The Orlen Group, in partnership with Northland Power, has successfully commenced the installation of Europe’s largest offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity of 15 MW.
The first turbine has now been installed in Polish waters of the Baltic Sea. Just one minute of operation can generate enough electricity to power an electric bus for a 100-kilometre journey. Manufactured by Danish company Vestas, the turbines include components produced locally, including at a facility in Szczecin. As early as next year, the “Baltic Power” offshore wind farm will be capable of covering up to 3% of Poland’s electricity demand.
Orlen installs first of 76 turbines
As part of the “Baltic Power” project, the first of 76 turbines has already been installed. The turbine towers exceed 120 metres in height, with the total structure – including foundations – reaching up to 250 metres. Some of the “Baltic Power” turbine towers are made from recycled steel – a first in wind farm construction. The nacelles, the size of a three-storey house, are mounted on the towers and fitted with blades measuring 115 metres in length. The resulting swept area is 43,700 square metres – equivalent to more than six football pitches.
The turbines are being installed using a 160-metre-long jack-up vessel, the “Wind Osprey”. With a load capacity of up to 11,000 tonnes, it can transport three complete turbines – including tower sections, nacelles, and blades – in a single trip. In 2024, the vessel underwent an upgrade and was fitted with new cranes capable of lifting up to 1,600 tonnes to handle turbines of this size.
Simultaneously, foundation works – including the installation of monopiles and transition pieces – are ongoing at the offshore construction site. Preparations are also underway for the installation of inter-array and export offshore cables. Offshore substations are scheduled for installation later in the autumn.
“Baltic Power” to supply Poland’s first offshore wind energy
Onshore construction is also progressing, including the development of an onshore substation and cable routes. In April, construction of an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base in Łeba was completed. This facility will serve as the home base for technicians and maintenance teams for approximately 30 years. Currently, it supports the installation work by Orlen and Northland Power and will become the operational coordination centre for the “Baltic Power” farm once construction is complete.
The operational commissioning of the farm is expected in 2026. “Baltic Power” will be the first offshore wind farm to supply electricity to Poland. In parallel, the Orlen Group is planning to develop additional offshore projects with a total capacity of approximately 5.5 GW, in partnership with other entities. Offshore wind energy is one of the Orlen Group’s strategic priorities, supporting the country’s sustainable and just energy transition.
