Poland’s state-controlled utility PGE has received an environmental permit for its 900-megawatt (MW) Baltica 1 offshore wind farm, paving the way for the project to participate in the country’s upcoming renewable energy auction, the company said on Tuesday.
The permit, issued by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Gdańsk, qualifies Baltica 1 to take part in Poland’s 17 December offshore wind auction. PGE said the ruling represents an important step toward achieving its goal of developing at least 4 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2035.
“This decision allows us to submit the project to the offshore auction planned for this year,” said Dariusz Marzec, president of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. “This is a clear signal to the market that the development of offshore wind energy in Poland is gaining momentum, and domestic companies have a real opportunity to actively participate in this process,” he added.
PGE Baltica, the company’s offshore wind subsidiary, conducted extensive marine studies in collaboration with Gdynia Maritime University and environmental consultancy MEWO to minimize the ecological impact of construction and operation.
Located roughly 80 kilometers off the coast of Władysławowo in Poland’s Central Bank area, Baltica 1 already holds a location permit and a grid connection agreement.
If the project secures a contract for difference in the December auction, commissioning is planned by the end of 2032, according to PGE.
