Boskalis Wins Cable Installation Contracts for Baltica Offshore Wind Farm

Ørsted and PGE Group signed contracts for laying of the export and array cables for Baltica 2 – one of two stages of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm. Earlier, they have finalised agreements for the supply of offshore export cables, which will be used to transfer power from offshore wind farms to land.

“We are consistently implementing the next stages of the largest renewable energy project in the history of Poland. We have completed the contracting of the most important components for the Baltica 2 stage, including the delivery of 107 turbines, as well as foundations and offshore substations. Now we have moved on to the next phase related to contracting the installation services of particular components. The first effect is the signing of a contract for the installation of cables for the Baltica 2 project with a capacity of 1.5 GW,” said Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. “By 2027 this investment will ensure safe supplies of green energy for 2.4 million households, while reducing CO2 emissions by nearly 5 million tons per year,” added Wojciech Dąbrowski.

Boskalis has acquired two contracts for the transportation and installation of the export and array cables for the Baltica 2. The two contracts have a combined value which is considered to be large[1]_.

The project scope comprises the transportation and installation of 107 array cables with a total length of more than 150 kilometres in addition to four 275 kV export cables with a total combined length of nearly 300 kilometres. Furthermore, Boskalis will carry out seabed preparation activities including the levelling of the seabed, pre-trenching, and the removal of boulders. Upon completion of the cable installation activities, Boskalis will protect and stabilize the CPS (cable protection systems) with the placement of rock. Preparatory works will commence in 2025 and the transport and installation activities will commence in 2027.

Boskalis will deploy two cable-laying vessels, a construction support vessel, a subsea rock installation vessel and a trailing suction hopper dredger. Due to challenging soil conditions in the Baltic Sea, the cables will be installed in a pre-cut trench using the multi-mode Megalodon plough deployed from Boskalis’ construction support vessel Falcon.

The Baltica 2 offshore wind farm with a total capacity of up to 1.5 GW is located in the Polish section of the Baltic Sea approximately 40 kilometres off the coast of Poland between Leba and Ustka and will be the country’s largest renewable energy project to date.

Boskalis’ strategy is aimed at leveraging on key macro-economic factors and supporting the energy transition. With this project and through its client, Boskalis is advancing the energy transition by making offshore renewable energy available.

Earlier, PGE and Ørsted signed contracts for the supply of marine export cables, which will be delivered by ZTT Submarine Cable & System and Hellenic Cables. Offshore export cables are used to transfer power from offshore wind farms to land. The contracts cover a total of approx. 300 km of 275 kV cables. Established in 1999, ZTT is a leader in the design and manufacture of custom-made marine equipment. In terms of the supply of cables, the company has participated in the construction of over 20 offshore wind farm projects around the world. Hellenic Cables deals with the production of cables, wires, as well as plastic and rubber compounds. Over the last decade, the company has become the largest cable manufacturer in Southeast Europe, exporting to over 50 countries.

“The plan for the development of offshore wind energy in Poland assumes that by 2040 offshore wind farms built in the Polish economic zone in the Baltic Sea will be able to supply 18 GW of power to the national power system. This energy must be safely and reliably brought onshore by cables. By signing another important contracts with experienced market players, we are consistently and according to plan moving forward with the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm project, thus improving Poland’s energy security,” said Agata Staniewska, Managing Director of Ørsted Offshore Poland.

[1] A ‘large’ contract refers to a contract with a value of more than EUR 300 million