Baltica Offshore Wind Farm with environmental decision for connection infrastructure

The Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gdansk has issued an environmental decision for the connection infrastructure, i.e. the power lead-out from the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm, being constructed in two phases Baltica 2 and Baltica 3. The investors in the project – PGE and Ørsted – can thus continue with the project and start work on obtaining construction permits.

– The issuance of the environmental decision closes an important, many months-long stage of work preparing the construction of the offshore wind farm with connection infrastructure. We have fulfilled the necessary condition for the continuation of the investment process and can now proceed with the preparation of the technical documentation necessary to obtain construction permits,” said Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. – The environmental decision for the connection infrastructure of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm is for us a confirmation that the environmental studies have been conducted in a reliable manner and the resulting environmental documentation has been duly prepared,” added the PGE President.

– After obtaining the decision on environmental conditions for the connection infrastructure, we have submitted applications for water permits and will apply for location decisions. These are elements of preparation for obtaining construction permits, which are the last administrative requirements. Their fulfilment will allow the Baltica 2+3 project to mature towards a final investment decision and then move from the planning stage to the realisation stage, says Søren Westergaard Jensen, Baltica 2+3 project director on behalf of Ørsted. We are pleased that by contributing to the goals of transformation and strengthening Poland’s energy security, we can realise the investment in the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm according to the highest environmental standards, he adds.

A milestone towards the realisation of the investment

Prior to obtaining the decision on environmental conditions, a detailed study of the natural environment was carried out. Obtaining the decision on environmental conditions for the connection infrastructure of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm is a milestone towards the realisation of the investment. As of 24 January 2020, the project has an environmental decision for the wind farm. In addition, the project has permits for the erection of artificial islands (PSzW), permits for the laying and maintenance of cables (PUUK), transmission grid connection agreements with the operator, and has been granted a right for difference (CfD) contract.

Where the connection infrastructure will be built

The task of the connection infrastructure is to lead the energy produced offshore to the transmission grid onshore. The section where the offshore cables pass through the coastal zone will be drilled sea-to-shore, i.e. the cables will be run using trenchless technology under the beach. They will then run along a cable bank through the Choczewo commune to two onshore transformer stations located near the village of Osieki Lęborskie. From there, the energy will go to the substation of the national transmission network operator.

According to the schedule for the first stage of the project, i.e. Baltica 3 with a capacity of up to 1045.5 MW, the introduction of the first energy into the grid is planned for 2026. The next stage, Baltica 2 with a capacity of up to 1497 MW, is scheduled to start production in 2027. These investments will contribute to accelerating Poland’s energy transition.

source: PortalMorski.pl