URE: First preliminary license for electricity generation granted to Baltic Power offshore wind farm

The Energy Regulatory Office (URE) announced on the X platform that the URE President has granted the first preliminary license (promesa) for generating electricity from an offshore wind farm. According to the Office, the preliminary license was awarded to Baltic Power’s offshore wind farm, with a planned total installed capacity of 1140 MW. The farm is set to be located approximately 22.5 km off the coast, near Choczewo and Łeba.

As per URE’s information on issuing licenses for renewable energy generation, the preliminary license is contingent upon meeting the conditions required to conduct the relevant economic activity. The Office noted that during the validity period of the preliminary license, a full license for the specified activity cannot be denied unless the applicant fails to meet all the conditions outlined in the preliminary license.

The regulator emphasized that the preliminary license does not grant the right to conduct activities requiring a full license—such as applying for certificates of origin, or effectively demanding the purchase, priority transmission, or distribution of electricity.

- Thus, the period for which the preliminary license is requested should align with the investment process, the Office stated.

URE added that the preliminary license can serve as a document facilitating a company’s efforts to secure financing for the planned investment and obtaining a full license in the future, as the applicant must compile specific documentation when applying for the preliminary license. The validity period of the preliminary license is determined within the document and cannot be shorter than six months.

The Baltic Power offshore wind farm is a joint venture between Orlen and Canadian energy producer Northland Power. According to Orlen, it is the most advanced offshore wind project in Poland and the first to reach the construction phase. In 2023, the project secured a final investment decision (FID) and financing from 25 international institutions under a project finance model. Construction of the onshore infrastructure began in 2023, with offshore installation works starting in January 2025. Orlen highlighted that Baltic Power will be one of the first wind farms globally to feature 15 MW wind turbines.

The company stated that, upon its planned completion in 2026, Baltic Power will become the first operational Polish offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. It is expected to generate approximately 4,000 GWh of clean electricity annually, reducing CO2 emissions by about 2.8 million tons per year compared to conventional energy sources.