Offshore wind energy is a developing branch of the Polish energy sector that will play a key role in the country’s energy transition. Although the topic of offshore wind is increasingly present in public debate, many myths and misconceptions still surround it—both those of a technical and environmental nature.
Baltic Power, as a pioneer in Poland’s offshore wind sector, is not only building the first and most advanced offshore wind farm project in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea, but also engages in education initiatives and raising public awareness about this technology.
HOW ARE OFFSHORE WIND FARMS BUILT?
Building an offshore wind farm is one of the most complex engineering processes in the energy sector. Long before the first installation vessels appear at sea and turbines rise above the horizon, the project goes through years of planning, surveys, and technical and environmental preparations. It is a precise puzzle in which every stage — from design to grid connection — affects the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the future wind farm.
Planning and surveys
The process begins long before construction starts. At this stage, the following aspects are analysed:
wind conditions, which must ensure effective energy production for 25–30 years,
seabed characteristics — its geology, bearing capacity, and shape,
navigational conditions — shipping routes, restricted zones, military areas,
possibilities for connecting the farm to the national power grid.
Long-term measurements of wind, marine currents and geotechnical campaigns are also carried out. Specialised vessels collect soil and rock samples from depths of several dozen metres.
Based on these data, preliminary and detailed technical concepts are developed, along with load models, foundation configurations, farm layouts, inter‑array and export cable routes, and multi‑year work schedules.
Permits and environmental decisions
Before offshore construction can begin, the investor must obtain: an environmental decision, site location permits, construction permits, approvals from maritime authorities, grid connection decisions, and technical certifications.
Supply chain development, contracting, and component manufacturing
Once key permits are in place, the project enters an intensive design and industrial preparation phase. This is when the entire supply chain is formed — from major turbine and foundation manufacturers to specialised facilities producing steel structures, electrical systems, automation components, and service equipment.
The supply chain consists of two key parts:
Components directly related to generation units — turbines and foundations. Turbines alone represent around 40% of project CAPEX and require months of preparation, certification, and coordination of multiple subcontractors.
Power export infrastructure — offshore transmission cables, the offshore substation (OSS), the onshore substation, and export cables on land.
At the same time, detailed engineering continues: final designs for foundations and transition pieces (TPs), turbine layout, cable routes, and technical solutions for the OSS. Designers refine load models, environmental analyses, certification requirements, and installation scenarios to ensure safety and durability throughout the asset’s lifetime.
When contracting is complete, component manufacturing begins. Monopiles, TPs, towers, nacelles, blades, inter‑array cables, and export cables are produced simultaneously in many factories. Offshore wind components are custom‑designed for each specific site — no universal solutions are used. Every foundation, cable, transition piece, and turbine structure must match seabed conditions, water depth, wind profile, and the farm layout.
Production schedules are tightly aligned with transport capabilities and installation port availability. Each component undergoes strict quality control, non‑destructive testing, functional tests, and class certification to meet offshore wind standards.
This is the stage when the project takes physical shape — not at sea, but in hundreds of factories, warehouses, and logistics centres. Everything must be coordinated so that tens of thousands of tons of steel, composites, and advanced electrical systems reach installation ports exactly when offshore construction begins.
Logistics, vessel booking, and port preparation
Offshore wind logistics is a massive undertaking. The installation port selected by the investor must be adapted for handling large components, with storage yards and transport routes prepared. It acts as a logistics hub through which nearly every part of the farm passes.
Here, components arriving from factories are inspected, prepared for loading, and coordinated with the availability of installation vessels and weather windows.
Booking installation vessels requires long‑term planning — jack‑ups, cable‑laying vessels, and heavy‑lift vessels operate globally and within limited weather windows. For this reason, vessel contracting begins years before the offshore installation phase, and delivery schedules are precisely aligned with vessel timelines.
The service port, built for the farm’s entire lifecycle, supports operations for 25–30 years. It hosts technicians, CTV and SOV vessels, maintenance facilities, spare parts warehouses, and crew logistics. The Baltic Power service base is located in Łeba. During construction, it plays a significant logistical role, supporting CTV operations, tool preparation, weather analyses, and team briefings. It also houses the Marine Coordination Center (MCC), responsible for 24/7 monitoring of maritime operations.
When years of planning and design are complete, the project enters its most spectacular stage — offshore installation. Technical drawings become real structures: foundations driven into the Baltic seabed, massive towers rising above the water, 100‑meter blades, and offshore substations resembling floating industrial platforms.
