Poland’s Energy Regulatory Office has announced that developers, Equinor and Polenergia were awarded contracts for difference (CfD) for the Baltyk II and Baltyk III projects under the first phase of Poland’s offshore wind development scheme. The projects have a combined potential capacity of 1.44 GW. The announcement represents a breakthrough for Equinor in Poland and supports the country’s ambitions to transform its energy mix. The two projects will help build an offshore wind hub in the Baltic Sea. It will also create industrial activity and jobs to support the Polish economy, and supply low-cost renewable electricity to households.
The CfDs were awarded at PLN 319.6 per MWh for up to 25 years, subject to some adjustments and final approval from Polish authorities and the European Commission. Construction work could commence as early as 2024 once necessary agreements and permits, and the final investment decision is obtained by Equinor and Polenergia. The Baltyk II and Baltyk III projects could generate enough renewable offshore wind energy to power two million homes in Poland making them among the largest offshore wind projects currently under development in Poland
Poland aims to develop 5.9 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and up to 11 GW by 2040. In meeting its own offshore goal, Poland looks to take advantage of Northern Europe’s strong winds, existing offshore wind supply chain, and interconnectors used by utilities in nearby Denmark and Germany. In January 2021, it was announced that a legal framework to build the first subsidized offshore wind farms in Poland was in discussion.