Polenergia, as the only entity with a majority of private capital, was successful in the first Polish auction for offshore wind farms. Thanks to this victory, the 1,560 MW Bałtyk 1 project gained the right to cover the negative balance (contract for difference), which is a key element of the financial security of this gigantic investment.
The results of the auction conducted by the Energy Regulatory Office confirm Polenergia’s aspirations to become one of the main players in the emerging offshore wind energy market in Poland. The company controlled by Dominika Kulczyk has proven its ability to compete in a sector previously dominated by entities with State Treasury shareholdings and foreign energy companies.
Project parameters and schedule
The Bałtyk 1 project is currently the most advanced undertaking of the so-called second phase of offshore development in Poland. With an installed capacity of 1,560 MW, it will be one of the largest wind farms in the Baltic Sea.
According to the adopted schedule, work on the launch of the unit will continue over the next few years, with clean energy generation planned to start in 2032. Obtaining a contract for difference (CfD) is a milestone that stabilises the project’s revenues and allows for the finalisation of talks with suppliers and financing institutions.
Strategic importance for the company
For Polenergia, success in the auction confirms its chosen development strategy. The company already has two other offshore projects in its portfolio (Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3, implemented jointly with Norway’s Equinor), but Bałtyk 1 significantly increases the company’s operational scale.
Dominika Kulczyk, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Polenergia, emphasises the groundbreaking nature of this event:
“Healthy and clean energy in Polish homes and for Polish families is our future. Bałtyk 1 will be one of the largest renewable energy investment projects in Poland. (…) Polenergia has been working on Poland’s energy transition for years. We are already implementing two large projects in the Baltic Sea, which are the foundation of our offshore programme. But Bałtyk 1 is more than that. It is a step that changes the scale of possibilities and opens a completely new chapter for both the company and the entire Polish energy sector.”
Challenges and market context
The implementation of a project of this scale requires securing the supply chain, including the construction of appropriate connection and service infrastructure. Polenergia positions itself as a competence leader that focuses on the synergy of international experience with local execution potential.
Winning the offshore auction is part of the broader context of Poland’s energy transition, which aims to reduce the economy’s carbon emissions and increase the share of renewable sources in the energy mix. Once operational, Bałtyk 1 will be able to power a significant number of households, having a real impact on reducing the carbon footprint of Polish industry.
Source: Polenergia
