The Baltic synchronisation project, supported by the EU through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) with €1.05 billion, will help provide for security of supply for consumers in the Baltics by synchronising the Baltic States' electricity network with the Continental European Network (CEN).
The second stage of the project, started in 2020 and activities are ongoing. Recently, the transmission system operators of Lithuania and Poland, Litgrid and PSE, have made the final investment decisions on the implementation phase of the Harmony Link interconnector project, the new submarine HDVC link between Lithuania and Poland. These investment decisions start the implementation phase of the project as they enable the launch of the tender procedures for the HVDC cable and HVDC converter stations. The interconnector, key element of the Baltic Synchronisation Project, will be approx. 330 km long, with transmission capacity of 700 MW and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Phase I of the project, which aims to strengthen the local grids of the three Baltic States through the reconstruction and reinforcement of its infrastructure, is ongoing until 2025. The latest developments on phase I include the contract signature for the full renovation of the 330 kV high-voltage line between Tsirguliina (EE) and Viru (LT) substations and the delivery of the two of the three autotransformers for the Alytus substation (LT). The renovation of the Tsirguliina-Viru connection is an important precondition for connecting the Baltic states to CEN while the new autotransformers in Alytus will allow the LitPol Link interconnection expansion project to be completed this year.
The Baltic Synchronisation Project
For historical reasons the Baltic States' electricity grid is still operated in a synchronous mode with the Russian and Belarusian electricity network systems. The desynchronisation of the Baltic States' electricity grid from these systems and the synchronisation with CEN is an essential political priority for the achievement of the Energy Union. In 2018, the leaders of the Baltic States and Poland signed a political roadmap together with the European Commission to set the target date of 2025 for accomplishing the synchronisation while an implementing roadmap was signed in June 2019 setting out the milestones up to the synchronisation date. The relevant grid developments and reinforcements have been also included in the fourth EU list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs).
Several preparatory studies, phase I of the works, the preparations for phase II and phase II of the project receive EU funding through CEF. Once Phase I and II are completed by 2025, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will be ready to operate in synchronous mode with CEN. The synchronisation of the Baltic States' electricity grid with CEN will ensure greater security of supply for consumers in the Baltics, while also enabling other Member States to benefit from renewables produced in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
More information
Websites of project promoters – Elering AS, PSE SA, AS Augstsprieguma tikls (AST) and Litgrid (including a monthly newsletter on the project progress)
Details
- Publication date
- 18 June 2021
- Author
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency