Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 Offshore Wind Farms: Key Components Taking Shape Ahead of Marine Installation

The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms, developed jointly by Equinor and Polenergia, are moving into the final stages of pre-installation preparation, with major structural components now ready for sea transport.

At the Smulders facility in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, a significant milestone has been reached: the topside — the main superstructure of the offshore electrical substation — for the Bałtyk 3 wind farm has been rolled out of the production hall and placed in an outdoor yard. The structure measures 51 by 38 by 43 metres, comparable in scale to a 15-storey building.

Alongside it sits the topside for Bałtyk 2. Both substation superstructures weigh approximately 3,700 tonnes each and are currently undergoing outfitting works. They will be transported to their offshore locations in accordance with the planned installation schedule.

In parallel, production and assembly of so-called transition pieces is progressing steadily. These are among the most critical and demanding structural elements of any offshore wind farm, serving as the connectors between the monopile foundations and the turbine towers. More than 60 transition pieces have already been assembled at the Vlissingen yard, each standing around 17 metres tall and weighing close to 400 tonnes.

The first of these transition pieces are set to be shipped to the Baltic Sea in the near term, where they will be among the very first components installed at sea — together with the monopiles.

Importantly, Polish companies and industrial facilities are playing a significant role in the manufacturing, outfitting, and integration processes for both the topsides and the transition pieces, supplying steel elements, auxiliary systems, and technical solutions. Local content participation is a key element of the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 project strategy.

The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms comprise 100 wind turbines with a combined installed capacity of 1,440 MW. First power generation is planned for 2027, with full commercial operations expected in 2028.

Photos: Equinor/Polenergia