Vestas turbine factory in Szczecin, offshore wind installation terminal in Świnoujście
The Baltic Power offshore wind farm is driving new investment. Poland’s first installation terminal located in Świnoujście and the Vestas turbine factory in Szczecin are new investments related to the Baltic Power offshore wind farm. The joint project between Orlen Group and Northland Power will utilise 76 state-of-the-art 15 MW turbines from Vestas, the components of which will be manufactured at the new factory in Szczecin. The turbine factory, which will employ up to 700 people, will be completed in 2024, while Orlen Group’s installation terminal at the Port of Swinoujscie will begin operation in 2025.
“From the beginning of preparations for the realisation of our first offshore wind farm, we have consistently strived to make the most of the potential of the Polish economy. The decision to build an installation terminal in Świnoujście and a new turbine factory in Szczecin prove that offshore wind farms, have the potential not only to revolutionise the national energy system, but also to be an impetus for the development of the entire region. In addition to the advanced Baltic Power project, we have also applied for 11 new offshore wind farm concessions in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. This is a gigantic opportunity for our suppliers, as well as other cities, such as Gdansk where a second installation port is planned and Leba, where a service port will be built by 2025. Strategic investment in infrastructure and experience gained from cooperation with global leaders is the way to build a new, promising sector of Polish industry,” – emphasises Daniel Obajtek, President of the Management Board of PKN Orlen.
Orlen Group’s investment in the construction of an installation terminal in the Port of Swinoujscie is crucial both from the point of view of the schedule of the Baltic Power project and further projects in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea planned by Orlen Neptun until 2040.
The terminal’s approximately 20-hectare site will receive offshore wind farm components, including turbines manufactured by Vestas. Each of the two quays available will allow the pre-assembly of wind turbine towers over 100 metres high and weighing around 1,000 tonnes each. The length of the berths, both 250 metres, will allow the largest specialist jack-up vessels currently available for the installation of offshore wind farm components to operate. According to the plan, the port will be operational in 2025 and will employ around 100 people during the installation work.
“Our aim is to create a fully versatile port. All this is also our response to the expectations of investors wishing to tie their business to the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście. We are all the more pleased that the RES industry has recognised this potential. We are planning that in 2025 the terminal will enter the operational phase, handling approximately 80 offshore wind turbines per year,” – says Krzysztof Urbaś, President of the Management Board of Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports SA.
The first project to be implemented using the installation terminal in Świnoujście will be Baltic Power, a joint venture between Orlen Group and Northland Power. Thanks to intensive work by almost 90 experts from 10 countries, it is currently the most advanced project in Polish Baltic waters. The company has already secured all key components of the offshore wind farm through a supply chain that also includes companies from Poland.
“When it comes to offshore wind projects, one of our main goals is to ensure local content and a positive impact on the local communities where we develop and operate. This is Northland’s key approach to project development around the world reflecting our core values. The collaboration announced today is a testament to the joint development and achievements that will not only advance the Baltic Power project, but also accelerate Poland’s energy transition and strengthen the local economy for years to come,” – Mike Crawley, CEO of Northland Power, points out.
The Baltic Power wind farm will use 76 turbines of 15 MW each, supplied by Vestas. These are currently some of the most modern turbines available on the market, and the Baltic Power farm will be one of the first in the world where they will be installed. The partnership with Vestas includes the supply and installation of the turbines and the provision of full service for up to 15 years. In addition, the company, recognising the potential for further development of offshore wind projects being implemented in Poland, has decided to locate a new factory for offshore wind farm turbine components in Szczecin.
“The wind industry helps to create sustainable and reliable energy systems, while providing a wide range of social and economic benefits. These include the creation of new jobs along the entire value chain. Both the announcement about our cooperation on the Baltic Power project and today’s one about Vestas’ new factory are concrete examples of contributions to the wind energy sector. I would like to thank our partners and all those involved who have made this project possible,” – Nils de Baar, President of Vestas for Northern and Central Europe, adds.
The new Vestas factory will assemble nacelles and turbine hubs. The facility, located in Western Pomerania, will supply manufactured components to both the Polish and global markets. The factory is expected to start operations in the second half of 2024 and will create between 600 and 700 jobs. Thus, it will be the largest production facility in Poland directly related to the offshore wind farm sector.
The Baltic Power farm, with a capacity of up to 1.2 GW, will be located about 23 km from the coast at Choczewo and Łeba. When completed in 2026, it will be able to power more than 1.5 million households with clean energy.
source: PortalMorski.pl
