PGE and Orsted expect to conclude talks with the European Commission in the Autumn on price support for the 2500MW Baltica 2 and 3 offshore wind farms off Poland.
In April 2021, the president of the Energy Regulatory Office (URE) awarded Baltica 2 and 3 maximum price support under a Contract for Difference of PLN319.6 (€66) a megawatt-hour.
Because of EU guidelines on state aid for energy and environmental protection and the national rules for granting support in the first pre-auction phase of Polish offshore wind development, it is necessary to individually notify the support for the project to the European Commission.
In October 2021, PGE and Orsted submitted documentation regarding the individual notification to the URE, from where it was then sent to Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.
At the beginning of February 2022, the documentation was submitted to the European Commission.
PGE management board president Wojciech Dabrowski said: “Determining the final energy prices with the European Commission in the contract for difference is one of the key elements that will allow us to make the final investment decision regarding the construction of the Baltica offshore wind farm.
“The documentation of individual notification in national institutions was processed in accordance with the established schedule.
“The next step are possible questions and the final decision of the European Commission. We expect it in the next few months. We are counting on a constructive dialogue with the Commission throughout this process, we are open and well prepared.”
Baltica Offshore Wind Farm director Soren Westergaard Jensen said: “We hope to conclude the talks with the European Commission in the Autumn of this year, which is about a year after the submission of the application to the Energy Regulatory Office.
“However, the EC’s decision does not end the process of determining the final price of the contract for difference.
“Then there will be a verification by the Energy Regulatory Office, which will decide on the final level of support for each of the two stages of the Baltica offshore wind farm.
“Our cooperation with ERO during the initial verification was exemplary.
“Therefore, we hope for a quick proceeding of the case also in the final stage so that we can make the final investment decision and move on to the next stage of the implementation of the largest investment in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea.”