Polenergia and Equinor hold 50 per cent stakes each in MFW Bałtyk II Sp. z o.o. and MFW Bałtyk III Sp. z o.o., the special purpose companies developing the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind projects.
Under the agreements, Equinor Polska will provide operation and maintenance (O&M) services for the two offshore wind farms during the operational phase.
The company’s responsibility will include managing the projects in operation and providing administrative, accounting, and operational services to the wind farms.
The contract also provides for access to the service base infrastructure, including offices, a warehouse, a control room, and a berth for the full anticipated operational period, i.e., 30 years.
The construction, equipment, access, and maintenance of the service base are also the responsibility of Equinor Polska.
The monthly payments to the manager by both project companies comprise remuneration based on the variable costs of the services covered by the agreement (OPEX) and the fixed costs of Equinor Polska’s expenditure on the service base (CAPEX). The CAPEX costs have been set at approximately EUR 18 million.
According to Polenergia, the signing of the O&M agreements represents a key milestone in the process of obtaining financing for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms.
Polenergia and Equinor plan to make the final investment decision for the two projects in the first quarter of 2025.
The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms received all the required construction permits in August. The two projects will have a total capacity of 1,440 MW and be able to supply over two million households with renewable energy, according to the developers.
Over the past couple of months, Equinor and Polenergia signed several contracts for Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3, including an agreement with Cadeler for the installation of wind turbines.