‘National champions’ join forces to develop offshore wind in Poland

With this in mind, they have signed a letter of intent that covers exchange of know-how and jointly acquiring the data necessary for implementing offshore windfarms. They also intend to collaborate on investment in maritime infrastructure and logistics, including assessing Polish ports and their readiness to handle windfarm construction.

The letter of intent also commits them to co-operation in designing and constructing transmission system infrastructure, in collaboration with the transmission system operator, joint/co-ordinated efforts to maximise Polish content in the offshore wind supply chain, and to a joint analysis of the requirements for operation and maintenance of offshore windfarms in the Baltic.

PGE president Henryk Baranowski said, “The goal of the co-operation is to combine the potential of two national champions to implement investments for the country’s energy security and a gradual transition to a low-carbon economy. We hope that by working together we will be able to accelerate the process, so that windfarms at sea can be realised as soon as possible.”

PKN Orlen president Daniel Obajtek said, “We intend to use the value of offshore wind energy for the development of the Polish economy. We also want local communities to benefit from projects.”

The company’s executive director for energy, Jaroslaw Dybowski, said “Offshore wind perfectly fits into the PKN Orlen’s energy mix and production from windfarms will be balanced by production from flexible gas sources.”

PGE Baltica president Monika Morawiecka said the letter of intent with PKN Orlen does not mean that the company is abandoning plans it first announced in 2018 to find an international partner with whom to develop offshore windfarms. “We are continuing the process of choosing a partner and plan to do so by the end of the year,” she explained.

In February 2019, the company said 13 potential partners had responded to PGE Group’s December 2018 invitation to participate in a project to build offshore windfarms in the Baltic. PGE intends to eventually sell a 50% stake in two special-purpose vehicles responsible for offshore wind projects to a strategic partner of its choice and to subsequently develop projects as a joint venture.

PGE Baltica, which will be responsible for implementing the group’s offshore wind programme, ultimately wants to construct up to 2.5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. It is co-ordinating the development of three projects. These are: Baltica 1 Wind Power Plant (EWB1); Baltica 2 Wind Power Plant (EWB2); and Baltica 3 Wind Power Plant (EWB3).

At the beginning of 2019, Baltic Power, which is responsible for offshore wind energy projects undertaken by PKN Orlen, began environmental surveys and measurements of wind conditions in concessions it holds and is working towards developing a 1.2 GW offshore windfarm.