Equinor and Polenergia have taken final investment decisions for the 1440MW Bałtyk 2 and 3 offshore wind projects in Poland.
The total investment of the project is approximately PLN 27 billion (€6.4bn) excluding financing costs.
The twin offshore wind farms will be equipped with 100 state-of-the-art wind turbines, each standing at a height of 260 metres, surpassing the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw.
A single rotation of one turbine rotor can generate enough renewable energy to power a Polish household for four days.
In total, the two wind farms are expected to generate energy for more than 2 million Polish households.
Both projects will be constructed within the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea, located approximately 37km and 22km off the coast.
Dominika Kulczyk, chairwoman of the supervisory board at Polenergia, said: “This is a very important, symbolic moment that seals years of planning and preparation and at the same time opens a completely new chapter in Polenergia’s further dynamic development.
“The Bałtyk offshore wind farm project is a huge investment, but also a prime example of how, thanks to perseverance, commitment and a strong Polish-Norwegian partnership, the bold idea from many years ago, when offshore energy was scarcely considered in Poland, is finally becoming reality before our eyes.”
The wind farms are due to be completed and commissioned in 2028.
Country manager of Equinor in Poland Michel Jerzy Kołodziejczyk said: “Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 represent some of the largest infrastructure projects in Poland’s history.
“Their execution will significantly enhance the country’s energy security and independence while creating jobs in a developing sector.
“Furthermore, the renewable energy generated from our projects will bolster the competitiveness of the Polish economy.
“As the future operator of these wind farms, we are proud to take this pivotal step toward establishing a robust centre for wind energy in the Baltic Sea.
“The coming months and years will be a period of intensified and close collaboration with our partners, at the core of which are numerous Polish companies and institutions.
“Together, we will strive for the safe and effective construction and operation of the Bałtyk 2 and 3 wind farms.”
The projects will feature the largest offshore substations in Poland, each with a capacity of 720MW, as well as two onshore substations with an underground cable line, totalling 14km in length.
The wind farms are engineered for a lifespan of 30 years and will operate under 25-year Contracts for Difference (CfD).