Poland’s PGE Group has been awarded environmental permits for two offshore wind projects it is developing.
The regional director for environmental protection in Gdansk issued a decision on environmental conditions for PGE’s Baltica 2 and Baltica 3 projects, which will have a total capacity of up to 2.5GW.
The decision gives PGE the go ahead to start work on the technical aspects of both wind farms.
The Baltica 2 project is 1498MW and Baltica 3 is 1045MW.
The wind farms are slated to generate electricity from 2026.
On 20 December 2019, PGE and Orsted signed a preliminary agreement describing a framework for cooperation as part of Orsted’s acquisition of a 50% stake in Baltica 2 and 3.
The wind farms will be located approximately 30 km north of the shoreline at the height of Ustka and Leba in Pomerania.
The projects’ turbines will have capacities of 10MW or more depending on the development of technology and the chosen make and model.
PGE Baltica, a subsidiary within PGE, will be responsible for the operational implementation of the utility’s offshore wind programme, including the development of the projects for the three special purpose companies for the overall Baltica wind power facility.
They are Baltica 1 Wind Power Plant (EWB1), Baltica 2 Wind Power Plant (EWB2) and Baltica 3 Wind Power Plant (EWB3).
All three companies have location permits enabling the construction of offshore farms in designated areas of the Baltic Sea.
Ultimately, PGE intends to develop offshore projects alone, having established competencies through partnerships with developers, such as Orsted.
Staff within the joint project team comprise representatives of both PGE and Orsted.