Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) and Ørsted have announced a tender for the performance of further geotechnical tests, which will allow to check in detail the ground conditions of the seabed for the construction of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm with a capacity of up to 2.5 GW (Baltica OWF), the companies reported.
“After the phase of preliminary geotechnical tests, according to the plan, we move to the stage of selecting a contractor for detailed geotechnical tests, thanks to which we will receive an analysis of the geological structure of the seabed and its strength for the foundation of offshore wind turbines. The obtained data will allow us to precisely locate and design the foundations for the investment underway. It is necessary to make an investment decision and start the construction of the largest investment currently underway in the Baltic Sea, that is the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm,” said the president of PGE Wojciech Dąbrowski, quoted in the press release.
“We expect the geotechnical survey for the detailed design to be carried out in the summer and early fall of this year. During the survey, based on the initial Baltica turbine layout, the contractor will examine the soil conditions for the location of each turbine. Based on the study, we will have clarity. whether to stick to the initial layout or move any of the turbines if it turns out that there are no ideal conditions in the pre-selected location. Thanks to the results obtained, we will also be ready to provide detailed data that will be used when ordering steel and other materials for production,” added Søren Westergaard Jensen, Ørsted’s director of the IMF Baltica project, and Offshore Managing Director in Ørsted Polska.
The contract, which is subject to the tender, concerns, inter alia, static probing (CPTU), which allows to determine important soil conditions, i.e. strength and compaction of the substrate. Conducting this study will allow investors to very precisely determine the parameters necessary for the future production of foundations for offshore wind farms and their installation in specific places.
During static surveys, seismic surveys (SCPTU) will also be performed at locations indicated by investors. These locations will depend on the preliminary results obtained from previous geotechnical surveys.
The order also includes specialized tests during which the strength of a given soil for the foundations of an offshore wind farm will be tested.
According to the schedule, the launch of the first stage of the Baltica Sea Wind Farm project, i.e. Baltica 3 with a capacity of approx. 1045 MW, is planned for 2026. The next stage, i.e. Baltica 2 with a capacity of approx. 1500 MW, is to be commissioned by 2027. These investments will contribute to accelerating the Polish energy transformation. Both stages of the Baltica OWF have location decisions (PSZW), environmental decisions, transmission grid connection agreements with the operator, and have been granted the right to a contract for difference (CFD).
In 2022, the project partners expect to receive an environmental decision for the onshore transmission part, and will start work on obtaining building permits. This is the last permit required before making the final investment decision.
The PGE Group generates 41% of net electricity production in Poland, and its share in the heat market is 18%. The Group estimates its share in the market of energy from renewable sources at 10%. In the distribution area of approx. 123 thousand. km2 PGE serves 5.5 million customers. Its market share in terms of the volume of distributed electricity is 25% and sales to end users – 33%. The company has been listed on the WSE since 2009.
Ørsted is a Danish-based concern which is presently present in 10 markets, starting from the United States of America, through European countries, and ending with Asia. Ørsted develops, builds and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage and bio-power plants, and supplies energy products to its customers. In 2020, the group’s revenues amounted to DKK 52.6 billion (EUR 7.1 billion).
Source: PGE, Orsted and ISBnews
