Baltic Power offshore wind farm signs first key contracts for the upcoming operations & maintenance phase

Once the construction phase finishes, for around 30 years, a service base in Łeba shall become an operations and maintenance center of Baltic Power offshore wind farm. The project, developed jointly by ORLEN and Northland Power, has announced the signing of the first key contracts for the operational phase with a significant participation of Polish suppliers.

The establishment of a supply chain for the operational and maintenance phase of Baltic Power has no precedence in the Polish energy sector. With the construction of the service base in Łeba, we are creating extensive logistics and maintenance facilities as well as new jobs. We have signed the first contracts for specialist maintenance services and inspections of underwater infrastructure, and the maintenance of offshore and onshore substation. A number of Polish companies and research centers will be involved in these tasks – this is an essential boost for developing offshore wind business in Poland, growth of local content and an incentive for further companies to enter this sector -comments Maciej Stryjecki, CEO and the President of the Management Board of Baltic Power.

The scope of services during the operational phase of offshore wind farms is divided into three main areas:

• Below water (work related to subsea infrastructure), i.e. inspections of the seabed, inter-array and export cables, foundations, geophysical surveys and environmental monitoring;
• Above water (work related to above-water infrastructure), comprehensive inspections, maintenance and servicing of onshore and offshore substations, i.e. maintenance of high-voltage equipment at offshore substations, servicing of transformers, switchgear, control rooms for safety systems and fire protection infrastructure, etc.
• Wind turbine servicing and maintenance, i.e. periodic inspections, maintenance, repairs, component replacements, diagnostics and monitoring of turbines, and maintenance of the electrical and mechanical systems of turbines.

Furthermore, during the operational phase, services are also provided in the areas of operational maintenance, crew transport vessels (CTV) fleet management, transport and logistics services, municipal services, inspections, and training.

Activities in the below water sector will be carried out by FON Offshore Polska, a company specializing in underwater works and inspections using ROVs and hydrography. Tier 2 suppliers for research and inspection work will include e.g.  MEWO, GEOxyz and the Maritime Institute in Gdynia.

Omexom and Electrum Solutions have been contracted to provide above-water services, including the servicing and maintenance of offshore and onshore substations.

Tasks relating to the maintenance, inspection and operation of wind turbines are covered by a long-term contract with Vestas, the supplier of 76 15 MW turbines for the project.

The operational phase of the offshore wind farm also brings a range of new jobs and development opportunities. We are currently recruiting offshore traffic and maintenance coordinators, SCADA system operators, DIRE operators, energy infrastructure supervision specialists, as well as logistics and corporate support staff. Our contractors are actively recruiting technicians and maintenance staff with offshore work qualifications. The recruitment drive is proving very popular, as this is a new and promising industry – adds Flemming Ougaard, Director of the Operational Phase at Baltic Power.

The Baltic Power wind farm is currently at an advanced stage of its offshore installation campaign. All the foundations (monopiles) have already been installed, along with the transition pieces connecting them to the turbines and both offshore substations. The installation of wind turbines and offshore export and inter-array cables is underway. More than 45 installed turbines (of 76 in total) are already being prepared for testing and commissioning. The installation campaign is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.

Since spring 2025, the Baltic Power service base has been operating in Łeba; for approximately 30 years, it will serve as the home port and maintenance and service center for Poland’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. Currently, the base in Łeba is supporting the offshore installation campaign; the Marine Coordination Centre (MCC) operates here, monitoring maritime traffic within the farm area 24/7. Since the start of the offshore installation campaign, over 80 vessels and nearly 4,500 crew members, contractors and subcontractors have been involved in the work.

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Baltic Power – a joint project between ORLEN and Northland Power – will be the first offshore wind farm to supply Poland with energy from the sea. With a capacity of approximately 1.2 GW, the farm will be able to generate 4 TWh of energy per year, which will provide power for over 1.5 million households. The sustainable energy generated by the Baltic Power offshore wind farm will be able to meet 3% of the country’s current electricity demand.