The first foundations for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms have been successfully installed on the Baltic Sea. The first dozen or so complete monopiles and transition pieces have been safely placed on the seabed, marking the official start of the offshore installation campaign for the projects.
Equinor is a Norwegian energy company headquartered in Stavanger, founded in 1972 as Statoil. Polenergia is a Polish energy company based in Warsaw, founded in 1993. The two companies are jointly developing the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects in Polish Baltic Sea waters. The installation work is being carried out by Thialf, one of the world’s largest installation vessels, operated by Heerema Marine Contractors.
The Thialf vessel, over 200 metres long and 88 metres wide, lifts monopiles from a transport vessel positioned alongside. Each steel monopile, about 50 to 70 metres long, is lifted from a horizontal to a vertical position and installed on the seabed using a specialised gripping frame that ensures precision and stability during installation. After the monopile is securely fixed in the ground, transition pieces about 17 metres high are mounted on top. Together they form the foundation for the offshore wind turbines.
A total of 100 complete foundation sets will be installed during the offshore installation work. Later this year, jacket support structures for two offshore substations will also be installed.
Precision and safety
The offshore component installation phase is an undertaking requiring the highest precision and careful coordination of marine operations, favourable weather conditions and vessel schedules. Twelve vessels are currently involved in this phase, including support vessels providing transport, installation, logistics and offshore support. All units are operating in accordance with rigorous safety and quality requirements.
The campaign is being supported by ports in Poland and other European countries, and the service base (O&M) in Łeba is already playing a key role as a support centre for offshore construction work and as a marine coordination centre.
Environmental protection during installation
High environmental protection standards are being maintained during the work. Before installation begins, marine mammal monitoring is carried out, including acoustic detection. If no mammals are detected, installation starts with a soft‑start procedure, during which the hammer strike energy and thus the noise level are gradually increased. This alerts marine mammals and gives them time to move away from the work site. In addition, a bubble curtain operates around each installed foundation to reduce underwater noise.
Yellow structures on the horizon
The distinctive yellow structures visible above the waterline are the first permanent elements of the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects on the Baltic Sea. Installation of the wind turbines on the foundations is scheduled for 2027. The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects will deliver first power in 2027, with full commissioning planned for 2028. Once fully operational, the two wind farms will have a combined capacity of 1,440 MW, enough to supply green energy to 2 million households in Poland, thereby strengthening the country’s energy transformation and security.
Fot. Polenergia
