First installation port for offshore wind farms
ORLEN Neptun, the company responsible within the ORLEN Group for the development of new offshore wind energy projects, has entered the final stage of the procedure for the lease of land in the Port of Świnoujście. If the company wins the procedure, the first offshore wind farm installation port on the Polish coast can be launched at this location in early 2025. The facility sited in the Western Pomerania region, together with a second installation port planned to be built in Gdańsk, will be able to provide a comprehensive range of services for all wind projects in the Baltic Sea.
Infrastructure capable of handling large vessels transporting key wind farm components, such as turbines, towers and foundations, is to be built on the 20 hectares of land leased from the Port of Świnoujście. Specialised vessels performing advanced construction work would also depart from the port.
- Offshore wind energy is an effective response to the challenges of energy transition and enhancing the security of our region, but economies of scale are needed to fully exploit its potential. Therefore, in addition to the wind project already underway, which is slated to come online in 2026, the ORLEN Group has applied for licences for another 11 projects in the Baltic Sea. The implementation of such large-scale ventures requires us to provide adequate infrastructure. Two installation ports will be able to effectively meet the needs of these projects, also providing a powerful growth stimulus to entire regions - said Daniel Obajtek, President of the Management Board of PKN ORLEN.
The development of offshore wind energy is a cornerstone of the ORLEN2030 growth strategy. Over the next decade, the Group intends to spend PLN 47 billion on investments in state-of-the-art low- and zero-carbon energy sources. In addition to the up to 1.2 GW Baltic Power project, which is now well advanced, the ORLEN Group has also applied for 11 licences with a combined potential estimated at more than 10 GW. This capacity would be sufficient to meet 25% of Poland's electricity demand. The company is also analysing the possibility of executing similar projects in the Lithuanian and Latvian areas of the Baltic Sea.
According to Poland Energy Policy 2040, between 9 GW and 11 GW of renewable capacity is to be developed in Polish waters. Investment in the ports, carried out with the participation of Polish suppliers, will be a strong growth driver for the regions and the national economy.
