The ORLEN Group has obtained a final decision from the Minister of Infrastructure granting five new offshore sites for the construction of wind farms. This paves the way for the initiation of the preparatory phase of the investment. According to the plans, the next five offshore wind farms of the ORLEN Group will have an estimated capacity of about 5.2 GW, which will make it possible to produce clean energy sufficient to power approximately 8 million homes.
– The ORLEN Group is strengthening its position as the leader in the development of offshore wind farm projects in Poland. Thanks to the experience from the Baltic Power project, we are prepared for a quick and effective implementation of the work related to preparations for the construction of another five investments at sea. We are operating in accordance with the established schedule, moving ahead of other investors who started offshore projects even before us. As planned, we will hand over the first wind farm in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. The following investments are key to ensuring competitiveness and the development of the Polish economy based on modern energy sources. Their delivery will be another step towards increasing Poland’s energy security and achieving the strategic goals of the ORLEN Group, which are aimed at achieving 9 GW of installed capacity from renewable energy sources by the end of the decade – says Daniel Obajtek, CEO of ORLEN.
Four of the five concessions granted to the ORLEN Group are located on the Oder Bank, at the level of Kołobrzeg. The fifth location is situated on the Slupsk Bank. This area borders the site where the Baltic Power wind farm is being built, which ORLEN is constructing together with its Canadian partner Northland Power. This is currently the most advanced offshore wind farm project in Poland. The wind farm, with a capacity of 1.2 GW, will start producing electricity as early as 2026.
The final decision to grant the concessions means that the ORLEN Group can begin work on preparing projects for five new wind farms. First of all, wind measurements, preliminary geotechnical studies and environmental studies, necessary in administrative and project processes, will be carried out. The Group will use the experience gained from completing similar work on the Baltic Power project.
Offshore wind energy is one of the main directions of development of modern power engineering in the ORLEN Group. In addition to the Baltic Power project, the ORLEN Group is also constructing the first offshore wind farm installation terminal in Poland. The investment, carried out by the ORLEN Neptun company, is being built in the Świnoujście port and after completion of work in 2025 will be one of the most modern terminals in Europe. Its quays and storage areas will allow for the transport and assembly of the latest wind turbines with a capacity of 15 MW and larger. The terminal will first and foremost be used to implement the Baltic Power project, and will then support the implementation of projects from other developers and further ORLEN Group investments in the Baltic Sea.
