Ocean Winds begins seabed survey for the BC-Wind offshore wind farm, in Poland

Warsaw, April 17, 2023, Ocean Winds (OW), international company dedicated to offshore wind energy and created as a 50-50 joint venture in 2020 by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, is starting the next stage of work related to the implementation of the BC-Wind offshore wind farm in Poland. Geophysical and geotechnical surveys of the Baltic seabed will start in early April, and their completion is planned for the third quarter of this year. The research will be carried out by the British company Gardline Limited.

The purpose of the study is to obtain the information necessary to develop a detailed installation plan for the wind turbine foundations and the offshore substation, project plan for interconnection and export cables, as well as their required burial protection and connection to the onshore transmission infrastructure.

“The results of geophysical and geotechnical surveys of the seabed will make it possible to develop an optimal project in terms of the schedule of further works and economics. After obtaining location permits, grid connection conditions, the right to a Contract for Difference, or receiving an environmental decision, this will be the next stage that brings us closer to obtaining a building permit for the BC-Wind offshore wind farm.” – said Kacper Kostrzewa, BC-Wind Project Director.

The planned survey is a complex process involving many specialists and technologically advanced equipment. The geophysical survey comprises of a seabed swathe bathymetry at a depth of up to 60 m and sonar techniques to map surface hazards and various seismic systems to investigate the sub-seabed. Following this a shallow seabed sampling campaign is planned along the export cable route. Later in Q2 a deep geotechnical investigation will be undertaken involving multiple drilling vessels operating across the OWF site gathering borehole and in situ CPT tests. This extensive survey program will be carried out about 23 kilometers from the coastline to the north of Krokowa and Choczewo municipalities and the 24-kilometer corridor for the export cable.

The BC-Wind offshore wind farm is being implemented according to the planned schedule. After obtaining location permits, signing the agreement for connection to the National Power System, obtaining the right to cover the negative balance, receiving an environmental decision and selecting Władysławowo as the maintenance base, Ocean Winds is now focusing on further technical elements of the project, as well as the developing the local supply chain of direct and indirect contractors for the individual elements of the project. The company plans to begin commercial operations of BC-Wind in 2027.