DEME secures foundation and cable installation contracts for BC-Wind offshore wind farm in Poland
DEME has been awarded three contracts for the installation of monopile foundations, inter-array cables, and the export cable at the BC-Wind offshore wind farm in Poland. These new contracts position DEME as a key contributor to Poland’s renewable energy build-out, supporting the country’s energy transition.
BC-Wind, developed by international offshore wind company Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, is located approximately 23 km off the Polish Baltic Sea coast. With a planned capacity of up to 390 MW, the wind farm will generate clean electricity for around 500,000 households per year.
DEME will deploy its offshore installation vessel Orion to install 27 monopile foundations: 26 monopiles for the wind turbines and 1 foundation for the offshore substation (OSS). Equipped with a motion-compensated pile gripper, a 5,000-ton crane and advanced ballasting systems, Orion is designed to handle the largest foundations with precision and efficiency, even in challenging conditions.
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Originally published on 10 Dec
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The US-based B2B (Business-to-Business) digital marketing startup 7 Knots Digital begins its expansion in Europe from Latvia, James Karklins, founder and owner of 7 Knots Digital, told LETA in an interview.
7 Knots Digital was founded in New York over five years ago with the aim of helping B2B businesses, B2B media and technology companies turn content into measurable results. The company works with B2B media, technology companies and event organizers, including major industry trade shows and conferences, to help turn content and marketing campaigns into measurable results, Karklins said.
“We started in New York and have since expanded to Canada, Toronto, and now Riga, Latvia,” said Karklins.
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Originally published on 2 Dec
Cruise traffic in Ports of Stockholm continues to increase. In 2026, 157 vessels with more than 300,000 passengers are expected to visit the ports. Cruise ship calls now occur throughout the year, with the majority of passengers coming from the German market.
The list of cruise calls for 2026 has now been published and shows continued positive development for cruise traffic at Ports of Stockholm. Seven ships will make their maiden call and a new cruise line is establishing itself. A total of 157 cruise calls are expected at the ports during the year – an increase compared with both 2025 and 2024. Twenty-one of the calls will be made at the Port of Nynäshamn – the highest number in many years.
“It’s great to see that demand is picking up again in the Baltic Sea and that the number of cruise ships is steadily increasing. Occupancy on board is also high, which means that the number of passengers is rising significantly,” says Stefan Scheja, Marketing Manager Ferries and Cruises at Ports of Stockholm.
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Originally published on 2 Dec
On 1 December 2025, European Transport Corridor Coordinator Mario Mauro visited Riga to review Latvia’s transport priorities and developments within the TEN-T network. The visit focused on Latvia’s role in the newly defined European transport corridors, established under the TEN-T Regulation that took effect on 18 July 2024. Latvia participates in two of the EU’s nine corridors: the North Sea–Baltic Sea Corridor and the Baltic Sea–Black Sea–Aegean Sea Corridor.
Mauro met with representatives of Latvian Railways, RB Rail AS and European Railway Lines to discuss the Rail Baltica project, current rail sector developments and the impact of geopolitical conditions on freight volumes. Although freight has declined, passenger numbers continue to rise. Discussions highlighted the importance of military mobility, infrastructure upgrades, higher train speeds and a new rail link to Riga Airport.
Progress on the cross-border Rail Baltica project was reviewed, with Latvia stressing the need for continued Connecting Europe Facility funding beyond 2028 to meet the EU goal of completing the core TEN-T network by 2030. The parties noted positive developments in EU Council negotiations, with a partial agreement expected on 15 December.
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Originally published on 2 Dec
The Baltic Sea region has strong potential to take a lead in the transition to climate-smart marine fuels, but faces delays due to high costs and unclear political policy direction. This is highlighted in a new report from IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, in which Port of Luleå is studied.
The new report, which examines market conditions among the eight countries around the Baltic Sea, shows that hydrogen-based electrofuels – such as electro-ammonia and electro-methanol – will be crucial for meeting climate targets. Shipping is one of the sectors where transition to fossil-free operations is progressing slowly. The report shows that energy companies and ports see these new fuels as essential in the long term, but stakeholders hesitate to invest because of uncertainity about future demand or which fuel type will dominate. John Sundvall, Technical Director at Port of Luleå, confirms this and sees the development of renewable fuels as a necessity to meet future requirements from shipping companies and industry.
– In northern Sweden, a major energy transition in industry is underway, which could also benefit shipping. As a transport hub and one of EU’s strategically designated ports, we naturally want to contribute to this transition. It is possible to build infrastructure here for both bunkering and export, but for us to invest, the market needs to become more secure, he says.
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Originally published on 1 Dec
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will contribute €600 million and become the largest lender to the construction of BC-Wind, a 390 MW offshore wind windfarm in the Baltic Sea set to supply nearly half a million Polish households and businesses with clean power. Developed by Ocean Winds, an ENGIE and EDPR joint venture, the wind farm will sit over 20 kilometres off Poland’s western coast and is expected to start production in 2028. It marks the fourth major offshore project backed by the EIB in Poland, and the third one signed in the country just this year.
