Orlen Neptun, part of the Orlen Group, has opened Poland’s first offshore wind farm installation terminal.
The terminal in Świnoujście will serve as a key base for Orlen’s phase two offshore wind projects and will also be available to external operators, with Ocean Winds becoming the first customer to sign a long-term contract.
The Świnoujście terminal will ultimately support the installation of several dozen wind turbines per year, becoming the most important offshore wind installation hub in the Baltic Sea region.
Chief executive and president of the management board of Orlen Ireneusz Fąfara said: “The installation terminal in Świnoujście is yet another pioneering offshore wind investment we’re delivering in Poland.
“We’re not just building infrastructure – we’re laying the foundations for an entirely new, future-ready sector of the economy.
“Offshore wind power will supply homes, businesses and transport with clean, reliable energy, while also opening the door to new areas of industrial growth.
“Świnoujście will be our base for executing future offshore wind projects, in which Polish capital will play a major role with close to 50% participation.”
Under the contract with Ocean Winds, Orlen Neptun will lease nearly the entire terminal area. It will be used to support the construction of the BC-Wind offshore wind farm, located approximately 150 nautical miles (about 228km) from the port in Świnoujście.
The terminal will be used for the delivery, storage and initial preparation of foundations, which will then be transported to the installation site. Świnoujście will also serve as the loading point for components onto specialised installation vessels. Cargo handling and port services will be provided by local contractors.
Managing director of Ocean Winds Poland Kacper Kostrzewa said: “We’re pleased to have established this partnership and to have selected the port in Świnoujście as a key hub for delivering the BC-Wind offshore wind farm.
“It is a state-of-the-art facility that fully meets both our technical requirements and project timelines. BC-Wind is Ocean Winds’ first project in the Baltic Sea and a strong example of real engagement with the local supply chain.
“We’re committed to creating value together with our Polish partners and to strengthening the local market’s capabilities in offshore wind energy.”
The Świnoujście terminal, to be manned by several dozen staff, has been designed to accommodate the largest vessels – including jack-up and heavy-lift ships – used for installing offshore wind turbines with a capacity of around 15MW.
The terminal supports the unloading, stacking and ship loading of components used in the construction of wind farms, including monopile foundations, towers, blades, nacelles and farm cabling elements. Additionally, the terminal infrastructure enables the reception of offshore substation topsides weighing up to 24 thousand tonnes.