Production of all four offshore substations for the Baltica 2 project has been completed. This is another major milestone in the construction of one of the largest offshore wind farms being developed in the Baltic Sea, PGE Baltica reports.

Substations for Baltica 2 built in Vietnam

The four offshore substations for Baltica 2 were built in Vietnam by PTSC M&C, a subsidiary of PTSC Corporation and part of the PETROVIETNAM Group, together with its partners. On September 12, a launch and handover ceremony for all four units was held at the PTSC Energy and Logistics Industrial Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

The structures will ultimately be installed in the Baltic Sea as part of the Baltica 2 project.

First such delivery for a European project

As highlighted during the ceremony, this is the first time offshore substations manufactured in Vietnam have been delivered for a European offshore wind project.

“Completing these substations on schedule is the result of disciplined planning, engineering expertise, meticulous coordination and a strong shared sense of responsibility. PTSC and Semco Maritime have once again demonstrated that they are trusted partners who consistently deliver projects on schedule, in line with quality requirements and the highest standards of professionalism,” said Ulrik Lange, Baltica 2 Project Director at Ørsted.

Production in a tropical climate, operation in the Baltic

One of the major challenges, and a first-of-its-kind experience for PTSC M&C, was preparing the surfaces and applying protective coatings.

The structures were manufactured in a tropical monsoon climate, while they are ultimately intended to operate in the cold, highly saline marine environment of the Baltic Sea.

For two full rainy seasons in Vung Tau, all four substations were surrounded by extensive scaffolding and heavy-duty weather-resistant tarpaulins. The previously open production facility was effectively transformed into huge temporary enclosed production halls.

At the peak of the project, more than 1,000 people worked in the resulting microclimates.

3,500 tonnes and more than 720 tests

Each of the four substations weighs approximately 3,500 tonnes and is about five storeys high. After production was completed, more than 720 commissioning tests were carried out across the four structures to prepare their complex electrical systems for offshore operation.

The offshore substations will form the core of the electrical system of the Baltica 2 wind farm. They will collect electricity generated by 107 wind turbines and ensure its safe and reliable transmission to shore.

Substation installation planned for Q4

Completion of the substations marks another stage in preparations for their offshore installation. Once the foundations have been installed, the next step will be to install the offshore substations. According to the current schedule, this work is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

The completion of all four substations is another milestone bringing Baltica 2 closer to starting electricity generation and supplying additional volumes of renewable energy to the Polish market.

Baltica 2 project

Baltica 2 is a 1.5 GW offshore wind farm being developed as a joint venture between Ørsted and PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. In terms of generation capacity, it is one of the largest energy projects currently under development in Poland and one of the key offshore wind projects in the Baltic Sea.

Once completed, Baltica 2 will be capable of supplying electricity to approximately 2.5 million Polish households.

The offshore wind farm is located approximately 40 km off the coast near Ustka, with commissioning planned for 2027. The project has obtained all required permits and has a 25-year Contract for Difference (CfD).