Equinor and Polenergia secure final environmental decision for Bałtyk 1 offshore wind project

Equinor and Polenergia have announced that the Bałtyk 1 offshore wind farm project has received a final environmental permit, a significant regulatory milestone that paves the way for the project to participate in Poland’s 2025 offshore wind auction. The permit, issued by the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection (RDOŚ) in Gdańsk, is now legally binding.

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29 april 2025   |   11:35   |   Source: PAP / Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

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According to the companies, this decision marks a “milestone step” in the project’s development. Bałtyk 1 is now positioned to compete in the upcoming auction, a key determinant for project viability given the country’s support scheme for offshore wind. The system ensures compensation for the negative balance—the gap between market energy prices and the price that ensures profitability for offshore generation—awarded through a competitive bidding process favoring the lowest-cost energy proposals.

- The 2025 auction is crucial for ensuring continuity between Phase I and Phase II of Poland’s offshore wind development. Avoiding delays will maximize the energy potential of the Baltic Sea, said Adam Purwin, CEO of Polenergia. - Equally important, it will enable smooth integration of Polish suppliers into the project supply chain, increasing local content. As the largest offshore wind farm currently under development in Poland, Bałtyk 1 plays a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

The project has already secured a permit for offshore cable laying and maintenance, as well as a grid connection agreement with the Polish transmission system operator.

- The environmental decision opens the door to the next phase—participation in the 2025 auction, added Michał Jerzy Kołodziejczyk, Country Manager of Equinor in Poland.

Numerous Polish contractors, including key suppliers, have already been engaged for the project, with initial coordination meetings scheduled in the near future.

Bałtyk 1 will be located approximately 81 km offshore and is planned to have a total capacity of up to 1,560 MW. Power from the site will be transmitted to the onshore connection point at the under-construction Krzemienica substation, operated by Poland’s transmission system operator (PSE). The associated grid infrastructure will be located within the Ustka and Redzikowo municipalities in the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

The environmental permitting process was preceded by extensive environmental impact assessments and data collection. According to the developers, the final report concluded that the proposed technical and organizational measures will effectively mitigate environmental impacts.

Equinor and Polenergia are jointly developing three offshore wind projects in the Polish Baltic Sea—Bałtyk 1, 2, and 3—with a combined potential capacity of up to 3,000 MW, expected to supply renewable electricity to over 4 million households. The first electricity from the more advanced Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects is expected to flow in 2027. Together, these two farms will provide 1,440 MW of installed capacity.

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