PKN Orlen completes first onshore link for Baltic Power wind farm

PKN Orlen has completed the first onshore connection for the 1.2 GW Baltic Power wind farm in Poland, marking a major milestone in the project’s development. The connection links the offshore wind farm to the onshore substation using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology, the first large-scale use of this technique in Poland.

The first of four directional drills has been executed without disrupting ecologically sensitive areas, creating a 1.4km tunnel to house power transmission cables. The completed section is part of four underground corridors planned for the project, each designed to accommodate cables with a diameter of 30cm.

The onshore substation, located 8km from the drilling site in Osieki Lęborskie, is 40% complete and will play a crucial role in transferring energy to the National Power Grid. The project is on schedule, with full completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. Baltic Power, a joint venture with Northland Power, is Poland’s largest renewable energy initiative.