Baltic Power, the first offshore wind farm in Polish waters, has begun generating electricity, marking a landmark moment for Poland's energy sector and the country's offshore wind industry.

On the morning of 10 July 2026, Northland Power announced that the Baltic Power offshore wind farm had reached the "first power" milestone, meaning it has started producing electricity for the first time. It is the first offshore wind farm to be built in Polish waters and the first project of its kind involving a Polish developer, with Orlen holding a 51% stake.

The generation of the first electricity and its delivery to the national grid represents a breakthrough not only for the Baltic Power project itself, but also for Poland's wider energy sector and offshore wind industry. It marks the beginning of renewable electricity generation at sea and its transmission into the Polish power system.

However, the milestone does not yet signify the start of full commercial electricity production for end users. Instead, it marks the beginning of the phased commissioning of the remaining turbines. Testing and verification of the project's other offshore and onshore infrastructure are also continuing. The wind farm's generating capacity will now increase progressively until the entire 1.2 GW project is fully commissioned.

As the Baltic Power infrastructure undergoes the commissioning process, it will be subject to further inspections and performance tests, obtain the required operating permits and complete the certification process conducted by an independent auditor. According to Orlen, these are the first administrative procedures of their kind to be carried out in Poland. The final step before full commercial operation will be obtaining an electricity generation licence from the Energy Regulatory Office (URE).

– Orlen is delivering the largest investment programme in the history of the Polish energy sector, with total expenditure expected to reach up to PLN 380 billion. Once again, we are demonstrating tangible results. Offshore construction began at the start of 2025, and today the first electricity has already been fed into the grid. This is the energy of tomorrow – ambitious projects delivered efficiently, strengthening energy security while enabling us to offer electricity at the lowest possible cost. Baltic Power is an investment that will serve for decades. It will not only generate clean electricity and enhance Poland's energy security, but also support the development of an entirely new sector of the Polish economy. At the same time, we are building a domestic supply chain and developing expertise that will remain in Poland long after construction of the wind farm has been completed. This is a value measured not only in megawatts, but also in the lasting contribution it will make to the country's economic development – said Ireneusz Fąfara, Chief Executive Officer of Orlen.

– Today, the first electricity generated by offshore wind has been delivered to Polish homes and businesses – a historic moment for the country. Northland is proud to be launching Poland's offshore wind sector together with our partner Orlen. Together, we are building a more secure and resilient energy system for future generations while opening a new chapter in Poland's energy transition – said Christine Healy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northland Power.

However, the commencement of electricity generation does not mean that construction and installation work at the Baltic Power offshore wind farm has been completed. So far, 54 of the planned 76 turbines have been installed. All inter-array cables connecting the turbines and other offshore infrastructure, as well as the export cables transmitting electricity to shore, have already been laid. Together, they span a total length of 350 kilometres.

Both offshore substations have also been installed. The onshore infrastructure is complete, including the onshore substation in the Choczewo municipality, which receives electricity from the wind farm and feeds it into the national grid, as well as the operations and maintenance base in Łeba. According to Orlen, the Offshore Coordination Centre, responsible for managing vessel traffic within the project area, is also now fully operational. More than 100 vessels and over 5,300 crew members and contractors have been involved in the delivery of the project to date.

Northland Power and Orlen say the project remains on schedule and within budget, indicating that the wind farm is on track to enter commercial operation later this year. Once fully commissioned, Baltic Power is expected to generate around 4 TWh of electricity annually, enough to supply more than 1.5 million households. Compared with conventional power generation, the project is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 2.8 million tonnes per year.

With Baltic Power now beginning to generate electricity, the contribution of offshore wind to Poland's power system is expected to increase steadily over the coming years. While Baltic Power is scheduled to reach full commercial operation by the end of this year, several more offshore wind projects are already progressing through the construction phase.

Among them is Baltica 2, being developed by PGE and Ørsted, which, after Baltic Power, is the most advanced offshore wind project in Polish waters and currently the country's largest. The wind farm will comprise 107 turbines, with installation having commenced in May this year. According to the project schedule, installation is due to be completed this autumn, although our information suggests the work could be finished even earlier.

Meanwhile, Polenergia and Equinor have already reached an advanced stage in the installation of monopiles and transition pieces at their Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms. Ocean Winds is also preparing to move offshore next year to begin construction of its BC-Wind project.

Photo: GospodarkaMorska.pl