“The EIB’s persistent commitment to supporting climate, economic competitiveness and Europe’s strategic sovereignty stands behind this beneficial, long-term loan for the construction and operation of BC-Wind, a new offshore wind project in the Polish economic zone in the Baltic Sea. As the climate bank of the European Union, the EIB is a trusted partner of ambitious energy transition in Poland from renewable sources to grid modernisation to energy efficiency and affordability. The latest addition to Poland’s rapidly growing offshore wind industry, BC-Wind will help reduce Poland’s carbon emissions and ensure energy security for people and businesses,” said EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska.
BC-Wind will consist of 26 bottom-fixed turbines, each with a maximum capacity of 15 MW. Ocean Winds has already secured all of the required permits, as well as a 25-year contract for difference to underpin future sales. On Dec.1, the company announced the sealing of an around €2 billion financing agreement with 15 lenders, which means construction can start in 2026.
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Originally published on 1 Dec
Despite its compact size, Estonia is now making big moves in Energy technology, as its startups move into the scale-up category. Founded in Tallinn, Skeleton Technologies just opened one of Europe’s most advanced supercapacitor plants in Leipzig — and the timing couldn’t be better.
The €220M facility is the largest recent industrial investment from Estonia into Germany, and a perfect showcase of how innovations and strong industrial traditions could merge. Think of supercapacitors as the emergency responders of the electrical grid. When power surges or drops happen, they react in milliseconds—far faster than traditional batteries. CEO Taavi Madiberk calls them “a seatbelt for a grid with more and more renewables.”
As Europe adds more wind and solar power, the grid becomes more volatile. The challenges are already evident, with spring’s widespread power outages in Spain and Portugal making headlines. That’s exactly the kind of crisis Skeleton’s technology prevents. Their systems already serve as last-resort safeguards for German grid operators, plus energy giants like Siemens, GE, and Hitachi. Their mission, as Madiberk puts it, is simple: “Keep the lights on in Europe.”
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Originally published on 1 Dec
Latvia has been ranked nr. 1 out of 32 countries in the Investment Promotion Agency index as outlined in “The Investment Promotion Playbook 2025″ report by Reinvantage, an independent consultancy firm, for the second year in a row. The second place is taken by Estonia, with Lithuania ranked number 5.
The report by Reinvantage has assessed 32 countries across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, the Baltics, the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Central Asia. The report has been published for 8 years consecutively, and has grown from its initial 23-country cohort to the now-expanded 32 countries.
The methodology is made up of scores across five categories, each weighted according to impact:
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Originally published on 1 Dec
Rail Baltica has concluded its participation in the Rail Live 2025 conference in Madrid with an extensive programme of meetings, discussions, and presentations focused on advancing the project’s technical and strategic objectives. Over two days, representatives took part in panel discussions addressing leadership in the rail sector, infrastructure resilience, and financing models, as well as delivered presentations on virtual design, BIM utilisation, and Rail Baltica’s electrification strategy.
The delegation also held numerous scheduled meetings with industry organisations to exchange knowledge on technological solutions, procurement planning, and future cooperation possibilities as the project moves toward implementation and procurement milestones.
Participation in Rail Live provided Rail Baltica with an opportunity to share project progress, gather insights on emerging trends in the rail sector, and reinforce its position within the European railway community.
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Originally published on 1 Dec
The Baltic Sea Region (BSR) port ecosystem faces profound geopolitical and economic reorganization, which has necessitated the rapid dissolution of established trade flows and energy connections. The new TEN-T framework places immediate pressure on the comprehensive ports in the BSR to adapt to rapidly changing security, economic, and regulatory environments.
Long-term competitiveness relies on fulfilling strict 2050 standards for environmental, digital, and multimodal infrastructure, and strengthening dual-use capabilities for military mobility. Securing the long-term vitality of these crucial regional nodes demands immediate, grounded analysis to protect their operational continuity and guide strategic diversification.
To aid the maritime community in the BSR in navigating this transformed reality, the Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) has published the report Comprehensive ports in the Baltic Sea – Resilience, Transformation and Future Prospects. This resource provides analysis and insights essential for understanding the shifting commercial, security, and regulatory landscape faced by the comprehensive port network.
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Originally published on 26 Nov
Insta has landed a significant and exciting assignment to deliver the main automation system as well as process electrical and automation installations for Fazer’s new chocolate factory in Lahti. Operations are set to start in 2028.This project represents the largest investment in Fazer’s history and one of the most notable undertakings in the history of Finland’s food industry.
The delivery includes the factory’s main automation system, which integrates all production equipment and processes into one unified platform. Insta is also responsible for process electrical and automation installations, ensuring seamless commissioning and reliable operation. The project began immediately after signing the contract and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. Insta’s delivery phase will conclude in early 2028, guaranteeing a smooth and uninterrupted production start-up. Close collaboration will continue throughout the entire project until the factory is fully operational.
Construction work on the new factory, covering approximately 33,300 square meters, started in summer 2025. During the construction phase, the site will employ hundreds of professionals, with an estimated workload exceeding 500,000 working hours. The new production facility will be highly electrified and automated, and its comprehensive energy recycling system will make it CO₂ emission-free in terms of its own energy consumption. Additionally, the factory aims to achieve BREEAM environmental certification. Operations are expected to begin in 2028.
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Originally published on 27 Nov