Poland’s first offshore wind farm nears completion as Orlen reaches key milestone
ORLEN Group has marked a significant step forward in the development of offshore wind energy in Poland. The country's first dedicated operations and maintenance (O&M) base for offshore wind farms is now fully operational in the port city of Łeba. This purpose-built port infrastructure will serve the Baltic Power offshore wind farm, developed jointly by ORLEN and Canadian partner Northland Power. The facility already plays a critical role in the ongoing offshore construction, which will culminate in the commissioning of Poland’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea in 2026.
In brief
Poland's first operations and maintenance base for offshore wind energy is operating in Łeba and will serve the Baltic Power wind farm being built by the ORLEN Group and Canada's Northland Power. The base includes a reinforced quay with two cranes, berths for CTV vessels, a warehouse and a round-the-clock Marine Coordination Centre, and will employ about 60 technicians and staff for about 30 years. Foundation works are under way about 23 km off the coast, and the Baltic Power farm is scheduled to start up in 2026. Baltic Power is to generate about 4,000 GWh of electricity a year and cut emissions by about 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
- As ORLEN Group, we are proud to be both a pioneer and leader in offshore wind development in Poland. By 2026, our Baltic Power project will begin delivering clean offshore electricity to Polish consumers. The newly launched O&M base is the onshore heart of this project. At ORLEN, we fully recognize the strategic importance of leveraging the Baltic Sea’s wind potential—this is only the beginning of our investment in the region, said Ireneusz Fąfara, President & CEO of ORLEN. - The service base is crucial to the successful delivery of Baltic Power. Pomerania is becoming the gateway to the future of Poland’s energy system. Hundreds of specialists are executing the largest offshore installation campaign in our history, while others are preparing multibillion-zloty investments in grid infrastructure and new generation assets. This is all part of our strategy, and we are delivering on that promise. We are executing the largest energy investment program in Poland’s history, worth up to PLN 380 billion.
The Łeba O&M base features a reinforced quay outfitted with two heavy-duty cranes, berths for crew transfer vessels (CTVs), a high-bay warehouse for critical equipment and spare parts, and technical workshops with full facilities for maintenance crews and technicians. The facility also houses the Baltic Power Marine Coordination Center (MCC), which is already operating 24/7 in support of offshore construction. The base has been fully equipped in recent weeks and will begin regular O&M activities later this year, with around 60 full-time technical staff expected to be employed over the long term.
- This is a landmark moment for the entire offshore wind sector in Poland. Everyone walking along the port channel in Łeba can now witness a fully operational offshore wind service hub. Vision and planning have translated into tangible infrastructure. The Baltic Power base in Łeba will service offshore vessels and carry out all critical operations to ensure the safe and reliable performance of the wind farm. It will support the project throughout its estimated 30-year lifecycle, said Grzegorz Szabliński, CEO of Baltic Power.
Currently, the base is supporting offshore construction activities approximately 23 kilometers off the coast. Foundation installation is underway, including the deployment of monopiles and transition pieces. Turbine and subsea cable installation is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. Onshore, cable route construction and substation development in the Choczewo municipality are progressing on schedule.
Baltic Power is the most advanced offshore wind project in Poland and the first to enter the construction phase. The project will be among the first in the world to install next-generation 15 MW wind turbines. With an expected annual output of approximately 4,000 GWh of zero-emission electricity, Baltic Power is set to reduce CO₂ emissions by an estimated 2.8 million tonnes annually compared to conventional power generation sources.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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