Baltica 2 moves offshore: Poland begins construction of its largest offshore wind farm

A major milestone in Poland’s energy transition has officially moved from strategy papers into open waters. The Baltica 2 offshore wind farm project, jointly developed by PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna and Ørsted, has entered the offshore installation phase in the Baltic Sea, marking the start of full-scale marine construction works.

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12 may 2026   |   07:10   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. PGE Baltica / Van Oord

The first monopile foundations are already being installed on the seabed, transforming the Polish Baltic coast into one of Europe’s most closely watched offshore wind development zones.

The official launch ceremony took place in Gdańsk on 11 May 2026, gathering representatives of the Polish government, energy sector executives and offshore industry stakeholders.

Baltic Sea becomes a major offshore construction site

The first stage of offshore execution involves the installation of monopile foundations for wind turbines and offshore substations.

Under the Baltica 2 project, contractors will install:

• 107 monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines,
• 4 foundations for offshore substations,
• 111 monopiles in total.

Each structure exceeds 100 meters in length and weighs up to 2,000 tonnes, placing them among the largest offshore foundation structures currently installed in European waters.

The operation includes transportation from the port of Rønne on Bornholm, offshore transfer operations and precision seabed installation using specialized heavy-lift vessels.

Dutch offshore contractor Van Oord is responsible for the installation campaign, deploying the installation vessel Aeolus and heavy-lift vessel Svanen.

Completion of the foundation installation campaign is scheduled for Q4 2026.

Offshore wind moves from political vision to physical infrastructure

For years, offshore wind in Poland remained largely within the realm of policy announcements and long-term transition strategies. Baltica 2 now demonstrates that the country’s offshore ambitions are entering the execution phase.

Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment Miłosz Motyka described offshore wind as a future pillar of Poland’s energy security architecture.

- Offshore wind energy will become one of the foundations of Poland’s energy transition and energy security. Entering the offshore construction phase is a breakthrough moment for this project, he stated.

The message from Warsaw is increasingly clear: offshore wind is expected to become a strategic component of Poland’s long-term energy mix, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels while strengthening domestic generation capacity.

Minister for Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska emphasized that Baltica 2 is no longer a conceptual project.

- These are no longer plans, discussions or ambitions. This is a reality unfolding before our eyes, she said.

According to the ministry, the 1.5 GW offshore wind farm will be capable of supplying electricity to approximately 2.5 million Polish households. First power generation is expected in the first half of 2027, with full commercial commissioning scheduled by the end of 2027.

Polish Baltic Sea emerging as a key offshore investment market

Deputy Minister Urszula Zielińska highlighted that the Polish Baltic Sea is becoming one of Europe’s most attractive and stable renewable energy investment destinations.

Under Poland’s updated National Energy and Climate Plan, the government targets at least 18 GW of offshore wind capacity in the Baltic Sea by 2040.

This scale of development is expected to reshape the economic profile of Poland’s coastal regions. Offshore wind is increasingly seen not only as an energy transition project, but also as a catalyst for industrial expansion, port modernization, maritime logistics and long-term job creation.

In practical terms, Poland is now building an entirely new industrial sector around offshore wind.

PGE: largest renewable energy investment in Polish history

Dariusz Lubera, President of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, described Baltica 2 as the largest renewable energy project currently under development in Poland.

- The start of construction of the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea is a breakthrough moment not only for PGE Group, but for the entire Polish energy sector, he said.

Once operational, the project is expected to generate between 5 and 6 TWh of electricity annually.

For Poland’s energy system, the significance extends beyond additional generating capacity. Offshore wind is increasingly viewed as one of the key technologies supporting the gradual replacement of aging coal-fired assets while improving long-term energy resilience.

Ørsted: offshore wind as an industrial growth engine

The industrial dimension of the project was also emphasized by Rasmus Errboe, President of Ørsted.

- Baltica 2 is not only an investment in clean energy, but also a long-term impulse for industrial growth and job creation in Poland, he stated.

Competition for offshore supply chain investments is intensifying across the Baltic region, with countries seeking not only generation capacity, but also manufacturing facilities, service hubs and specialized maritime infrastructure.

Offshore execution requires advanced logistics and environmental protection

The installation campaign represents one of the most technically demanding phases of the project.

Operations are being carried out in complex hydrometeorological conditions and require highly coordinated marine logistics.

Environmental mitigation measures include:

• bubble curtain systems to reduce underwater noise,
• marine mammal monitoring,
• operational procedures minimizing impacts on the Baltic ecosystem.

Govert van Oord, President of Van Oord, stressed the complexity of offshore foundation installation operations.

- Foundation installation offshore is a highly complex process strongly dependent on weather conditions. Our priority is to execute all operations safely and responsibly, with full attention to people and the Baltic Sea environment, he said.

Next phase: export cables, offshore substations and turbine installation

Following completion of the monopile installation campaign, the project will move into the next major execution stages:

• installation of export cables to shore,
• construction of offshore substations,
• installation of inter-array cables,
• offshore turbine installation.

At the same time, onshore grid infrastructure is being developed, including an onshore substation and grid connection facilities in the municipality of Choczewo.

Baltica 2 project timeline

• Total capacity: 1.5 GW
• Annual production: 5–6 TWh
• Estimated households supplied: approx. 2.5 million
• Foundation installation completion: Q4 2026
• First power generation: H1 2027
• Full commercial operation: end of 2027

The project has secured all required administrative permits and benefits from a 25-year Contract for Difference (CfD), ensuring long-term investment stability.

A strategic turning point for Poland’s offshore wind industry

Baltica 2 is rapidly becoming more than just another renewable energy project. It represents Poland’s entry into the group of large-scale offshore wind markets in Europe and signals the emergence of the Baltic Sea as a strategic energy basin for the region.

Beyond electricity generation, the project reflects broader geopolitical and industrial trends shaping Northern Europe: energy independence, maritime infrastructure expansion and the race to secure leadership positions within the European offshore supply chain.

For Poland, Baltica 2 may ultimately prove to be the project that transforms offshore wind from political ambition into a permanent pillar of the national economy and energy system.

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