ORLEN Neptun has signed another contract for the use of the offshore installation terminal infrastructure in Świnoujście. Under the agreement concluded with Smulders, responsible for the production of internal platforms for the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm project, steel components for the farm will be stored and assembled at the ORLEN Group’s terminal in West Pomerania. The company had previously signed a similar agreement with Ocean Winds for the BC-Wind offshore wind farm. The Świnoujście Offshore Terminal will ultimately enable the installation of several dozen wind turbines per year, becoming the most important offshore wind installation centre in the Baltic region.
“We promised Poles the energy of tomorrow, and we are consistently delivering on that promise. Our subsequent investments strengthen the energy security and independence of Poland and the entire region. The energy of tomorrow also means the development of our economy. Opened a few months ago, the Świnoujście Offshore Terminal has already become the most important offshore wind energy installation centre in the Baltic Sea region. We have signed another contract with a leading manufacturer of components for offshore wind farms, which will allow us to use our infrastructure to store and assemble components for the next offshore investment. This is a huge opportunity for the entire region and for Polish companies building their expertise in the sector of tomorrow” – the offshore wind energy sector, says Ireneusz Fąfara, President of the Management Board of ORLEN.
The agreement concluded by ORLEN Neptun with Smulders provides for the lease of terminal space. It will be used as a base for the construction of the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm, implemented by a consortium of PGE and Ørsted. The terminal will be used for the delivery, storage and assembly of SIP (Service Inspection Platforms), which will then be transported to their final installation location at sea. The loading of components onto specialised vessels will take place in Świnoujście. The cooperation also includes the construction of a production hall, where preparatory, assembly, installation and repair work will be carried out.
The Świnoujście Offshore Terminal has been designed to accommodate the largest vessels intended for offshore wind farm projects with turbines of approximately 15 MW. The location of the installation port provides convenient rail, ferry, air and road access, and its inland location guarantees optimal weather conditions during the operation of the investment. The location of the port will also enable the handling of international projects in German, Swedish and Danish waters.
The terminal was built to serve the ORLEN Group’s offshore projects, implemented as part of the second stage of MEW development, for which the company obtained concessions in 2023. The project involves the construction of five farms in the Baltic Sea with a total capacity of 5.2 GW. The first of these, Baltic East, with a capacity of 1 GW, will be built off the coast of Choczewo (Pomeranian Province). It is currently being prepared for a December auction. At the same time, a project consisting of four concessions located in the vicinity of Ławica Odrzańska is being developed. All of them are being prepared to participate in the Polish offshore wind farm support system. Three of the five concessions are planned to be launched by 2035. Full implementation of all projects is expected to take place by 2040.
Smulders is an experienced manufacturer of offshore wind farm foundation structures, enabling operational teams to access wind turbines and switchgear for technical interventions. The company is involved in the Baltica 2 project, under which it will start production of internal platforms at its local plant in Żary, followed by their assembly at the Świnoujście Offshore Terminal.
Source: ORLEN
