Vestas and Port of Gdynia in Poland have begun discussions in relation to the site’s potential for upgrading to serve the country’s offshore wind industry.
The collaboration is intended to support the attractiveness of the port to project developers as “major hub” in the impending buildout of offshore wind in Poland and across the Baltic Sea region.
Vestas and the Port of Gdynia are collaborating on a range of topics, including the different requirements of an offshore wind pre-assembly site.
In discussions Vestas has shared technical specifications required by the wind turbine manufacturer for the installation of turbines, including its V236-15.0MW turbine.
Poland has announced a target to deliver 11GW of offshore wind by 2040, and broader offshore wind ambitions in the region have been highlighted by the Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Declaration signed by eight Baltic Sea countries and the European Commission in September 2020.
With a strong port infrastructure Poland can also become an export hub also for the offshore wind supply industry. “We are pleased to be collaborating with the Port of Gdynia to enable the development of their site and make it as attractive as possible for Poland’s offshore wind developers,” said Tommy Rahbek Nielsen, Vestas chief operating officer.
“It is imperative that more waterside infrastructure be developed fast in markets considering offshore wind installations in the mid-2020s, particularly so that the offshore wind supply chain is able to deliver offshore wind cost-effectively.
“Technical discussions such as those being held by Vestas with the Port of Gdynia team will aid the development of such sites to ensure consumers in Poland and other Baltic countries are receiving cost-effective offshore wind energy.”
Since 2018, the Port of Gdynia Authority has been “continuously working” to prepare the port to become an installation terminal for offshore wind projects.
“We believe that cooperation with the global tycoons of the industry at this stage of our preparation will allow us to design and develop the infrastructure that will meet the needs of offshore wind farm developers in the best possible way,” said Jacek Sadaj, CEO of the Port of Gdynia Authority.
Vestas is driving the buildout of Poland’s onshore wind sector and its onshore wind supply chain since 2002, having installed over 2.6GW of onshore wind to date with a further 2GW in orders secured, and employing more than 500 people locally.
Vestas has also invested over €770m in supply and services in the last decade in Poland, including more than €185m alone in 2020, it said.