Baltic 1 submitted for prequalification - Poland’s largest offshore wind project ready for first auction
Equinor and Polenergia have officially submitted a prequalification application for the Baltic 1 offshore wind farm to the Energy Regulatory Office (URE) in Poland. The application was filed on the same day the URE President announced the date for the country’s first competitive offshore wind auction – set for December 17, 2025. This milestone confirms Baltic 1 as the most advanced Phase II offshore wind project in Poland and positions it at the forefront of the country’s energy transition.
In brief
Equinor and Polenergia have applied to the Energy Regulatory Office to prequalify the Bałtyk 1 project for Poland's first offshore wind auction, set by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office for 17 December 2025. Bałtyk 1, with a planned capacity of up to 1,560 MW, is to be built on Ławica Środkowa about 81 kilometres offshore, with up to 104 turbines powering as many as 2 million households. The support scheme based on a contract for difference is to run for 25 years, and the project targets local content of up to 45 percent. The combined capacity of Bałtyk 1, Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 will reach 3 GW, with financing for Bałtyk 2 and 3 worth more than 6 billion euros.
A competitive auction to accelerate energy transformation
The upcoming auction, based on a Contract for Difference (CfD) support system, will select projects offering the most competitive power prices. The CfD will provide a 25-year revenue stabilization framework, safeguarding both investors and consumers from market price volatility. A maximum reference price has already been set by the Minister of Climate and Environment, and bidders will compete by bidding below that cap. Only projects successfully passing the prequalification process managed by URE will be eligible to participate.
Carrying out the auction before the end of 2025 is seen as critical for maintaining momentum in Poland’s energy transition and for unlocking the full potential of shovel-ready projects like Baltic 1.
Baltic 1: the flagship of phase II offshore development
With a planned installed capacity of up to 1,560 MW, Baltic 1 is the largest offshore wind project under development in Poland. The project holds all the key permits required for auction participation, including an environmental decision, location permit (PSZW), and a grid connection agreement with the Polish transmission system operator (PSE).
Located approximately 81 km off the Polish coast on the Middle Bank (Ławica Środkowa), the wind farm will comprise up to 104 turbines and generate enough renewable electricity to power around 2 million Polish households. The project is being developed by a joint venture between Equinor and Polenergia, which has already invested hundreds of millions of PLN into environmental studies, wind resource assessments, and geotechnical surveys.
Strengthening local supply chains
As part of their long-term strategy, Equinor and Polenergia have been actively building up local supply chain capabilities. The Baltic 1 project aims to achieve a local content level of up to 45%, ensuring significant participation of Polish companies in turbine manufacturing, port services, logistics, installation, and operations.
Three projects, 3 GW of clean power
Baltic 1 is the third offshore wind project jointly developed by Equinor and Polenergia in the Polish Baltic Sea, alongside Baltic 2 and Baltic 3. For those two projects, final investment decisions were recently made, and financing was secured through the largest project finance deal in Polish energy history—worth over €6 billion from a consortium of around 30 financial institutions.
Together, the three projects will deliver a total capacity of 3 GW, making a substantial contribution to Poland’s renewable energy targets and enhancing the country's energy independence and security.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
Related articles
Shipbuilding industry Poland christens ro-pax ferry Bursztyn Unity in Szczecin on Independence Day. Ystad service starts 18 November 
Energy and offshore Orlen Neptun deploys V-LiDAR buoys at Baltic West ahead of Poland's 2027 offshore wind auction 
Energy and offshore Equinor takes over Bałtyk 2 and 3 O&M base in Łeba. Port to serve 1.44 GW of offshore wind for 30 years 
Navy and defence Port Gdański Eksploatacja secures NATO NCAGE code. Gdańsk port company lines up for defence tenders 
Shipbuilding industry Ex-Enterprise towed to Mobile under $418.5m contract. Test case for Nimitz-class disposal begins 
Energy and offshore Energa renames Gdańsk gas plant company as foundations for 6,000-tonne turbine and boiler are laid
Comments (0)
The discussion is moderated by the editors: a comment appears after review. Your e-mail address is not published.
Nobody has commented on this article yet.