PKN Orlen has confirmed that the first onshore connection has been completed for the 1200MW Baltic Power wind farm in Poland.
The first of four directional drills under the coastline, beach, and seabed has been successfully completed, with no direct impact on areas of high ecological value, according to the company, which is developing the project with Northland Power.
This phase of the project paves the way for connecting the Baltic Power offshore wind farm to its onshore substation.
The 1.4km tunnel will house power transmission cables. The drilling was conducted using HDD (horizontal directional drilling) technology.
The completed section is the first of four underground corridors, designed to hold 30cm diameter cables.
This marks the first large-scale use of HDD technology in Poland, according to the developer.
Part of the drilling operation took place offshore, utilising divers and a jack-up rig to complete the underwater section.
In total, the drilling will result in the extraction of over 8,000 m³ of spoil from all four drills.
According to studies commissioned by Baltic Power, the excavated sand is clean and suitable for beach restoration efforts, helping to repair storm damage sustained over the winter.
Jarosław Broda, member of the Baltic Power management board, said: “Progress on Baltic Power, the largest renewable energy project in our region, is on schedule and already well advanced.
“We have completed the first and are carrying out further drilling for submarine cables connecting offshore substations to land.
“This is the first project of its kind in Poland and is unique compared to other offshore wind projects carried out in Europe.”
Meanwhile, approximately 8km away in Osieki Lęborskie, construction is underway on the onshore substation.
Together with the cable connection, this facility will receive energy from the Baltic Power wind farm and integrate it into the National Power Grid.
The power line linking to the substation will also be installed underground.
The onshore cable route has been designed in collaboration with other offshore wind farm investors to minimise environmental impact and avoid areas of high ecological value, PKN Orlen said.
The construction of the onshore substation (ONS) is already more than 40% complete, with full completion scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.