Lithuania Already Has Tender

Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid has successfully completed the Lithuanian-Polish electricity interconnection project LitPol Link. This is the most significant of the four synchronization projects implemented so far as the upgraded LitPol Link connection near Alytus now has the possibility to operate in synchronous mode with the continental European networks if necessary.The synchronization of the Baltic States with the networks of continental Europe is first and foremost a national security project that will allow Lithuania Latvia and Estonia to manage their electricity systems independently operating on the same frequency with reliable partners. Preparations in four countries continue at a rapid pace with a focused approach to achieving synchronization by 2025. However we already have the most important link - the updated LitPol Link connection. This means that from now on no one can leave us an isolated energy island if necessary we will have the opportunity to connect to the synchronous zone of continental Europe soon says the Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys.Six years ago the LitPol Link connection became Lithuanias gateway to the West in terms of trade enabling the import and export of electricity from Lithuania to Poland. This link will now play an even bigger role from 2025 onwards. it will be the gateway for all three Baltic countries to connect their electricity systems with their European partners. In the coming years until the construction of the maritime connection with Poland at Harmony Link the installation of synchronous compensators and other preparations for the internal network and system management the LitPol Link connection will operate in the normal mode as before. However it is now a very important guarantor of the security of the electricity systems in the Baltic States says Rokas Masiulis CEO of Litgrid.The project for the extension of the LitPol Link connection consisted of the reconstruction of the LitPol Link switchyard the Alytus transformer substation and the nearby 330 kV and 110 kV power transmission overhead lines. One of the main elements of the upgraded LitPol Link switchyard is three 410345 10.5 kV 600 MVA autotransformers. These are the most powerful devices of their kind in the Baltic States. It is they that will allow the interconnection of the electricity networks of the Baltic States and continental Europe with one frequency.Litgrid together with the Polish operator PSE plans to test the synchronous operation via the LitPol Link connection in case the synchronization would be necessary until 2025 due to unforeseen reasons.The total value of the LitPol Link expansion project is LTL 22.5 million. The project is co-financed by the EUs Connecting Europe Facility.After synchronization a 700 MW Harmony Link connection will be available for sale on the existing 500 MW LitPol Link and a LitPol Link connection from 2025 onwards. will be used for system purposes only.The 500 MW LitPol Link connection now consists of two 163 km long 400 kV power transmission lines Alytus Elkas and a converter station in Alytus. The connection became operational in 2015.The extension of the LitPol Link connection is one of 15 projects approved by the Government for the synchronization program of special state importance which include the construction of a new maritime connection with Poland Harmony Link installation of 3 synchronous compensators strengthening of internal networks and improvement of system management and IT.Currently 4 synchronization projects have been implemented. These are the extension of the 330 kV Bitnai transformer substation the construction of the 110 kV line Paggiai-Bitnai the reconstruction of the 330 kV line Lietuvos Elektrin-Vilnius and the extension of LitPol Link. In total almost 40 will be completed by the end of this year. all the work required for synchronization.Until now Lithuania Latvia and Estonia together with Russia and Belarus operate in the IPS UPS system in which the frequency of electricity is centrally regulated in Russia. Connection to continental European networks and synchronous operation with Poland Germany and other continental European countries will be ensured by 2025 at the latest.