On Monday (22 May), the Polish energy company, the Orlen Group and the Canadian power company, Northland Power commenced the construction of an onshore substation for the Baltic Power offshore wind farm in Choczewo (north Poland).
“As the first company in Poland, we commence constructing infrastructure allowing to deliver electricity produced offshore to the grid. We have also started work in the area of the installation terminal for offshore wind farms in Świnoujście. We are not slowing down, since making investments in modern, zero-carbon energy is a pillar of our strategy. Offshore wind farms, in addition to small nuclear reactors, will be key to transforming Poland’s electricity system and strengthening our region’s energy security. We are fully prepared to implement the project in the Baltic Sea that will provide clean, affordable energy to millions of Poles as early as 2026,” said Daniel Obajtek, President of the Management Board of PKN Orlen.
Baltic Power is a joint venture project between Orlen and Northland Power. By the end of this year, the project will secure contracts for all the main elements of the wind farm’s infrastructure and services necessary to start the construction, which is scheduled for 2024, Orlen said.
The substation will act as a hub for cable lines transmitting electricity from offshore substations located nearly 30 kilometres (km) away. Almost the whole route of the cable’s onshore section (around 7 km) will be routed underground, using directional drilling.
“Baltic Power is an example of a project placing a special emphasis on the aspects of environmental protection, sustainable development and respect for local communities, i.e. the aspects that are so important to both Northland Power and our partner. We are all the more glad that the Baltic Power project is reaching another, such an important milestone. Our farm, the construction of which will be commenced in 2024, will secure the first supplies of green energy for Poland in just a few years, as planned,” said Mike Crawley, President of the Management Board of Northland Power.
The Baltic Power wind farm will consist of 76 turbines with a unit capacity of 15 megawatts (MW). It is currently planned to be commissioned in 2026. Once completed, the farm will be able to power more than 1.5 million households across Poland.
