en.Wedoany.com Reported - Poland's first offshore wind farm, the Baltic Project, has achieved first power generation and grid connection, with electricity from offshore wind turbines officially entering the Polish national grid.
The wind farm plans to install 76 turbines in total, with 54 already installed and the first unit now generating power. The project is jointly owned by Polish ORLEN and Canadian Northland Power, with full construction expected to be completed this autumn. ORLEN CEO Ireneusz Fąfara stated that the company is executing the largest investment plan in the history of Poland's energy sector, with total expenditure estimated at 380 billion Polish zloty.
Northland Power President Christine Healy noted that the first electricity from offshore wind has flowed into Polish homes and businesses, marking a historic moment for the country. In the coming weeks, more turbines will be gradually started and tested, with the generated electricity directly fed into the national grid.
Currently, the entire wind farm infrastructure is undergoing commissioning, including turbines, offshore substations, onshore substations, and control systems. The project's total capacity target is 1.2 GW. Over 22% of installation work has been completed, with 54 turbines erected, all array cables and export cables (totaling 350 km) laid, and two offshore substations in place. Onshore facilities are also ready, with the substation in the city of Choczewo completed.
The wind farm maintenance base in Łeba has been operational since last year, supporting construction and up to 30 years of future operation and maintenance. Over 100 vessels and more than 5,300 crew members and contractors have been involved in the project area.
Once fully operational, the 76 turbines, each with a capacity of 15 MW, will have a total installed capacity of approximately 1.2 GW, generating about 4 TWh of electricity annually. This will meet roughly 3% of Poland's electricity demand, equivalent to the annual consumption of over 1.5 million households. Located approximately 23 km offshore near Choczewo and Łeba, the project covers an area of 130 square kilometers, utilizing some of the world's largest turbines and featuring nacelles manufactured in Poland. Compared to traditional power generation methods, the wind farm is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 2.8 million tons annually.
During the commissioning process, the infrastructure will undergo inspections, performance tests, and independent audit certifications to obtain occupancy permits. This will be the first such administrative procedure in Poland. The final step requires obtaining a generation license from the Polish Energy Regulatory Office.
