The first electricity from the 1.2-gigawatt Baltic Power project, being developed in the Baltic Sea by Polish energy giant Orlen and Canada's Northland Power, was transmitted to the newly completed Choczewo substation in northern Poland.
Speaking at the site, Tusk described the offshore wind farm as a central part of Poland's energy security and energy sovereignty.
"In these very uncertain times, having multiple sources of energy that are independent of geopolitical turbulence means a great deal," he said, pointing to Russia's war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict as reminders of the importance of secure domestic energy supplies.
'Energy is as important as weapons'
"You cannot talk about national security without talking about energy security," Tusk said. "Energy is as important as weapons and the armed forces."
The Baltic Power project is scheduled for completion this autumn and will become Poland's first operational offshore wind farm.
It will consist of 76 turbines, of which 54 have already been installed. The first turbine has now begun generating electricity, marking the project's "first power" milestone and the start of its phased commissioning, state news agency PAP reported.
The Choczewo substation, built by Poland's PSE transmission system operator is designed to connect offshore wind farms to the national electricity network.
The 400-kilovolt Choczewo substation at Osieki Lęborskie in Poland's northern Pomorskie province, forms part of one of Europe's largest offshore wind energy projects, officials say. Photo: PAP/Andrzej Jackowski
The project, financed through Poland's post-pandemic National Recovery Plan, cost about PLN 530 million (EUR 120 million, USD 140 million).
PSE has also completed a transmission line linking the substation to the Żarnowiec hydroelectric power plant and is building three additional power lines to connect future offshore wind projects.
The wider grid expansion is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027.
Once fully operational, Baltic Power will have enough capacity to supply electricity to more than 1.5 million households, according to the developers, making it one of the largest renewable energy projects in Poland.
Poland has accelerated investment in offshore wind as it seeks to diversify its energy mix, which has traditionally relied heavily on coal, while boosting energy independence following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Source: IAR, PAP