Van Oord will transport and install more than 70 foundations, consisting of a monopile fitted with a transition piece. With a production capacity of up to 1.2GW, the wind farm is expected to ultimately supply renewable energy more than 1.5 million households in Poland. Construction of the farm is planned to start in 2024 and then be commissioned in 2026.
Based on experts' estimates, the Baltic Sea's total potential is 85GW, nearly twice as much as the total electrical capacity currently installed in Poland. The Polish State National Energy Policy (PEP2040) outlines the potential of and assumes the development of offshore wind energy in the area of the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea, with the capacity of approximately 5.9GW by 2030 and up to 11GW by 2040.
Van Oord will deploy its heavy lift installation vessel Svanen, which has an extensive track record and installed the vast majority of the monopiles in the Baltic Sea, including those for Baltic 2, Arkona and Kriegers Flak.
Baltic Power is Van Oord's first offshore wind project in Poland, however, the country is well known to Van Oord due to executed dredging projects, like the recently completed deepening and widening of the Świnoujście - Szczecin fairway in Poland.
Jarosław Broda, member of the Management Board of Baltic Power, said about the award of the contract: "Baltic Power consistently follows its schedule and selects suppliers who can boast not only a great deal of experience but also a readiness to carry out significant part of the work in Poland."
Speaking on behalf of Van Oord, managing director Van Oord Offshore Wind, Arnoud Kuis said: "The creation of a sustainable energy system is one of the most important challenges of our time and the urgency is growing. The Baltic Sea holds incredible potential for offshore wind in Europe. We are very pleased to win another project in the Baltic Sea, making a significant contribution to the energy transition in Poland."
Development of the Baltic Power offshore wind farm is a joint venture project of two companies: PKN ORLEN (Poland) and Northland Power (Canada). Van Oord and Northland Power have successfully worked together on the Gemini and Deutsche Bucht offshore wind projects. Baltic Power and Van Oord share the ambition to contribute to the further development of offshore wind as reliable renewable energy source.
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