Works on horizontal directional drilling for Baltica 2 underway in the Choczewo commune
The drilling is the next stage of the Baltica 2 project – the largest offshore wind farm in Poland, developed together by PGE and Ørsted. Using modern HDD technology, cable lines will connect the offshore and onshore sections while respecting the environment and landscape.
The HDD technology applied in this case allows for precise drilling below ground level – without the need for excavations or interference with beaches and dunes. Each of the four drills will be approximately 1.200 meters long and will be carried out at a depth of 20–30 meters below ground. The work is being performed by a consortium of Polish companies ROMGOS Gwiazdowscy and ZRB Janicki. “This is a symbolic moment for the entire project – after the subsea cables are brought onshore, beneath the shoreline, the offshore part of the project will meet the onshore portion,” said Ulrik Lange, Managing Director of the Baltica 2 project from Ørsted. “Thanks to HDD technology, we can connect these two areas in an environmentally safe manner and virtually invisible from the beach.”
“The commencement of drilling in Choczewo is another important step in the development of the Baltica 2 project. This is the least invasive method for installing cable lines. It does not require closing of the beach for construction work. This safe method, conducted at a significant depth, allows us to carry out the work while respecting the landscape and the natural environment,” said Bartosz Fedurek, CEO of PGE Baltica.
After the drilling work is completed – what is planned for the turn of 2025/2026 – the installation of export cables will begin. They will transmit the electricity processed by the turbines to the mainland.
Impact on local communities
Access to the beach is available via designated pedestrian routes. Investors kindly ask to respect information signs and instructions from construction workers. All work will be coordinated with local authorities. If temporary changes to traffic patterns are necessary, advance notice will be provided.
Appropriate technical and organizational measures have been implemented to minimize noise for residents and tourists, including carefully selected equipment and locating work away from residential areas and beaches.
Care for local nature
Before work commenced, comprehensive environmental surveys were conducted on both the marine and land sections. Based on the collected data, the drilling route was designed to avoid valuable natural areas, including the smooth snake (a protected species in Poland) and the Lubiatowska Dune, considered one of the most valuable elements of local nature. Sites protected under the Natura 2000 network were also taken into account. During construction, qualified personnel will conduct environmental supervision to ensure compliance with the requirements imposed on the project in the issued permits.
Baltica 2, with a capacity of 1.5 GW, will be the largest offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea and will power approximately 2.5 million households with clean, renewable energy.
Source: PGE Baltica
