Oil refiner PKN Orlen ponders 1.2-GW wind project in Polish waters

March 23 (Renewables Now) - Polish oil refiner PKN Orlen (WAR:PKN) is considering construction of а 1.2-GW wind park in the Baltic Sea and is seeking partners to develop the concept.

The state-run company on Thursday issued a tender for the development of a preliminary technical concept so as to assess its options for preparing and implementing the specific project. PKN Orlen holds a licence to install up to 1.2 GW of wind turbine capacity in the Baltic Sea, which it secured back in 2012.

“Embarking on a wind farm project is in line with our strategic objectives and plans for Poland’s transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Marcin Wasilewski, PKN Orlen’s executive director of energy.

Works such as construction of technical, measurement and surveying and services infrastructure for the project’s preparatory, execution and operational stages will all be included in the technical concept. The successful bidder in the tender will sign a contract with PKN Orlen for developing a preliminary concept of the project.

The Polish portion of the Baltic Sea has an offshore wind potential above 8 GW. Earlier this month, Norwegian oil and gas group Statoil (STO:STLO) agreed to buy a 50% interest in two early-stage offshore wind projects in Polish waters of 1.2 GW in total from local energy company Polenergia SA (WSE:PEP).