News & events

2016-09-19

First scheduled maintenance of LitPol Link finalised

The maintenance works of the LitPol Link interconnection were accomplished on Saturday afternoon. It was the first annual disconnection of the power link with Poland for the maintenance. After the works were performed, the interconnection was again put into operation on Sunday.
The maintenance of interconnections similar to LitPol Link is typically performed once a year. Maintenance includes checking of facilities, carrying out inspections, preventive works and tests, which cannot be carried out during operation of the power link.
“The operation of a high-voltage direct current link is ensured by particularly complex systems. After some time of operation, these systems must be inspected and some actions need to be taken; the same actions must be repeated every year. This helps ensure smooth operation of the interconnection until the next scheduled maintenance,” says Edvardas Tarasevičius, CEO at Litgrid Power Link Service which carries out operation and maintenance of the interconnection.
The specialists of Litgrid Power Link Service have checked the operation of the facilities, systems and thyristor valves of the interconnection, the cooling system, the control and guard system, filter yards as well as other elements of the link. The majority of these actions and checks can only be performed having disconnected the link, since access to such areas like the valve hall is forbidden during operation. The service team ascertained that system operation is smooth and no substantial defects of facilities were detected. 
The specialists of Litgrid Power Link Service performed the scheduled maintenance of the interconnection for the first time. Preparation for these works started at the beginning of the year – the scope of works was planned, all necessary tools and materials were purchased, technical and organisational measures were prepared, and advice from engineers of companies managing similar interconnections in other countries was sought.
LitPol Link is the first power interconnection between Lithuania and Poland. The link has been in operation since last December.