The decision issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection (RDOŚ) in Gdansk on environmental conditions for the Bałtyk 1 offshore wind farm has become final. This is a milestone in the implementation of the largest wind farm in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea, which is being developed by Equinor and Polenergia. Bałtyk 1 is getting ready for an offshore auction in 2025. Both companies emphasize the great importance of holding the auction this year due to, among other things, maximizing offshore wind energy potential for Poland and including domestic companies in offshore projects.
– This is an extremely important moment for the Bałtyk 1 project, which brings us closer to participating in the auction of the second phase of offshore development. Holding the auction this year will allow us to maintain implementation continuity between Phase I and Phase II of offshore wind development, without generating unnecessary interruptions, which will allow us to maximize the energy potential of the Polish sea. Equally importantly, it will enable smooth integration of Polish companies into the process of farm construction and increase local content. As the largest offshore wind farm currently under development in Poland, Bałtyk 1 plays a huge role in realizing this goal – notes Adam Purwin, CEO of Polenergia S.A..
– The issued environmental decision for the Bałtyk 1 project, the most advanced project of the second phase of offshore wind energy development in Poland, is a significant milestone. Bałtyk 1 has already received permission to lay and maintain cables in the offshore section, as well as a grid connection agreement with the transmission system operator. The environmental decision paves the way for our project to the next stage, which is to take part in the auction in 2025 – says Michal Jerzy Kolodziejczyk, CEO of Equinor in Poland.
The Baltic offshore wind farm projects represent a major opportunity for Polish companies to join the global offshore supply chain. Already in the first phase of development, Equinor and Polenergia organized a series of meetings with suppliers, attended by more than 300 domestic companies. A number of Polish companies were contracted for the project, including as so-called tier 1 prime contractors. For the Bałtyk 1 farm, a supply chain potential analysis has also begun for companies interested in cooperating on the project. The first meetings with contractors will be held soon.
The Bałtyk 1 wind farm, with a capacity of up to 1560 MW, will be located 81 km from the coastline. Electricity will flow from it onshore to a connection point at the Krzemienica substation under construction, owned by the Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE). The connection infrastructure will be located on land, in the municipalities of Ustka and Redzikowo in the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
Proceedings for the issuance of the environmental decision for the Bałtyk 1 project were preceded by comprehensive and detailed studies and analyses aimed at collecting data on the basis of which the report on the project’s impact on the environment was prepared. For the purposes of this report, a number of analyses and modeling were carried out, including, among others, the spread of underwater noise during the installation of monopile foundations at the construction stage or the estimation of the risk of collision between birds and offshore wind turbines during operation. The report showed that the proposed technical and organizational solutions will effectively reduce the environmental impact of the Bałtyk 1 project.
Polenergia and Equinor are developing three wind farm projects. Bałtyk 1, 2, 3, which will have a total capacity of up to 3,000 MW, allowing 4 million households to be supplied with green energy. The first energy from the two more advanced projects, Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3, will flow in 2027. The two farms will have a combined capacity of 1440 MW.
Source: Bałtyk
