Ørsted to Soon Launch Walk-to-Work Vessel Tender for Polish Offshore Wind Project

October 2, 2024, by Adrijana Buljan

Ørsted is expected to soon launch a tender for a walk-to-work (W2W) vessel for one of the offshore wind projects in Poland the company owns in partnership with PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

According to a recently issued early notice, notifying about the qualification system that will be used for the upcoming W2W procurement, the company will invite tenders “no earlier than week 47 commencing with 18. November 2024”.

Ørsted is representing the contracting entity, Elektrownia Wiatrowa Baltica – 2, in the entire tender procedure.

Elektrownia Wiatrowa Baltica – 2 is a joint venture company owned by Ørsted and PGE and developing the 1.5 GW Baltica 2 offshore wind project in the Polish Baltic Sea.

Baltica 2 is part of the 2.5 GW Baltica Offshore Wind Farm which will also comprise the 1 GW Baltica 3.

The developers have secured the necessary permits and also received approval from the Pomeranian Voivodeship for the construction of the offshore part of Baltica 2.

PGE and Ørsted have also already contracted all the necessary components for the 1.5 GW offshore wind farm and signed contracts for the installation of foundations, turbines, and cables. The partners also picked the general contractor for the onshore connection infrastructure.

Earlier this year, the project owners said they expected to reach the final investment decision (FID) on the Baltica 2 offshore wind project in the second half of this year.

In August, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it was evaluating a potential loan to aid the construction and operation of Baltica 2. If approved, up to EUR 300 million in funds will be provided in the form of a non-recourse long-term senior loan alongside multiple commercial banks, export agencies, and development banks.

EBRD is expected to decide on the loan by 20 November.

Baltica 2, located approximately 40 kilometres off the coast of Poland between Łeba and Ustka, will consist of 107 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW wind turbines and four offshore substations, installed on monopile foundations.

The developers plan to complete the construction of Baltica 2 by the end of 2027 with Baltica 3 planned to be built by the end of the decade.