PGE and Ørsted launch tender for geotechnical investigation detailed design of Baltica project

Warsaw, Poland (Feb. 10, 2022) — PGE and Ørsted are getting ready for conducting the third stage of geotechnical survey. They will allow for detailed checking of the ground conditions of the seabed for the construction of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm with a capacity of up to 2.5 GW. The previous stages of the study included, drillings to determine the sequence and depth of geological layers, as well as laboratory tests at sea and on land.

“After the phase of preliminary geotechnical tests, according to the plan, we move to the stage of selecting a contractor for detailed geotechnical tests. The analysis of the collected data will allow for precise soil conditions for each location and forms an important input for the design of the foundations. The implementation of works related to the research is indispensable for us to make the final investment decision to start the construction of the largest investment currently being implemented in the Baltic Sea, i.e. the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm,” commented Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

“We expect the geotechnical investigation for detailed design to be carried out during the Summer and early Autumn this year. During the survey based on the preliminary layout of the Baltica project the contractor will investigate soil conditions for each turbine location. Based on the survey we will have the clarity whether to stick to the preliminary layout or to relocate any of the turbine if the conditions at a preliminary chosen location turned out to be suboptimal. With the outcome of the geotechnical investigation for detailed design we will also be also ready to provide the detailed data that will be used for steel order and other fabrication materials,” said Søren Westergaard Jensen, director in the IMF Baltica project on behalf of Ørsted and acting managing director of the offshore area at Ørsted Polska.

The order includes, among others, static probing (CPTU), which allows to determine the important ground conditions, i.e. strength and compaction of the soil conditions. Performing this study will allow investors to determine the parameters necessary very precisely to future foundation fabrication and installation for offshore wind farms.

During static probing, seismic surveys (SCPTU) will also be performed in places indicated by the Investors. These locations will depend on the results of research in the current 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 Offshore 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 completed by 2027. These investments will contribute to accelerating the Polish energy transformation. Both stages of the IMF Baltica have location decisions (PSZW), environmental decisions, connection agreements to the transmission network with the operator, and have also received the right to a contract for difference (CfD).

In 2022, the project partners expect to receive an environmental decision for the connection infrastructure and will also start work on obtaining building permits. This is the last permit required before making the Final Investment Decision.