DNV AS, the Norwegian quality assurance and risk management firm, has secured a contract for the certification of two wind farms on the Polish side of the Baltic Sea owned by Equinor ASA and local co-venturer Polenergia SA. The MFW Baltyk II and MFW Baltyk III projects, designed to be connected to the Polish grid, are planned to have a capacity of 720 megawatts (MW) each, which could collectively power over two million households. DNV's scope of work encompasses delivering certificates for the wind farms related to design, fabrication/installation/commissioning, and operation in compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and codes.

Poland is expanding its offshore wind capacity, aligning with DNV's 2022 Energy Transition Outlook Report, which forecasts a steady rise in the share of offshore wind in total wind electricity generation, globally increasing from 8 percent in 2020 to 34 percent in 2050. Europe is expected to maintain its leading position in terms of the portion of electricity demand met through offshore wind sources.

Equinor has interests in all three Baltyk wind farms: MFW Baltyk I, II, and III. Baltyk I has a planned capacity of 1,560 MW, with Equinor and Polenergia holding 50-50 co-ownership in each project. The wind farms are located approximately 49.71 miles (80 kilometers) from the port of Leba, with water depths of 82.02-127.95 feet (25-39 meters). They are expected to operate for 25-30 years.

Last week, Equinor acquired a 26-MW wind farm onshore Poland from Helios Group, aiming to contribute to the Polish energy transition and Norwegian-Polish energy cooperation. The Wilko wind farm in Wielkopolska province will be operated by Equinor's subsidiary in Poland and is expected to produce 105 GWh (gigawatt hours) of power annually, equivalent to the electricity consumption of around 50,000 Polish households.

Poland has a strong reliance on fossil fuels for its energy needs, with coal accounting for a significant portion of household energy consumption in the country. Diversification of energy sources is essential for decarbonizing Poland's energy system and enhancing its energy security, according to Michal Jerzy Kolodziejczyk, Equinor’s country manager in Poland.

The certification contract with DNV reflects the continued development of offshore wind projects in Poland, contributing to the country's renewable energy goals and energy transition.