The monitoring of birds, carried out by the company 3BIRD K.Gajko J.Ksepko Sp.j., assumes the acquisition of detailed information, including: density, distribution and abundance of birds by species in the study area.
Porpoise monitoring will be carried out for PGE and Ørsted by MEWO S.A.. Preparatory work for the start of the task is currently underway - calibration and checking of the equipment used during monitoring. Acoustic monitoring of harbour porpoises will last for six months before the start of construction of the wind farm, and will continue throughout the construction period. The presence of harbour porpoises will be recorded using FPOD-type measurement tools, which allow sound to be recorded in the frequency band that is used by porpoises.
According to the QHSE standards adopted in the project, all contractors are subject to the procedure of verification of fulfilment of the standards, which takes place, among others, during ship inspections. One such inspection, in which representatives of MEWO S.A. also participated, took place on 2-3 July in Gdynia.
- One of the key stages in the design of any offshore wind farm is environmental research. They allow for a thorough examination of the natural resources in terms of the organisms occurring in the studied area in order to minimise the environmental impact both during construction and the subsequent long-term operation of the wind farm. Thanks to such research, we are able to reconcile the operation of an offshore wind farm with the preservation of natural resources,’ says Bartosz Fedurek, CEO of PGE Baltica.
Environmental monitoring in the area of the future offshore wind farm is an important activity within the preparatory phase of the investment, which aims to inventory selected biotic components.
Porpoise surveys involve recording the underwater sounds that porpoises make - so-called clicks. Each recording device, the so-called FPOD, will be located at a depth of about 20-50 metres underwater and will record the sounds for a period of about 6-10 weeks. After this time, during so-called service cruises, the recorded data will be extracted and transferred for reading and analysis, and the batteries in the FPODs will also be replaced if necessary. The device will then continue to operate in the water depths. At the end of the surveys, a final report will be drawn up summarising the monitoring including analysis of the collected data.
- Green energy development must go hand in hand with the protection of natural habitats and wildlife. At Ørsted, we have set ourselves the goal that all new renewable energy projects commissioned from 2030 at the latest will have a net positive impact on biodiversity. This means that we will not only avoid, minimise and compensate for any impact on nature during the life of our projects - but we will also actively help to restore and improve ecosystems. I am convinced that by putting sustainability at the heart of our business, we will unleash innovations that catalyze green solutions in the energy industry on the Polish market as well and drive progress towards a low-carbon economy in balance with nature and society,’ says Agata Staniewska Bolesta, managing director of Orsted Offshore Poland.
Learn more about the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm by visiting baltica.energy
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About the PGE Group
PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna is the largest electric power company and supplier of electricity and heat in Poland. By combining its fuel and power generation resources and having distribution networks, PGE guarantees safe and stable supply of electricity and heat to more than 5 million customers. The PGE Group’s generating units produce over 40 percent of electricity in Poland. With 7 percent of installed wind farm capacity in Poland. The PGE Group is the country’s largest renewable electricity company. The plan for the coming years is to continue to develop renewable energy sources – especially based on wind and sun energy. PGE is a leader in the change in Polish energy. In its strategy, the PGE Group outlined its Group transformation plan and route to decarbonization of manufacturing and announced its objective to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The PGE Group’s investment plan covers the country’s largest investment in offshore wind power plants. The PGE Group’s Offshore Program is to build Baltica Offshore Wind Farm, which runs in two stages – Baltica 2 and Baltica 3, with a total installed capacity of up to 2.5 GW by 2030. Then, after 2030, Baltica 1 project will join the Group’s portfolio. According to the strategy, PGE Group intends to have at least 6.5 GW of offshore generation capacity by 2040.
About Ørsted
Ørsted's vision is a renewable-only world. Ørsted develops, builds and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuel facilities and bioenergy plants. Ørsted is recognised by the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader in climate action and was the first energy company in the world with a science-based net zero emissions target by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Ørsted is headquartered in Denmark and the company employs around 8,900 people. Ørsted shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2023, the group's revenue was DKK 79.3 billion (EUR 10.6 billion). The company has been operating in Poland since 2012, employing more than 800 people in its Warsaw office. Together with PGE, Ørsted is developing the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm. The investment, with a total capacity of 2.5 GW, will significantly contribute to the transformation of the Polish energy sector by providing green energy to almost 4 million households in Poland.
Contacts for media:
Beata Głuszcz
Communications Manager
Ørsted Poland
beagl@orsted.com
+48 573 412 537
Marcin Poznań
Spokesperson
PGE Baltica
marcin.poznan@gkpge.pl
https://pgebaltica.pl/
+48 887 856 620