PGE Group and Ørsted have signed an agreement with GE Vernova – represented in Poland by GE Power Sp. z o.o. – and Polimex Mostostal, which, as a consortium, will build the onshore infrastructure necessary to derive power from the Baltica 2 project, one of two phases of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm.

– This year, we are proceeding with the construction of an onshore transformer station and onshore export lines for Baltica 2, the connection infrastructure needed to bring 1.5 GW of power out of our first offshore wind farm. It is from the land connection that the construction of offshore power plants begins. The finalization of this contract is largely due to the power derivation specialists at PGE Baltica, which has an offshore program in the PGE Group. – said Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. – The Baltica 2 offshore wind farm will provide power for Pomerania, which is currently largely supplied from southern Poland. The additional source will increase energy security not only for the region, but for the entire country. The first electricity from Baltica 2 will be fed into the National Electricity System in 2027 – adds PGE’s President of the Management Board.

– Last year, we were able to sign all of the offshore component contracts, as well as some of the installation contracts that Ørsted was responsible for preparing. With the signing of the contract for the construction of the onshore power derivation infrastructure for the Baltica 2 project, we are taking big steps towards the realization of this pioneering project for offshore wind power in Poland – said, Agata Staniewska- Bolesta, Managing Director of Ørsted Offshore Poland.

– We are extremely proud to have been selected for this key project for Poland’s energy transition and energy security. Together with our consortium partner Polimex Mostostal, we are ready to bring our expertise and state-of-the-art technologies to Baltica 2 to ensure the effective integration of its energy into the National Electricity System – states Johan Bindele, Head of Network Systems Integration at GE Vernova’s Network Solutions division.

The land connection infrastructure for the Baltica 2 project will be built in Pomerania in the vicinity of the Osieki Lęborskie village in the Choczewo commune, Wejherowo County. The general contractor will build it in what’s known as a turnkey formula, that is, they will prepare a ready-to-use facility. The task of constructing the onshore connection includes the construction of a 275/400 kV extra-high voltage substation and the onshore export lines necessary for power output to the National Electricity System. Construction work will begin later in 2024. Testing and launch of the land-based station is scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

Baltica 2 is one of two – along with Baltica 3 – phases of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm. PGE and Ørsted plan to complete construction of the Baltica 2 stage with a capacity of approx. 1.5 GW by the end of 2027, while the Baltica 3 stage with a capacity of approx. 1 GW by 2030. Investors are yet to make a final investment decision (FID). Baltica 2 and Baltica 3 will form the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm with a total capacity of 2.5 GW, which will significantly contribute to the transformation of Poland’s energy sector by providing green energy to nearly 4 million households in Poland.

Source: PGE