Baltic 2 and Baltic 3 offshore wind farms, developed by Equinor and Polenergia, are entering the phase of direct preparations for offshore installation works.

In Vlissingen, the Netherlands, at the Smulders facilities, the topside—i.e. the main part of the offshore electrical substation for Baltic 3—has just been moved out of the production hall and placed in the external yard. It is a structure measuring 51 × 38 × 43 metres, comparable to a 15-storey building.

Next to it is also the topside for Baltic 2. Both substation superstructures, each weighing around 3,700 tonnes, are currently in the outfitting phase and will be transported offshore according to the offshore works schedule.

Polenergia

At the same time, production and assembly of so-called transition pieces are progressing – these are among the key and most demanding structural components of offshore wind farms, connecting the foundations with the turbines. More than 60 such units have already been assembled in the Vlissingen yard, each about 17 metres high and weighing nearly 400 tonnes. The first transition pieces will soon be transported to the Baltic Sea, where—together with monopiles—they will be the first elements installed offshore.

In both the case of the topsides and the transition pieces, Polish companies and Polish industrial plants play an important role in production, outfitting and integration, supplying steel components, auxiliary systems and technical solutions. The share of local content is an important element in the implementation of the Baltic 2 and Baltic 3 projects.

Baltic 2 and Baltic 3 offshore wind farms, developed by Equinor and Polenergia, consist of 100 wind turbines with a total capacity of 1,440 MW. The first power generation is planned for 2027, and full commercial operation for 2028.