WHAT AND HOW IS INSTALLED?
Monopiles
They are the foundation that supports the entire turbine — tower, nacelle, and blades — for 25–30 years in changing marine conditions. Monopiles are enormous steel tubes, up to 100 metres long and weighing 1,700 tonnes. Their diameter reaches ~9 metres — similar to the Warsaw metro tunnel. With no moving parts, they act like giant steel “piles” transferring turbine loads to the seabed.
They consist of:
high‑strength steel,
anti‑corrosion coatings,
lifting and transport fixtures.
How are they installed?
Monopiles are towed by tug boats to the offshore site. A specialised heavy‑lift crane vessel lifts the monopile, positions it vertically, and lowers it to the seabed. It is then driven into the ground using a powerful hydraulic hammer. The operation uses bubble curtains to minimise underwater noise emissions.
Transition Pieces (TPs)
They connect the foundation with the turbine tower and provide safe access and structural protection. These steel structures are fitted over the monopile, acting as an “adapter” between the foundation and the tower.
They include:
boat landing for CTVs,
working platforms and railings,
ladders and access gates,
electrical and communication systems,
anti‑corrosion protection.
How are they installed?
TPs are secured on the deck of a specialist installation vessel for the duration of the voyage to the wind farm. A crane lifts the transition piece and positions it precisely above the previously installed monopile. The transition piece is slowly lowered onto the monopile. Together they form the base for the future turbine tower.
Turbines (Offshore Wind Generator - WTG)
The most visible part of the farm, responsible for converting wind energy into electricity. Baltic Power is only the second offshore wind farm in Europe to use 15 MW turbines — among the largest available globally. A single 15 MW turbine needs just one minute of operation to power a city bus for a 100 km route.
They consist of:
Tower - a steel structure over 120 m high, containing service platforms, lifts, ladders, and cabling. Baltic Power uses recycled steel in upper tower sections, reducing carbon footprint by ~10%.
Nacelle - the “heart” of the turbine — similar in size to a three‑storey building — housing the generator, drivetrain, control systems, and auxiliary equipment. Outside the nacelle are the hub, lighting, and cooling units. Part of the nacelles for Baltic Power were manufactured in Poland at Vestas’ new plant in Szczecin.
Blades - composite structures over 100 m long (approx. 115 m), sweeping 43,700 m² — the area of over six football fields.
How are they installed?
Turbine installation begins with positioning a jack‑up vessel, whose steel legs rest on the seabed and whose deck rises above the water, creating a stable workspace despite waves and harsh weather conditions. Next, onboard cranes install the tower, pre‑assembled on the vessel. The next step is lifting the massive nacelle onto the top of the tower. The final step is blade installation.
Offshore Substations (OSS)
The offshore substation is a large technical platform installed at sea. It is the “command center” of the wind farm — the place where inter‑array cables connect and where electricity is prepared for transmission to shore. Its role is to receive the electricity generated by the turbines and increase the voltage so it can be safely and efficiently transmitted to land via export cables.
They consist of: The OSS includes, among others: high‑voltage transformers, MV and HV switchgear, SCADA and automation systems, emergency generators, technical rooms, and fire protection systems.
In the Baltic Power project, the steel structures of the substations were produced in Poland — in shipyards in Gdynia and Gdańsk — by the Baltic Industrial Group. The structures, each weighing 1300 tons, were then transported to Denmark, where after full outfitting they each reached a mass of 2500 tons. Both substations were equipped with specialized cranes manufactured by the Polish company Protea.
How is it installed? Installation of the OSS begins with loading the completed structure onto a transport barge. After reaching the site, installation is carried out by a specialist heavy‑lift vessel. First, the transition piece is installed on the monopile, and then the substation is lifted, positioned with high precision, and mounted on the prepared foundation. After securing it to the structure, the inter‑array cables and the export cable leading to shore are connected. Only after full integration can the substation begin its role as the “heart” of the entire farm, managing energy flow and communication with the turbines.
FACTS AND MYTHS
1. MYTH: Wind is unpredictable, so offshore wind farms will not provide enough energy
Poland has one of the greatest potentials for offshore wind development in the region.
The Baltic Sea offers exceptionally favorable conditions for the development of offshore wind energy.
An average depth of around 55 m and low salinity support the construction of wind farms and the durability of their structures.
Offshore turbines are designed to operate across a wide range of wind speeds and to harness wind energy even when the direction or intensity of the wind changes.
Analyses of the Baltic Power offshore wind farm area confirmed the patterns and strength of the wind, which will allow for efficient energy production.
