Norway’s Equinor and Polish power utility Polenergia have secured offshore and onshore construction permits for the Baltyk offshore wind projects.
The development is crucial for the final investment decision and commencement of construction works for the Baltyk 2 and Baltyk 3 projects in the Baltic Sea.
The local unit of Equinor announced that the Pomeranian Voivodeship [a province in northwest Poland] has issued a total of 17 permits for both projects.
The permits encompass the construction of 100 wind turbines, internal power and telecommunications networks, two offshore power stations, submarine export cables and two onshore power stations with accompanying infrastructure.
The permits also cover both 400kV and 220kV land cable lines with accompanying infrastructure, as well as the construction of an access road to the onshore power station.
With a combined capacity of 1.44GW, the Baltyk 2 and Baltyk 3 projects are set to be built between 22km to 37km offshore Poland in the Baltic Sea.
In February 2024, Equinor and Polenergia finalised an agreement with Siemens Gamesa for the supply of wind turbines for the projects.
Both projects were awarded contracts for difference by the Polish Energy Regulatory Office in 2021.
The expected timeline for these projects indicates that the first energy delivery to the grid will occur in 2027, with the commercial stage of operation commencing in 2028.
Polenergia management board president Jerzy Zań stated: “This is one of the most important days for the projects we are implementing in the Baltic Sea, and at the same time a great success for the Polenergia offshore wind farms department, which was responsible for the process of obtaining all the documents.
“The set of permits issued by the Pomeranian Voivode opens the way for us to build the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects. The first preparatory works on land will start this year, and the first energy from both projects will flow in three years.
“The implementation of the Bałtyk offshore wind farms is of key importance for Polish energy security. Their commissioning will introduce Polenergia to the narrow group of the largest producers of energy from renewable energy sources in Central Europe.”
Going forward, Equinor and Polenergia will also develop the Bałtyk 1 project, which has a 1.56GW capacity and will be situated 81km from the coast.
The project represents the next phase of offshore wind energy expansion in Poland.
