Construction of the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms, jointly developed by Equinor and Polenergia, has reached another key milestone with the completion of landfall drilling, where the export cables will transition from the offshore section to the onshore grid connection. The achievement marks another important step in one of Poland's largest energy projects, with a combined capacity of 1.44 GW. Export cables will soon be installed along the completed routes, enabling electricity generated by the offshore wind farms to be transmitted into the national grid.

The works involved the completion of four Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) crossings, each approximately one kilometre long. Protective ducts with a diameter of 71 centimetres, manufactured from high-strength materials, have subsequently been installed within the underground corridors. These ducts will accommodate the export cables linking the offshore wind farms to the onshore transmission network.

The landfall drilling was one of the most technically demanding phases of the grid connection works, requiring meticulous planning, adaptation of the drilling technology to local geological conditions and close coordination between onshore and offshore construction activities.

The operation was carried out by the experienced engineering contractor Hanab. The HDD technology used for the Equinor and Polenergia projects enabled the cable route to pass beneath the beach and shoreline without the need for open excavation, protecting the coastal dunes and their sensitive ecosystem.

Offshore operations were supported by the Polish company MAG Offshore, which was responsible for the marine logistics of the more than one-kilometre-long protective ducts, towing a work barge equipped with a 100-tonne crane, coordinating several support vessels and assisting with the installation works. The company's involvement highlights the growing role of the domestic supply chain, the development of local expertise and the emergence of a new industrial sector driven by Poland's first offshore wind projects, including Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3.

Jointly developed by Norway's Equinor and Poland's Polenergia, the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms will comprise 100 wind turbines, each standing 260 metres tall. With a combined installed capacity of 1.44 GW, the projects are expected to generate enough renewable electricity to supply around two million households. First power is scheduled for 2027, while full commercial operations are planned for 2028.

Photos courtesy of Polenergia