Orlen and Energa closer to building offshore wind farms in Lithuania

Orlen Neptun I and Energa Wytwarzanie signed a letter of intent regarding cooperation with Klaipedos Nafta AB, the Lithuanian operator of oil and natural gas LNG terminals. The partnership concerns the preparation and implementation of a strategy for servicing and maintaining investments in offshore wind farms in Lithuania.

• The total potential of offshore wind energy projects in the Lithuanian part of the Baltic Sea is estimated at 3.3 GW.
• In the planned phase of 2023, Lithuania will conduct at least one auction for a 700MW wind power project.
• The Orlen Group, in line with its zero-emission energy development strategy, plans to participate in all announced actions.

As Orlen emphasized in a statement on Friday, this is an important agreement in the context of the Orlen Group’s planned participation in offshore wind projects in the Baltic states.

We view it as a significant development opportunity for both the Orlen Group and energy transformation in the entire region. Renewables, including wind projects in particular, are a very important component of making our part of Europe independent of fossil fuels. Through regional cooperation, we want to make the best use of our previous experience in the field, and consistently implement the Orlen2030 strategy – said PKN Orlen President, Daniel Obajtek.

Join forces

President Klaipedos Nafta AB Rytis Valunas confirmed that the company is systematically expanding the group of companies with which it cooperates on projects in the field of obtaining green energy.

In the face of changes in the energy sector in the world, we are doing our best to find new opportunities to use our existing infrastructure and alternatives for new activities. We are also exploring new development paths in the wind energy sector. Valonas said that we have no doubts that wind farms in the Baltic Sea can be a promising source of clean energy, and the possibility of cooperation with foreign entities will allow the development of a key area of ​​energy conversion in Central Europe.

Orlen Neptun I Chair, Anna ukaszewska-Trzeciakowska, stated that “Joining efforts and sharing our experience and knowledge with Klaipedos Nafta AB will contribute to the efficient and sustainable development of offshore wind farms in Lithuania.”

– She also indicated that it is an important element in building energy security in our region.

3.3 gigawatts of potential

The total potential of offshore wind energy projects in the Lithuanian part of the Baltic Sea is estimated at 3.3 GW. In the planned phase of 2023, Lithuania will conduct at least one auction for a 700MW wind power project.

According to the information publicly provided by the Lithuanian side, this volume may increase significantly in 2023.

The Orlen Group, in line with its zero-emission energy development strategy, plans to participate in all announced actions. The agreement with Klaipedos Nafta AB will allow the development of a maintenance strategy for these projects, related to the entire investment life cycle, which covers approximately 25 years. The agreement provides for the possibility of developing cooperation also for subsequent projects.

start from nothing

BNS reports on Friday that it was previously announced that Orlen and Orlen Lietuva will participate in the first auction of a Lithuanian wind farm in the Baltic Sea.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Energy plans to announce an auction on September 1, 2023 and select the winner in early 2024. The wind farm is scheduled to be launched around 2030 and will have a capacity of 700 MW.

Also interested in the auction are Danish renewable energy company Orsted, Lithuanian Ignitis Grupe and Achema Grupe, Germany’s RWE Renewables, Poland’s Green Genius and Polenergia, as well as Dutch company Van Oord and its partially Estonian developer of offshore wind farms Saare Wind Energy.

It is estimated that the offshore wind farm will generate up to 3 TWh of electricity, which will meet up to a quarter of Lithuania’s demand. The project will also create more than 1,300 job opportunities.

Lithuania does not yet have offshore wind farms.