Offshore wind does not require fuels, so it is not exposed to interruptions caused by raw material shortages or fluctuations on international markets.
2. MYTH: Wind turbines will pollute the Baltic Sea
Every offshore wind farm undergoes multi‑stage environmental studies that analyse the project’s impact on the marine ecosystem.
Bird migration routes are taken into account at the design stage; specialised mechanisms for temporarily shutting down turbines are used.
Foundations can act as artificial reefs, supporting the development of marine organisms.
During offshore works, technologies that minimise environmental impact are applied. For example, during foundation installation, bubble curtains are used to reduce noise emissions and protect marine mammals.
Blades are made of durable composite materials. Regular inspections and maintenance minimise the risk of damage and fragments entering the sea.
Baltic Power meets all environmental requirements.
3. MYTH: The turbines being installed are old / used
Offshore wind does not use second‑hand turbines — every component of a wind farm is designed specifically for its location and technical requirements.
Offshore wind projects are subject to strict technical standards, certification, and long‑term manufacturer warranties.
Mentions of “used” turbines may stem from confusion with the concept of repowering, which involves installing new, larger turbine models on existing foundations.
At Baltic Power, brand‑new Vestas turbines are being installed - part of the nacelles were manufactured in Poland, in the Szczecin factory.
4. MYTH: Other countries are abandoning offshore wind
Offshore wind energy remains one of the key directions for the development of renewable energy worldwide.
More than 85 GW of offshore wind farms are currently operating globally, with dozens more gigawatts under construction or in preparation.
Europe is increasing investments in offshore wind — countries along the North Sea are developing joint projects and transmission infrastructure.
Recent auctions in Europe (e.g., 8.4 GW in the United Kingdom) confirm high demand and the strength of the market.
5. MYTH: The Polish economy will not benefit from the investements in offshore wind
Polska jest szóstą największą gospodarką w UE, a rozwój MEW wzmacnia krajowy łańcuch dostaw.
Nakłady planowane na pierwszą fazę projektów na Bałtyku przekraczają 130 mld zł, a w perspektywie do 2040 roku mogą osiągnąć nawet 400–500 mld zł.
Do projektu Baltic Power zaangażowano liczne polskie firmy — od producentów kluczowych komponentów po wykonawców infrastruktury.
W Polsce powstały m.in. gondole turbin (Vestas Szczecin), elementy fundamentów (Smulders: Żary, Niemodlin, Łęknica), kable lądowe (Tele‑Fonika Kable Bydgoszcz) oraz konstrukcje stalowe OSS (stocznie GP Baltic w Gdyni i Gdańsku).
Polskie firmy realizują także kluczowe zadania: Enprom (lądowa stacja pod Choczewą, w konsorcjum z GE Vernova) i Erbud (baza serwisowa w Łebie).
Projekt wspierają dziesiątki lokalnych firm logistycznych, transportowych, geotechnicznych i budowlanych — wzmacniając kompetencje i rynek pracy.
Baltic Power osiągnie co najmniej 21% local content w całym cyklu życia inwestycji.
6. MYTH: Energy from offshore wind is weaker than energy from coal/oil
Electricity has identical parameters regardless of the source it comes from — this is pure physics.
Energy from all sources flows into the common National Power System (KSE).
It is impossible to distinguish “wind energy” from “coal energy” at the level of a socket.
7. MYTH: Offshore wind will destroy local tourism
The Baltic Power turbines will be located 23 km from the shore — from the beach they are practically invisible to the naked eye. Even in clear, sunny weather, tourists will see only a faint outline of the slender towers.
During the construction phase, activities such as transporting heavy components are always consulted with local authorities and communities, and carried out on less‑frequented roads, outside the tourist season.
The location of the wind farm does not interfere with areas used by windsurfers or kitesurfers.
8. MYTH: Offshore wind will destroy traditional fisheries
Investments in offshore wind energy are preceded by extensive environmental analyses, and wind farm locations are planned to minimise the impact on fishing areas.
The offshore sector creates new job opportunities for fishers, such as environmental monitoring or vessel operations.
Since the beginning of the Baltic Power project, regular dialogue has been conducted with fishers — meetings are held quarterly in Łeba, Ustka and Władysławowo.
As the first offshore wind project in Poland, we introduced a transitional compensation mechanism for fishers. We acted ahead of national regulations because this is a key pillar of our relationship with local communities.
Details regarding compensation and meetings can be found in the “FOR FISHERMEN” section.