Ocean Winds Gets Environmental Nod for BC-Wind Transmission Line

September 3, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Ocean Winds has secured the environmental decision for the transmission infrastructure for its BC-Wind offshore wind farm in the Polish Baltic Sea.

Issued by the Regional Director of Environmental Protection in Gdańsk, the decision covers both the offshore and onshore components of the transmission infrastructure.

“Obtaining the environmental decision for the transmission infrastructure is a crucial milestone in the BC-Wind project. We are approaching the final investment decision and the permitting phase for the offshore wind farm’s construction”, said Kacper Kostrzewa, Project Director.

The decision includes the construction of approximately 33 kilometres of submarine cable and around eight kilometres onshore. The transmission infrastructure will be implemented using horizontal directional drilling (HDD), which involves laying cables underground without disturbing the shoreline, including the beach area.

The BC-Wind transmission infrastructure will connect to the National Power System at the 400 kV Choczewo substation operated by Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE).

The environmental decision for the BC-Wind offshore wind farm’s connection infrastructure was issued based on a detailed environmental impact report that was prepared by MEWO in collaboration with Geomor sp. z o.o. and Marea Sp. z o.o.

Marea was responsible for the terrestrial survey, while MEWO surveyed the marine cable route. Additionally, an archaeological survey of the seabed was performed using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), side-scan sonar, and magnetic anomaly measurements.

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Located approximately 23 kilometres north of the shore, near the municipalities of Krokowa and Choczewo in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, the BC-Wind offshore wind farm is planned to have a capacity of up to 500 MW.

The project already secured environmental decisions for both the onshore and offshore components, as well as connection conditions.

The current priorities include contracting key suppliers for the offshore wind farm components, planning the service base, and preparing to take the FID, expected by the end of 2024, Ocean Winds said.