Equinor and Polenergia have made final investment decisions for the Baltic 2 and Baltic 3 offshore wind farms. This means the projects will now move into the implementation phase.

Equinor and Polenergia announced that they have taken final investment decisions for the two planned offshore wind projects in Polish waters: Baltic 2 and Baltic 3. As a result, the projects are ready to begin construction.

The investors report that the construction of both farms will be financed through a project finance structure. The total value of the investment amounts to approximately PLN 27 billion (excluding financing costs).

Baltic 2 and Baltic 3 are twin farms with a combined installed capacity of 1,440 MW. By 2028, a total of 100 turbines — each 260 metres tall — will be installed across both sites. A single rotor turn of each turbine will be capable of generating enough renewable energy to power one household for four days. Together, the farms will supply power to more than 2 million homes in Poland, contributing to lower emissions and a transformation of the country’s energy mix. In addition to the turbines, the farms will feature two of the largest offshore substations in Poland, each rated at 720 MW. Two onshore substations and a 14-kilometre underground cable line will also be constructed.

The wind farms will be built in the Polish exclusive economic zone of the Baltic Sea, located 37 km and 22 km offshore, respectively. At the cable landfall near Ustka, directional drilling will be used to route the cables under the beach. As with other offshore wind projects in Polish waters, this trenchless method will avoid interference with the natural environment.

The wind farms will then be connected to the national power grid via the existing PSE Słupsk Wierzbięcino substation.

Equinor is also constructing an operations and maintenance base in Łeba. It will initially support the construction phase, and later function as a centre for offshore operations.

The developers also note that several major contractors have already been secured for the project, including the Polish companies Tele-Fonika Kable and Enprom.

“Baltic 2 and 3, the offshore wind farms we are building, are among the largest infrastructure projects in the history of Poland,” said Michał Jerzy Kołodziejczyk, President of Equinor Poland. “Their implementation will help strengthen the country’s energy security and independence, create jobs in a new and promising sector, and the green, renewable energy from the Baltic Sea will boost the competitiveness of the Polish economy. As the future operator of these farms, we are proud to take this crucial step that will contribute to the emergence of a strong offshore wind hub in the Baltic Sea. In this role, we intend to bring tangible benefits to Poland for many years. The coming months and years will be a period of intense, close cooperation with our partners, including many Polish companies and institutions. Together, we will work towards safely and effectively achieving the next milestones in the construction of both farms.”

“Thanks to the projects developed by Polenergia and Equinor, Poland can and will be powered by clean energy generated in harmony with nature, respecting the planet’s resources and serving future generations. This is a very important and symbolic moment that seals years of planning and preparation, while opening an entirely new chapter on the path of Polenergia’s further dynamic development,” commented Dominika Kulczyk, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Polenergia S.A.

Photo: Equinor/Polenergia press materials