Offshore construction has entered a tangible new phase at two of Poland's most significant renewable energy developments, with Equinor and Polenergia confirming the successful installation of the first monopile foundations at the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 wind farm sites in the Baltic Sea.

The milestone, announced, marks the formal launch of the offshore installation campaign for a combined project that will ultimately deliver 1,440 MW of generating capacity.

First Foundations in the Ground

The first dozen sets of monopiles and transition pieces have been installed at the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 sites, representing the initial structures to be permanently placed at those locations.

The monopiles themselves are steel cylinders approximately 50 to 70 meters in length. Installation involves lifting each one from a horizontal position aboard a transport vessel, raising it to vertical, and lowering it into the seabed using a specialized gripper frame designed to ensure precision and stability throughout the process.

Once a monopile is secured in the seabed, a transition piece approximately 17 meters tall is mounted on top. Together, the two components form the complete foundation unit upon which an offshore wind turbine will later be installed.

The transition pieces are visible above the waterline in their characteristic yellow colour, making them the first permanent above-water structures at the Bałtyk 2 and 3 sites. A total of 100 such foundation sets are to be installed during this phase of construction. Offshore substation jackets are also planned for installation later in 2026.

One of the World's Largest Heavy-Lift Vessels Leading the Work

The installation is being carried out by the Thialf, a heavy-lift vessel operated by Heerema Marine Contractors. The vessel measures more than 200 meters in length and 88 meters in width, placing it among the largest of its kind in the world. It lifts the monopiles directly from a transport vessel positioned alongside, a logistically complex operation that requires precise coordination of vessel movements and timing.

At its current stage, the offshore campaign involves more than a dozen vessels operating simultaneously. These include support vessels responsible for transport, installation, logistics, and general marine support, all functioning under what the project partners describe as strict safety and quality requirements.

The campaign draws on port infrastructure in Poland and other European countries, while an operations and maintenance base in the Polish coastal town of Łeba serves as both a support hub for the construction activities and a marine coordination center.

Environmental Protections Built into the Installation Process

High environmental standards are being maintained throughout the campaign. Prior to the installation of each foundation, marine mammal monitoring is carried out at the site, including acoustic monitoring using specialized detection equipment.

Installation begins only when the presence of marine mammals is not detected, and a soft-start procedure is employed to allow any animals in the vicinity to move away from the work site before full operations commence.

In addition to mammal monitoring, a bubble curtain is deployed around each foundation during the installation process. The curtain is intended to reduce the level of underwater noise generated by the piling work, limiting the acoustic impact on the surrounding marine environment.

Strategic Importance for Poland's Energy Sector

The Bałtyk 2 and 3 projects are a joint venture between Norwegian energy company Equinor and Polish energy group Polenergia. Once fully operational, the combined wind farms are designed to generate enough electricity to supply approximately two million homes. The first power delivery from the projects is expected in 2027, with full operational status anticipated in 2028.

Adam Purwin, Chief Executive Officer of Polenergia, described the progress as significant not only for the projects themselves but for Poland's broader energy trajectory.

"Poland's energy security is increasingly being built around the Baltic Sea," Purwin said. "Offshore wind energy is entering a phase of tangible progress, and Bałtyk 2 and 3 projects are beginning to take shape as infrastructure of strategic importance.

This is an important step not only for the investments themselves, but also for the development of domestic expertise, a modern economy, and the growing role of Polish companies in the offshore sector."

Michał Jerzy Kołodziejczyk, Country Manager Poland at Equinor, acknowledged the complexity of the phase now underway. "We have successfully launched the offshore installation for Bałtyk 2 and 3.

This is a complex and demanding phase, based on close collaboration and precise coordination across multiple teams and units. The initial works are progressing as planned, maintaining high standards of safety and quality."

Turbine Installation Planned for 2027

The wind turbines themselves are not yet part of the current installation campaign. According to the project partners, turbine installation is scheduled to take place in 2027, following the completion of the foundation installation phase and the placement of the offshore substation jackets later this year.

The sequencing of the work reflects the multi-year timeline typical of large-scale offshore wind development, with the 2028 full operational target representing the culmination of a construction program that has now moved decisively from onshore preparation to active marine construction.

The offshore installation campaign requires careful coordination of marine operations, weather windows, and vessel sequencing, according to the project partners, factors that underscore the logistical scale of delivering 100 foundation sets across an active Baltic Sea construction site.

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