Norway’s Equinor and Polish power utility Polenergia have received crucial construction permits for the Baltyk 2 and Baltyk 3 offshore wind projects in the Baltic Sea. These permits, granted by the Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwest Poland, are pivotal for making the final investment decision and commencing construction.
The permits cover a wide range of infrastructure, including 100 wind turbines, internal power and telecommunications networks, two offshore power stations, submarine export cables, and two onshore power stations with associated infrastructure. Additionally, they authorize the construction of 400kV and 220kV land cable lines and an access road to the onshore power station.
With a combined capacity of 1.44 GW, the Baltyk 2 and Baltyk 3 projects will be located 22km to 37km offshore Poland. Siemens Gamesa has been contracted to supply the wind turbines, following an agreement finalized in February 2024. Both projects were awarded contracts for difference by the Polish Energy Regulatory Office in 2021.
The first energy delivery to the grid is expected in 2027, with full commercial operations beginning in 2028. Polenergia’s management board president, Jerzy Zań, hailed the permits as a significant milestone for Polish energy security and a key step in Polenergia’s growth as a major renewable energy producer in Central Europe.
Following the development of Baltyk 2 and Baltyk 3, Equinor and Polenergia plan to move forward with the Bałtyk 1 project, which has a capacity of 1.56 GW and will be situated 81km from the coast. This project represents the next phase in the expansion of offshore wind energy in Poland.