ORLEN Begins Installing Europe's Largest Offshore Wind Turbines

Project Overview

The ORLEN Group, in collaboration with Northland Power, has initiated the installation of Europe's largest offshore wind turbines in the Baltic Sea. Each turbine has a capacity of 15 MW, and the first has been successfully installed in Polish waters. This marks a significant step in Poland's energy transition, with the Baltic Power offshore wind farm expected to meet up to 3% of the country's electricity demand by next year.

Technical Details

The project involves 76 turbines, each capable of powering a city the size of Stalowa Wola or Krosno. The turbines, manufactured by Vestas, include locally produced components. The turbine towers exceed 120 meters in height, with the total structure reaching 250 meters. Some towers are made from recycled steel, a first in wind farm construction. The nacelles, the size of a three-story house, are fitted with 115-meter blades, creating a swept area equivalent to over six football pitches.

Construction and Logistics

The installation is carried out by a 160-meter-long jack-up vessel with a load capacity of up to 11,000 tonnes, capable of transporting three complete turbines per trip. Foundation works, including monopile and transition piece installation, are ongoing, with offshore substations scheduled for installation later in the year. Onshore construction includes a substation and cable routes, with an Operations and Maintenance base in Łeba completed in April.

Future Plans

The operational commissioning of the Baltic Power farm is expected in 2026. In parallel, ORLEN plans to develop additional offshore wind projects with a total capacity of approximately 5.5 GW, supporting Poland's sustainable energy transition.