Bałtyk123: Preparatory work for the borehole for submarine cables is starting

Preparatory work has begun in the area of the so-called landfall, the point where cables exporting electricity generated by the Baltic 2 and 3 offshore wind farms come ashore. The borehole will enable the installation of the power cable, allowing the electricity generated by the wind farms to be transmitted from sea to land. The drilling work itself, set to begin in March, will be conducted underground using an environmentally safe method. The beach will remain accessible to residents and tourists throughout the duration of the work.

business maritime economy offshore work at mare news

06 february 2025   |   12:27   |   Source: Bałtyk123 / Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Bałtyk123

The junction between the offshore and onshore sections is located in the town of Lędowo, west of Ustka. The purpose of the ongoing work is to prepare the site for the execution of a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operation under the seabed, beach, and dunes. This means that the export cables will be brought ashore using a trenchless method, ensuring a non-invasive and environmentally safe process for both people and nature.

- Preparing the connection between offshore and onshore infrastructure is a crucial step in the overall investment. The landfall area was designated following extensive engineering and environmental studies. These studies considered multiple factors, including the ecosystem, land use, historical features, and the technical feasibility of drilling, says Andrzej Popadiuk, Stakeholder Manager at Equinor Polska.

Drilling operations will commence in mid-March and continue until September 2025. The work will take place west of beach entrance No. 37 in Lędowo. The cables will come ashore approximately 160 meters from the shoreline, just beyond the technical zone boundary. Each borehole will be about 1.5 km in length and reach a maximum depth of approximately 40 meters. One borehole with a diameter of about 900 mm will be drilled for each of the four cable lines.

The HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) method involves performing horizontal directional drilling at a predetermined depth using specialized drilling heads. The work will consist of several stages: pilot drilling, hole widening, installation of a protective conduit, and, in the final phase, pulling the cables through the prepared passage. The main contractor for this part of the project is Hanab.

- All construction work has been designed to minimize potential disruptions. The beach will remain accessible to residents and tourists for most of the time during underground operations, adds Marta Porzuczek, Director of the Environmental Protection and Sustainability Department at Polenergia Group.

During the offshore construction phase, the noise level from vessels will be comparable to that generated by other ships and boats. Meanwhile, during onshore construction, noise will primarily come from vehicles and machinery used for excavation. Noise and vibrations, both in offshore and onshore areas, will be localized and strictly time-limited.

The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms, with a total capacity of 1,440 MW, will be located in Poland's exclusive economic zone of the Baltic Sea, 37 km and 22 km from the shoreline, respectively. The electricity they generate will be transmitted via cables through the towns of Lędowo, Pęplino, and Duninowo in Ustka Municipality, as well as Bruskowo Wielkie, Bruskowo Małe, and Wielichowo in Redzikowo Municipality, to the Polish Power Grid (PSE) station in Wierzbięcin. The onshore connection corridor, approximately 14 km long, will be built underground to preserve the area's tourism and landscape value.

The first electricity from the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects will flow into the grid in 2027, with full commercial operation starting in 2028.

What is landfall? See the graphics prepared by Polenergia and Equinor, available here.

bałtyk123 morskie farmy wiatrowe polenergia equinor bałtyk

gallery

---

comments

---

enter content

COMMENT

nick

Add the first comment