The Baltic Power offshore wind farm in Poland has reached a significant milestone with the installation of its first wind turbine. This ambitious 1.2 gigawatt (GW) project is a collaboration between Orlen and Northland Power and will feature a total of 76 turbines, each with a capacity of 15 megawatts (MW).
The turbines installed are of the Vestas V236-15MW model, recognized as the largest offshore wind turbine in Europe, capable of generating up to 80 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy annually. The installation process involves Cadeler’s vessel, Wind Osprey, which will facilitate the transportation and installation of all 76 turbines. Once fully operational next year, the Baltic Power wind farm will be Poland’s first offshore wind project, supplying electricity to over 1.5 million households and meeting roughly 3% of the nation’s electricity demand.
This project is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.8 million tonnes each year, contributing significantly to Poland’s climate goals. Orlen’s CEO, Ireneusz Fąfara, emphasized the importance of diversifying energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, especially given the current geopolitical climate.
Fąfara stated, “We are starting a new chapter in Poland’s energy history. This initiative will equip us with the expertise necessary for the future development of additional offshore wind farms in line with our strategic plan.”
Each turbine has the capacity to generate enough energy for a city the size of Stalowa Wola or Krosno. The towers are over 120 meters high, and with foundations included, the total height reaches 250 meters. Notably, some of the turbine towers are constructed from recycled steel, marking a first in wind farm construction.
The nacelles, comparable in size to a three-story house, are mounted on towers equipped with 115-meter-long blades, creating a swept area of 43,700 square meters, which is equivalent to more than six football fields.
Grzegorz Szabliński, president of the management board of Baltic Power, described the turbine installation as a landmark achievement for the Polish energy sector. He noted the logistical complexity of constructing an offshore wind farm, which requires coordination among up to 15 different vessels.
An essential aspect of this project is its local component; many parts, including some nacelles, are produced in Poland at Vestas’ new facility in Szczecin, along with other locally made elements such as offshore substations and onshore cables.
Foundation work is ongoing, with the installation of monopiles and transition pieces taking place on the offshore site. Preparations for installing inter-array and export offshore cables are also in progress, with offshore substations set to be installed later this autumn.
