SPIE contributes to grid connection for offshore wind power at Poland’s Choczewo 400 kV substation

Gdansk, Poland, 19 June 2026 – SPIE Energy Poland S.A., a Polish subsidiary of SPIE Group, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, announced that in May 2026, the Choczewo substation supplied auxiliary power to Baltic Power’s customer substation, enabling the commissioning and operation of the infrastructure that will receive electricity from offshore wind farms and feed it into Poland’s transmission network. SPIE Energy Poland is leading the consortium responsible for delivering the 400 kV Choczewo power substation. This milestone confirmed the capability of the infrastructure to support the transmission of offshore-generated electricity to consumers across the country.

The Choczewo power substation is being built in Osieki Lęborskie, in the municipality of Choczewo, and is Poland’s first power-grid hub specifically designed to support offshore wind energy. It is a strategic investment for the national power system, directly aligned with the key objectives of the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package, and Poland’s energy policy until 2040. The substation will enable the integration of large-scale renewable energy sources, particularly offshore wind farms, which are regarded as a pillar of the country’s energy security. Once fully connected, their combined capacity will be comparable to that of the Bełchatów¹ power plant, highlighting the scale of the transformation underway in Poland’s energy sector.

The project investor is Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A. (PSE), while delivery is being carried out by a consortium comprising SPIE Energy Poland S.A. and Elfeko S.A. In December 2025, the substation’s readiness to receive power from the first offshore wind farms was confirmed. In May 2026, Baltic Power’s customer substation, which receives electricity from its own offshore wind farms, was connected to the national power system. Completion of the entire Choczewo substation project is planned for 2027. The investment is co-financed by the National Recovery Plan, confirming its alignment with the European Union’s priorities for the energy transition and for strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure.

A foundation for a new era in the national power system

The Choczewo power substation sets new standards in energy infrastructure in terms of both scale and technical sophistication. As part of the project, 6 kilometres of cable ducts and more than 2,000 foundations were built, while 1,100 tonnes of steel structures, almost 20 kilometres of tubular busbars and over 250 kilometres of control cables were installed. Covering an area of 25 hectares, the site includes more than 5 kilometres of asphalt roads, nearly 500 lighting columns, two technical buildings with a combined floor area of more than 1,500 square metres, and a stormwater retention reservoir with a capacity of 6,000 square metres.

“The Choczewo power substation also stands out for its innovative technical solutions. For the first time in Poland’s energy sector, power transformers have been used to supply the station’s own auxiliary systems, eliminating the need for a conventional auxiliary transformer. In the field of cybersecurity, solutions compliant with the latest European NIS 2 Directive have been implemented, increasing the resilience of critical infrastructure to digital threats,” says Adam Kowalski, Project Director at SPIE Energy Poland.

Advanced commissioning work is currently underway at the substation, including the connection of Baltic Power’s customer substation to the infrastructure. This work also includes the commissioning of 400 kV switchgear bays and the implementation of the station’s technical protection systems. At the same time, landscaping activities are being carried out, including micro-levelling and greening works designed to restore the site after construction and improve its visual integration into the surrounding area. This stage represents an important step towards the substation’s full operational readiness and integration into the national electricity grid.

From infrastructure to socio-economic value

An important aspect of the Choczewo power substation project is its impact on regional development. The investment largely relies on the capabilities of Polish companies, including businesses from the Pomeranian region, thereby strengthening the local supply chain. The project contributes to increased tax revenues for the municipality of Choczewo, infrastructure development, greater investment attractiveness for the region and the creation of new jobs.

The investment also required careful consideration of environmental and historical conditions. Due to challenging ground conditions, a dedicated drainage system was designed for the construction phase. Before work began, five months of archaeological research was conducted, leading to the preservation of valuable discoveries, including face urns dating back approximately 2,500 years, which will enrich the region’s museum and research collections.

“The Choczewo power substation project is an example of an investment that combines technical innovation, strategic importance for energy security, and tangible socio-economic impact. It has been designed with future expansion and the integration of new technologies in mind. Plans include the connection of an energy storage facility and a data processing centre, which will increase the flexibility of the electricity system, improve grid stability as the share of renewable energy sources grows, and support the development of the digital economy,” says Leszek Goli, CEO of SPIE Energy Poland.

_{1-Bełchatów Power Plant is a lignite-fired power station in central Poland and one of the largest thermal power plants in Europe, with an installed capacity of around 5 GW. It has long been a cornerstone of Poland’s power system and is often used as a reference point to illustrate the scale of new power generation projects.}