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.

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10 june 2025 | 10:06 | Source: Gazeta Morska | Prepared by: Kamil Kusier | Print

fot. Polenergia

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.

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