Polenergia obtained second environmental decision for construction of Baltic Sea wind farm

It is already the second legally binding environmental decision issued for the company. The total capacity of the projects currently realized by Polenergia in the Baltic Sea is 1200 MW.

• Polenergia received the legally binding environmental decision for theimplementation of Polenergia Baltic Sea II Offshore Wind Farm;
• Polenergia has two legally binding environmental decisions for the construction of offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea;
• The implementation of Polenergia Baltic Sea II Offshore Wind Farm is planned for the years 2023–2026;
• The maximum height of windmills is 300 m asl, the propeller diameter will be maximum 250 m;
• The first stage of the implementation of Polenergia offshore projects in the Baltic Sea assumes the construction of wind farms with the total capacity of 1200 MW;
• The wind farms in the Baltic Sea will be a highly efficient and stable source of renewable energy.

Obtaining the second environmental decision for the construction of an offshore wind farm means that in Poland Polenergia is the undisputed leader in implementing wind farms in the Baltic Sea. The Company has already got legally binding environmental decisions that allow it to work on the technical design of two offshore wind farms with the planned total capacity of 1200 MW. It is three times more than the capacity of the onshore wind farms, the implementation of which has been suspended due to the entry into force of the rules changing the renewable energy sources market in 2016. Polenergia offshore wind farms will be located north of the coastline, at the level of Smoldzino commune and Leba municipal commune in Pomorskie voivodship. The expected capacity of a single windmill is about 8–10 MW. It is to be maximum 300 m asl high and its rotor diameter is to be maximum 250 m. They are going to be the largest wind power plants that have ever been built in Poland.

“Polenergia Baltic Sea II and Polenergia Baltic Sea III Offshore Wind Farms are a strategic investment that will allow not only the company but, above all, the Polish economy to become the leader in this kind of venture. Based on expert calculations, if by 2030 we will manage to construct wind plants with the total capacity of 6000 MW in the Baltic Sea, the Polish GDP will earn PLN 60 billion from it and the labor market will be enriched with additional 77 thousand new jobs. National companies, directly or indirectly, will be able to apply for  contracts for foundations, towers, cables, offshore transformer stations, construction services, as well as potential rotor manufacture or ship delivery. Whether this will be the case, largely depends on the regulatory environment, including the schedule and results of the auction for renewable energy generated with this technology”, says Jacek Glowacki, directing the works of the Management Board of Polenergia.

In January 2017 accurate wind measurements for the two projects began. Thanks to very good wind conditions in the Baltic Sea, a more efficient use of energy and reduced equipment wear will be possible, making offshore wind farms a stable renewable energy source. The construction works are due to start at the earliest in 2019, after the construction permit is granted. The first current from Polenergia Baltic Sea III Offshore Wind Farm (Polenergia Baltyk III) can flow to the Polish coast in 2021–2022, and from Polenergia Baltic Sea II Offshore Wind Farm in 2026. The lifetime of both offshore wind farms is expected to be 25 years.

The implementation of each project was divided into stages. This is due to the contract concluded by the investor, which enables the connection to the National Power System of 600 MW by 2021 in the area of Polenergia Baltic Sea III Offshore Wind Farm and the connection of 600 MW by the end of 2025 in the area of Polenergia Baltic Sea II Offshore Wind Farm. The Company expects that after 2022 and 2025 it will be possible to acquire additional connection capacity, which will allow for the development of each wind farm to the maximum capacity of 1200 MW. This means that the total capacity of offshore projects realized by Polenergia in the Baltic Sea can reach the maximum of 2400 MW.