Electricity generated by the first turbines at the Baltic Power offshore wind farm has been delivered to Poland’s national power grid. Reaching the milestone known as First Power marks the beginning of the gradual commissioning of Poland’s first offshore wind power plant in the Baltic Sea. So far, 54 of the planned 76 turbines have been installed, while completion of the wind farm is scheduled for autumn 2026.
The first electricity was fed into the grid after the first turbine was commissioned and testing began. In the coming weeks, additional units are expected to undergo commissioning procedures, allowing the wind farm’s capacity to increase steadily until it reaches its target level of approximately 1.2 GW.
Baltic Power is the first offshore wind farm being built in Polish waters of the Baltic Sea. The project is being jointly developed by ORLEN and the Canadian company Northland Power.
ORLEN: This Is the Energy of Tomorrow
According to ORLEN CEO Ireneusz Fąfara, the start of electricity generation demonstrates the pace at which one of the largest investments in the history of Poland’s energy sector is being implemented.
“ORLEN is carrying out the largest investment programme in the history of Poland’s energy sector. We will spend up to PLN 380 billion on it in total. Once again, we are demonstrating the tangible results of our activities. Offshore work began at the start of 2025, and today the first electricity has already been delivered to the grid. This is the energy of tomorrow,” Fąfara said.
He stressed that the investment is intended not only to supply electricity and strengthen Poland’s energy security, but also to support the emergence of a new sector of the national economy.
“Baltic Power is an investment that will operate for decades. It will not only supply energy and strengthen security, but also support the development of a new sector of the Polish economy. At the same time, we are expanding the domestic supply chain and developing expertise that will remain in Poland long after construction of the wind farm has been completed,” the ORLEN CEO added.
Gradual Commissioning of the Wind Farm Begins
Reaching the First Power milestone means that the first turbine has been commissioned, tested and has started generating electricity for transmission to the national power system.
This does not, however, mean that work on the entire wind farm has been completed. Additional turbines will be brought online gradually and will then undergo technical and performance testing. Electricity generated by units operating correctly will be transmitted to the grid during this process.
At the same time, the entire transmission and control infrastructure is being tested. The procedures cover the turbines, offshore substations, inter-array and export cables, the onshore substation and the systems responsible for controlling the operation of the wind farm.
This is the first operation of its kind to be conducted within Poland’s electricity system.
Baltic Power Construction More Than 80% Complete
The Baltic Power installation campaign is now more than 80% complete. A total of 54 of the planned 76 turbines have already been installed at sea.
All inter-array cables connecting the individual turbines, as well as the export cables used to transmit electricity to shore, have already been laid. Their combined length is approximately 350 kilometres.
Both offshore substations have also been completed. Their role is to collect the electricity generated by the turbines, adjust its parameters and transmit it through subsea cables to the onshore infrastructure.
Construction of the onshore infrastructure has also been completed, including the substation located in the municipality of Choczewo. From there, the electricity will be transferred to the national transmission grid.
Dozens of specialist vessels are currently operating in the project area. They are being used to install, test, inspect and accept successive elements of the wind farm.
More Than 100 Vessels and 5,300 People Involved
More than 100 vessels and over 5,300 crew members and contractors have been involved in the project so far. Construction requires the coordination of installation work taking place simultaneously offshore, onshore and at the ports supporting the development.
The Baltic Power service base in Łeba has been operating since 2025. It currently supports the construction phase and will become the main technical maintenance facility once the wind farm enters operation.
The base is expected to operate for approximately 30 years, corresponding to the planned lifespan of the power plant. Vessels transporting technicians responsible for inspections, maintenance and repairs of the turbines and other infrastructure will depart from Łeba.
The site also houses the Marine Coordination Centre. It manages vessel traffic within the project area and coordinates offshore operations.
76 Turbines with a Capacity of 15 MW Each
Once completed, Baltic Power will consist of 76 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 15 MW. The wind farm’s total installed capacity will be approximately 1.2 GW.
The plant is expected to generate up to 4 TWh of electricity annually. This would correspond to approximately 3% of Poland’s current electricity demand and the annual consumption of more than 1.5 million households.
Baltic Power covers an area of approximately 130 square kilometres. The wind farm is located around 23 kilometres off the coast, opposite Choczewo and Łeba.
The project uses some of the largest offshore wind turbines currently available. Some of their key components were manufactured in Poland, including the nacelles — structures located at the top of the turbine towers that contain the main equipment used to convert wind energy into electricity.
Electricity Generation to Reduce CO₂ Emissions
According to project assumptions, the electricity generated by Baltic Power will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 2.8 million tonnes annually compared with producing the same amount of energy from conventional sources.
The wind farm is also expected to increase the share of renewable energy in Poland’s electricity mix and reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
The significance of the investment extends beyond electricity generation. The construction of Baltic Power required the development of specialist port infrastructure, technical facilities and expertise related to building and operating offshore wind farms.
The experience gained during the project may be used in the development of future offshore wind farms in the Polish Baltic Sea.
Further Tests and Administrative Procedures Ahead
As additional turbines are commissioned, Baltic Power’s infrastructure will continue to undergo inspections and performance testing. These procedures will examine, among other things, the parameters of the electricity generated, the correct interaction between individual systems and the safety of the entire installation.
The project must also obtain the required operating permits and complete a certification process conducted by an independent auditor. Due to its pioneering nature, these will be the first administrative procedures of this kind carried out in Poland.
Once construction and acceptance procedures have been completed, the final step will be obtaining an electricity generation licence from Poland’s Energy Regulatory Office.
Completion of Baltic Power is scheduled for autumn 2026. Until then, additional turbines will be commissioned gradually, and the amount of electricity delivered to the national grid will continue to increase.
