Baltica 2 HDD landfall completed. Offshore wind farm cable route ready for grid connection

The landfall section represents one of the most technically and environmentally challenging parts of the entire cable route. It is the critical interface where offshore infrastructure meets the onshore grid, making execution methods and environmental safeguards key to the project’s success.

The HDD campaign covered the installation of four cable ducts, each with a diameter of 800 mm. Pipes were assembled on-site using butt fusion welding of 18-metre sections, forming four strings of approximately 1,240 metres each – delivering a total of շուրջ 5 kilometres of तैयार infrastructure for future cable installation.

Works commenced in July 2025 and lasted nine months. Pipe prefabrication alone required 42 deliveries to the construction site. Operations were carried out under highly variable and demanding weather conditions, ranging from +30°C in summer to –20°C in winter, including snow and icing.

Minimising environmental impact at the shoreline

The application of HDD technology allowed the project to significantly reduce its impact on sensitive coastal environments, including beaches and dune systems, while maintaining public access throughout the construction phase.

All works were performed below ground level, eliminating the need for open trenching across the الساحل. Designated pedestrian routes remained operational at all times, with construction activities coordinated closely with local authorities.

Commenting on the milestone, Ulrik Lange, Managing Director of the Baltica 2 project at Ørsted, highlighted both technical and organisational achievements:

- The successful installation of the fourth and final HDD section marks a significant step forward in the project’s execution and reflects the excellent coordination and commitment of the entire project team, as well as strong collaboration with our contractors. We are particularly proud of the high safety culture maintained on site during this technically demanding operation and the dedication of everyone involved.

He added that seabed dredging works are scheduled for April to secure the four duct exits, completing preparations for export cable installation and the connection of offshore and onshore cable systems.

Strategic link between offshore generation and the Polish grid

The landfall is located near Lubiatowo, in the Choczewo municipality, where offshore export cables will connect with onshore transmission infrastructure.

Bartosz Fedurek, President of PGE Baltica, emphasised the importance of this interface for national energy transmission:

- Subsea cables transmitting electricity generated by the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm will make landfall near Lubiatowo. There, they will connect with onshore cables running approximately 7 kilometres to our onshore substation. From there, via the PSE Choczewo substation, electricity will be fed into the national grid. We also place great importance on the involvement of Polish contractors, supported by local subcontractors from the Pomerania region.

With a planned capacity of approximately 1.5 GW, Baltica 2 is one of the largest offshore wind projects under development in the Baltic Sea. Installation of foundations, offshore export cables and offshore substations is scheduled to begin later this year. This will be followed by the installation of inter-array cables linking turbines with offshore substations, as well as the commissioning phase of the onshore substation.

Once operational in 2027, Baltica 2 is expected to become Poland’s largest offshore wind farm, supplying renewable energy to more than 2.5 million households and playing a key role in the country’s energy transition.