Baltic West, the second offshore wind farm being developed by ORLEN Neptun, is entering a next stage of the project’s implementation phase. The launch of the certified wind measurement campaign brings the project closer to participating in Poland’s auction as part of the second phase of support for Offshore Wind Energy, scheduled for 2027. The campaign is being carried out by Partrac, Venterra Group’s specialist metocean and seabed consultancy, using its advanced floating V-LiDAR buoy systems.
As part of the campaign, comprehensive, certified wind measurements will be conducted for the project. Two V-LiDAR buoy systems will be deployed in the project area. Drawing on decades of Partrac’s metocean and offshore measurement expertise, V-LiDAR will provide the precise, validated data needed to support the further development of the wind farm. The innovative technology was chosen for its ability to reduce project data risk while at the same time avoiding offshore HSE risks associated with traditional measurement approaches, in line with HSE requirements.
'The launch of the wind measurement campaign is another key activity bringing the Baltic West project closer to collecting the complete set of data needed to develop a financial model. Therefore, we will be able to base further decisions on actual, verified measurement data rather than on assumptions or estimates – both in the context of the auction and the future process of securing financing' says Marcin Sowinski, Baltic West Project Director.
The main goal of the campaign for the Baltic West project is to collect wind data that will enable the optimization of turbine placement in order to maximize energy yield. This data will also prepare the project for participation in the offshore auction scheduled for 2027. Successful participation in the auction means that the project will be covered by a support system in the form of a bilateral contract for difference (CfD), which will ensure a predictable revenue stream and stable conditions for the project’s implementation for up to 25 years.
The scope of works has been expanded to include the Baltic East project, supporting the parallel development of both projects in the Baltic Sea. Direct measurements conducted in the Baltic East area using a single V-LiDAR buoy will help mitigate project risks and confirm the project’s credibility during the financing process by providing local survey data.
The implementation of the campaign, carried out by experienced offshore survey team, marks another important step toward expanding ORLEN Neptun’s portfolio of offshore wind projects. This project, which is proceeding according to schedule, underscores ORLEN Group’s commitment to investments aimed at expanding Poland's domestic generation capacity and strengthening the country's energy security.
Baltic West is another offshore wind farm being developed by ORLEN Neptun as part of offshore wind phase II. Four sites located on the Oder Bank are expected to reach a total installed capacity of approximately 4 GW, which will provide power for more than 5 million households in Poland. According to the schedule, the Baltic West farm energy will flow for the first time in 2034+.
At the same time, the most advanced project — the 900-MW Baltic East project — is being developed; preliminary design works and engineering works are currently underway for this project, including the development of technical parameters; also activities are carried out to obtain building permits for an offshore wind farm with the potential to supply electricity to over one million households.
The Baltic West and Baltic East projects are being developed by ORLEN Neptun, which serves as the ORLEN Group’s center of competence in the offshore wind energy. The company's portfolio also includes Poland's first offshore wind farm installation terminal — the Swinoujscie Offshore Terminal.
Source: ORLEN Neptun
