After months of preparation, 11 vessels have set sail to begin the construction of the foundations for Poland’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. As part of the project, two out of the planned 78 monopiles—100-meter-long steel structures that will support 15 MW wind turbines—have already been installed. These turbines are among the most advanced solutions on the market, with some components being manufactured at Vestas’ factory in Szczecin.
The Baltic Power wind farm, with a total capacity of 1.2 GW, is scheduled to start production in 2026. Once operational, it will generate clean and stable energy sufficient to power over 1.5 million households. Offshore wind energy is a key part of ORLEN Group’s new strategy, which aims to develop over 4 GW of installed offshore capacity in collaboration with its partners.
A Historic Project for Poland’s Renewable Energy Sector
Baltic Power is the first and most advanced offshore wind project in Polish waters. ORLEN Group has secured licenses for three additional offshore wind farms, which will be developed in the coming years. Together with large-scale energy storage, onshore renewables, gas power plants, and small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), offshore wind energy will form the foundation of Poland’s energy transition.
“Our new strategy is about concrete actions. This is evident in Poland’s first offshore wind farm. After months of intensive work, we are proud to announce that the first foundations for the Baltic Power wind farm have been installed. The year 2025 will be a turning point for this project, as hundreds of our employees will carry out the largest offshore installation works in Poland’s history. By 2026, Baltic energy will flow to consumers for the first time. This is clean, stable, and secure energy that will drive the Polish economy. It’s a project that supports Polish companies and will grow alongside them. This is the energy of the future, starting today,” said Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO of ORLEN Group.
Strong Focus on Local Suppliers
ORLEN’s project aims to maximize the involvement of local suppliers throughout the wind farm’s 30-year lifecycle.
- Key components, such as turbine nacelles, cables, steel structures for offshore substations, and foundation elements, are being produced in factories in Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, the Tri-City, Żary, and Niemodlin.
- Polish companies are also involved in geological surveys, project design, and logistics.
“The installation of the first foundations for Baltic Power is a milestone for Poland’s offshore wind sector. We are proud to collaborate with ORLEN on this pioneering project. As partners in Poland’s first offshore wind farm, we bring our global experience to this development. This achievement not only demonstrates our shared progress but also reinforces our commitment to Poland’s energy future. Safety remains our top priority at every stage, ensuring the highest standards in all aspects of the project. This milestone highlights the strong partnership between Northland Power and ORLEN Group,” said Christine Healy, President and CEO of Northland Power Inc.
The Scale of the Baltic Power Offshore Construction Site
The Baltic Power offshore construction site covers an area of approximately 130 km²—comparable to the size of Gdynia. The 78 monopiles being installed are massive steel structures, each:
- Up to 100 meters long
- Weighing up to 1,700 tons
- With a diameter of over 9 meters
The monopiles are being driven into the seabed at depths of approximately 40 meters using a floating installation crane.
In addition to the main crane vessel, over a dozen other ships are actively working at the offshore site, including:
- Support vessels
- Tugboats
- Personnel and equipment transport vessels
- Environmental monitoring ships
- Surveillance vessels
All activities and maritime traffic around the construction site are monitored 24/7 by the Baltic Power Maritime Coordination Center.
Next Steps in Construction
The next phase of the Baltic Power project will involve:
- Installing transition pieces connecting the foundations to the wind turbines
- Mounting the turbines onto the foundations
- Setting up offshore substations
- Laying submarine cables to connect the turbines and transport energy to the mainland
Installation work will continue until 2026, with Baltic Power expected to become Poland’s first operational offshore wind farm.
A Major Step Toward Poland’s Green Energy Future
Upon completion in 2026, Baltic Power will generate approximately 4,000 GWh of zero-emission electricity annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by about 2.8 million tons per year compared to conventional energy sources.
This landmark project represents a crucial step in Poland’s transition to renewable energy, reinforcing the country’s commitment to clean and sustainable power generation.
Source: CEO.com.pl
