Poland has launched adjudication proceedings for five location permits for offshore wind farms in Polish Baltic Sea waters. RWE has submitted bids for projects with a total capacity of 7.8 gigawatts (GW) for all five areas, including Area 44.E.1, located in the immediate vicinity of F.E.W. Baltic II.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in offshore wind energy, RWE has developed a comprehensive solution for the aforementioned area, the Sharco Duo wind farm. The new investment, with a capacity of up to 1.8 GW, is located north-west of Slupsk Bank, in the central part of the Polish Baltic Sea zone.
During the development, construction and operation of Sharco Duo, RWE is assuming numerous synergies with the already ongoing F.E.W. Baltic II project and the operational base in Ustka. These will enable the company to provide Poland with competitively priced green electricity.
– Our Sharco Duo concept assumes the use of state-of-the-art technologies used in offshore wind energy, which, combined with innovative solutions, will allow to build and operate the wind farm in harmony with the Baltic Sea ecosystem and ideally fit into the specifics of the Polish transmission system by supporting grid stabilisation – explains Grzegorz Chodkowski, Vice President of Offshore Development Poland at RWE Renewables. – Taking into account our long-standing experience in offshore wind energy, we are in an excellent position to develop the Sharco Duo project and other offshore wind farms, for which we are also applying, while supporting local industry and creating new, future-proof jobs. In addition, we will support local research work and widely share the knowledge we have gained about innovative technologies.
Innovative, environmentally friendly concept and solutions for grid stabilisation
RWE’s unique design concept for Sharco Duo includes perfect integration of the offshore wind farm into the Polish energy system, green hydrogen production offshore and onshore and innovative energy storage solutions. RWE also plans to support biodiversity and enhance the local ecosystem, flora and fauna. Their protection is also crucial during the construction and operation of investments. Therefore, among the many innovative, environmentally friendly solutions proposed by RWE are low-noise foundation installation systems and the use of recyclable farm components. The company also emphasises a low-carbon operation strategy. Thanks to its extensive involvement in the central part of the Polish Baltic Sea and synergies with the F.E.W. Baltic II project located in the immediate vicinity of Area 44.E.1, RWE is fully ready to prepare and build the Sharco Duo offshore wind farm and start producing electricity as early as 2028. Once in operation, the Sharco Duo farm will be able to produce green electricity to cover the annual demand of 11 million Poles.
The company is also ready to submit unique applications for the remaining areas designated by the Polish Government for offshore wind farms. The location permits granted in this process have a chance to qualify and participate in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions starting in 2025.
Strong presence in Poland
RWE has been supporting the Polish energy transition for many years by developing, building and operating onshore wind farms. With its own portfolio, the company ranks among the five largest onshore wind operators in Poland. In addition, it is steadily diversifying its renewable portfolio by investing in photovoltaic projects.
RWE is also making progress on F.E.W. Baltic II, one of the first offshore wind farms in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. Once commissioning is complete, the 350 megawatt (MW) F.E.W. Baltic II wind farm will be able to produce enough green electricity to meet the needs of around 350,000 Polish households. Through the F.E.W. Baltic II project, RWE will significantly contribute to the development of the local economy.
Strong experience in offshore wind energy
RWE is a leading global player in renewable energy and the world’s number two player in offshore wind energy. RWE is ready to contribute its global experience and technical expertise to the development of the offshore sector in Poland. The company has 18 offshore wind farms in five countries – including Arkona, one of the largest offshore wind farms in the German part of the Baltic Sea, with a capacity of 385 MW. The company today has a total of around 3 GW of installed capacity in operational offshore wind projects, the Sofia (1.4 GW off the UK coast) and Kaskasi (342 MW off the German coast) wind farms under construction and is developing a total of more than 10 GW of secured capacity worldwide.
source: PortalMorski.pl
