Baltic East, the most advanced project of the second phase of offshore wind power in the ORLEN Group, has obtained a decision on environmental conditions for the offshore wind farm, issued by the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Gdańsk (RDOŚ). This key stage brings the investment closer to participating in the first Polish offshore wind auction, scheduled for December this year. With an installed capacity of approximately 1 GW, the farm has the potential to supply clean energy to over 1.25 million households.
“Obtaining an environmental decision in such a short time is a huge success, made possible by the competence and commitment of the ORLEN Neptun team. This is an important milestone that allows us to continue the investment process and prepare Baltic East to participate in Poland’s first offshore wind auction. At the same time, we are working on securing financing and obtaining all the necessary permits so that in 2032, energy from our farm can power the Polish system. This is an ambitious project that will strengthen Poland’s position in the field of offshore wind energy and open up new opportunities for domestic suppliers,” emphasizes Janusz Bil, President of the Management Board of ORLEN Neptun.
Obtaining an environmental decision for Baltic East is a milestone towards participation in Poland’s first offshore wind auction, which will take place in December. As part of the auction, the Energy Regulatory Office will select offshore wind farm projects with a total capacity of up to 4 GW, which will receive support in the form of a contract for difference. A crucial stage is beginning for Baltic East, which is entering the decisive phase of preparations – from finalizing permits to making the final investment decision and starting construction work. The project involves extensive use of local content, engaging Polish companies in the supply of components, logistics and maintenance services, which will strengthen the domestic value chain and economy.
The RDOŚ decision concerns turbines, foundations, power stations, and internal cables. The connection infrastructure is subject to a separate environmental procedure. Baltic East already has a location decision (PSZW), preliminary conditions for connection to the transmission grid, and a permit for laying and maintaining cables in internal sea waters and territorial waters (PUUK). Design work has also begun to prepare the documentation necessary to apply for building permits.
The environmental decision was preceded by comprehensive studies and analyses, which showed that the technical and organizational solutions proposed by Baltic East will effectively limit the project’s impact on the environment, meaning that the farm will not have any significant negative environmental effects. Among other things, a corridor was created to allow birds to migrate through the OWF area, and appropriate solutions were included to protect the marine environment from noise. The preparation of the report, which forms the basis for assessing the environmental impact of the project and determining the conditions for its implementation specified in the decision, was preceded by many years of research and analysis carried out mainly by Polish companies, including studies of fauna and flora, monitoring of migration routes, assessment of environmental parameters, underwater noise modeling, water and sediment quality analyses, as well as the impact of the farm on the Natura 2000 area and the cumulative impact of all wind projects in the area.
Baltic East is the second offshore wind farm developed by the ORLEN Group. The investment will be built on an area of 110 km², approximately 22.5 km from the Baltic Sea coast, in the vicinity of the Baltic Power farm currently under construction.
The development of offshore wind energy is fundamental to the ORLEN Group’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. Baltic East is the company’s offshore project, implemented under one of its six concessions. The first electricity will flow to consumers as early as next year from the Baltic Power farm, implemented jointly with Northland Power. At the same time, the Baltic West project is being developed, covering four concessions in the Ławica Odrzańska area. All projects are being prepared to participate in the Polish support system for offshore wind farms, the first stage of which will be an offshore wind auction. Full implementation of all projects will take place by 2040.
Source: Baltic East
