PKN Orlen, in partnership with Northland Power, has announced the completion of the first onshore connection for the 1,200 MW Baltic Power offshore wind farm in Poland. The initial directional drill, part of four planned, was successfully conducted without impacting ecologically sensitive areas.
This drill, using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology, created a 1.4 km tunnel to house power transmission cables connecting the offshore wind farm to its onshore substation. The first section is part of a broader effort involving four underground corridors, each designed to accommodate cables with a diameter of 30 cm.
According to PKN Orlen, this marks the first large-scale application of HDD technology in Poland. Offshore drilling involved the use of divers and a jack-up rig to complete the underwater portion of the operation. In total, the project will remove over 8,000 m³ of spoil from all four drills, with studies indicating that the extracted sand can be used for beach restoration.
Jarosław Broda, a member of Baltic Power's management board, stated, “Progress on Baltic Power, the largest renewable energy project in our region, is on schedule and already well advanced.” He emphasized that the project is unique compared to other offshore wind developments in Europe.
In addition, construction on the onshore substation, located 8 km away in Osieki Lęborskie, is ongoing and more than 40% complete. The substation, expected to be finished by the fourth quarter of 2025, will receive and integrate energy from Baltic Power into Poland's National Power Grid. The onshore cable route has been designed with input from other offshore wind developers to minimize environmental impact and avoid sensitive ecological areas.
