Norway’s Equinor and Polish power utility Polenergia have secured the final environmental decision for the development of the Bałtyk 1 offshore wind farm project in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea.
The decision from the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gdańsk is a crucial step towards the establishment of what could become the largest offshore wind farm in the Polish Baltic Sea.
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The Bałtyk 1 wind farm, with a planned capacity of up to 1.56GW, will be situated 81km offshore and is being readied for Poland’s offshore wind farm auction scheduled for 2025.
Electricity generated from the project is due to be transmitted to the Krzemienica substation, currently under development by the Polish Transmission System Operator.
The onshore infrastructure is expected to be located within the Ustka and Redzikowo municipalities in the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The environmental decision was the result of extensive studies and analyses, culminating in an environmental impact assessment report. This report included various simulations such as the dispersion of underwater noise during monopile installation and bird collision risk assessments with operational wind turbines.
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By GlobalDataThe report concluded that the technical and organisational solutions proposed would effectively mitigate the environmental impact of the project.
Equinor Polska country manager Michał Jerzy Kołodziejczyk said: “The environmental decision for the Bałtyk 1 project – the most advanced initiative in the second phase of offshore wind development in Poland – is a significant milestone.
“Bałtyk 1 has already obtained a permit for the installation and maintenance of offshore cables, as well as a grid connection agreement with the transmission system operator. The environmental permit enables the project to move forward and participate in the 2025 auction.”
The Bałtyk offshore wind farm projects, Bałtyk 1, 2 and 3, represent a significant opportunity for Polish companies to join the global offshore supply chain.
In August 2024, the companies secured offshore and onshore construction permits for the Bałtyk offshore wind projects.
The three projects have a potential combined capacity of up to 3GW, which could power four million households with clean energy.
The first power output from the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects is anticipated by 2027, with a combined capacity of 1.44GW.
Commenting on the environmental decision for the Bałtyk 1 project, Polenergia CEO Adam Purwin said: “This is an extremely important moment for the Bałtyk 1 project, bringing us closer to participating in the auction of the second phase of offshore development. Holding it in 2025 will ensure continuity between the first and second phases of offshore wind development, avoiding unnecessary delays and maximising the energy potential of the Polish sea.
“Equally important, it will enable a smooth integration of Polish companies into the construction process and boost local content. As the largest offshore wind farm currently under development in Poland, Bałtyk 1 plays a vital role in achieving this goal.”
