Construction of the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm begins. This is the largest project of its kind in the Baltic Sea

There is a green light for the construction of Poland's largest renewable energy project in terms of generating capacity. The FID (Final Investment Decision) allows for the official transition from the planning phase of the offshore wind farm to its construction phase. The start of offshore construction is scheduled for later this year.

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30 january 2025   |   18:02   |   Source: PGE Baltica / Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. PGE Baltica

Green light for Poland’s largest renewable energy project

The largest renewable energy project in Poland in terms of generating capacity has received the green light. The Final Investment Decision (FID) allows for the official transition from the planning phase of the offshore wind farm to its construction phase. Offshore construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

Baltica 2: a joint venture by PGE and Ørsted

Baltica 2 is being developed jointly by PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna and Ørsted, with each partner holding a 50% stake in the project. PGE, financing its share of the investment through project finance, has secured loans from more than 20 Polish and international financial institutions, including the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. A total of approximately PLN 6 billion in loans will come from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), with PLN 5.5 billion from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Ørsted is financing its share of the project with its own capital.

A milestone for Poland’s economy

- The year 2025 will be a breakthrough for the Polish economy and for major investments, including those in the energy sector. Energy security will provide us with stability and drive economic growth. This massive project, one of the largest in Poland’s history, is part of a larger plan to build 18 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2040. Poland can be a leader in growth, optimism, and ambitious investments. Thanks to cheap and clean offshore wind energy, Poland will be competitive with economies worldwide, which is a message everyone should hear—because it is good news for every energy consumer in Poland. I am pleased with our cooperation with the Danish side, which I believe is a model example in Europe. I am convinced that all of Europe will look at it with envy, and we can be proud of it, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Baltica 2: a key step in Poland’s energy transition

Dariusz Marzec, CEO of PGE, emphasized that Baltica 2, the largest offshore wind project currently under development in the Baltic Sea, will help diversify Poland’s electricity production.

- This investment will enhance energy security and provide clean and affordable energy. It represents a significant step in Poland’s energy transition and serves as a strong driver for economic growth, attracting new investments across the Polish economy and creating new jobs, said Dariusz Marzec, CEO of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

Agata Staniewska-Bolesta, Managing Director of Ørsted Offshore Polska, stated that the development of offshore wind energy is a crucial element of Poland’s energy transition and will strengthen the country’s energy security.

- We are very proud that, despite macroeconomic challenges, together with our partner PGE, we have reached this important milestone, combining the expertise of Poland’s largest electricity producer with Ørsted’s 30 years of experience as a global leader in offshore wind development. The announcement of the Final Investment Decision means we are ready to build Baltica 2, a flagship offshore wind project in Poland that will meet the needs of approximately 2.5 million Polish households and deliver its first energy in 2027, said Agata Staniewska-Bolesta, Managing Director of Ørsted Offshore Polska.

Financing the energy transition

Financing Poland’s energy transition is one of the key tasks of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK).

- Funds from the National Recovery Plan, which our bank distributes, play a crucial role in this process. We are rapidly signing loan agreements from these funds, and we are pleased that PGE is now among the beneficiaries in the wind farm sector. The company will receive approximately PLN 5.5 billion in loans from the National Recovery Plan and an additional PLN 520 million from our bank’s own funds. The Baltica 2 investment is highly ambitious and essential for strengthening Poland’s energy security. As Poland’s development bank, we are fulfilling our mission to support sustainable socio-economic growth, said Mirosław Czekaj, President of BGK.

Construction timeline

Construction work at sea is scheduled to begin in 2025, starting with the removal of boulders from the seabed. In 2026, the installation of foundations, export cables, and offshore substations will commence. Once these stages are completed, inter-array cables between turbine foundations and offshore substations will be installed.

In 2027, the wind turbines themselves will be mounted. At the same time, comprehensive testing of all cables and electrical components will be carried out, followed by the commissioning of the entire infrastructure. This will enable the delivery of the first green energy from the offshore wind farm to the Polish power grid in 2027.

With 107 turbines and a total capacity of 1.5 GW, the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm will supply green energy to over 2.5 million homes in Poland, significantly contributing to the country’s energy transition. PGE and Ørsted have already started constructing onshore grid infrastructure and secured all necessary components for the offshore phase, including foundations, cables, turbines, and substations. They have also obtained all required construction permits.

For turbine installation, they have signed a lease agreement for port areas in Gdańsk. Additionally, in Ustka, PGE will establish an operations and maintenance base to support the wind farm’s operational phase.

pge baltica pge polska grupa energetyczna morskie farmy wiatrowe offshore

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