News & events

2012-04-26

Government Authorises Litgrid to Implement Synchronisation with the European Continental Electricity Network

The Government has authorised the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid to implement the Lithuanian electric energy system synchronisation with the European Continental Network (ECN). The country’s electricity system synchronisation with the European electricity system is the strategic goal of the Lithuanian energy sector.

“Synchronisation will ensure our independence in controlling our system on a par with other electric energy systems operating in Western Europe. Our goal is the integration of the country’s electric energy infrastructure, electricity market and its management into Western European electricity systems and the transition to European system management standards,” says Litgrid CEO Virgilijus Poderys.

In cooperation with Latvian and Estonian electricity transmission system operators Augstsprieguma Tikls and Elering, Litgrid is preparing to perform a feasibility study that will provide a detailed analysis of the technical conditions and possibilities for the Baltic States’ energy system interconnection with the ECN. The results of the study will be presented at the end of 2013. To finance the study, the European Union has earmarked up to EUR 950 thousand from the trans-European energy networks (TEN-E) funds for projects of common interest, and the remaining part of investment will be allocated by electricity transmission system operators. Baltic States’ synchronisation with the ECN is expected to be completed by 2020.

“All the strategic energy projects are implemented on a complex basis and with the main goal of taking control of electricity system management. For this purpose, electricity interconnections are built with Poland and Sweden, internal network is developed, active efforts are made in the development of the regional electricity market, and preparations are underway for the launch of the Visaginas nuclear power plant in the electricity transmission system. A new major generator presents a challenge but on a regional level the Visaginas nuclear power plant is not an exclusive project, thus together with scientists and colleagues in the Baltic and European energy sector we are making advance preparations for this task,” says Mr Poderys.

In February 2012, following the initiative of the three Baltic states, the European Union authorised the European Commission to enter into negotiations with Russia and Belarus regarding the Baltic States’ electric energy system management in line with the requirements of the EU’s Third Energy Package. Elimination of the Baltic States’ electric energy system isolation and its integration into the common European electricity market is the ultimate goal of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP).

“Our objective is the rearrangement of the Lithuanian electricity system management so that it would accommodate the European standards. The fact that the European Commission is negotiating on behalf of the three Baltic States with the countries on which we are still in a way dependent demonstrates the importance which Europe attributes to our actions as well as its participation in eliminating the Baltic States’ energy isolation,” claims Mr Poderys.

Electricity interconnections with Sweden and Poland, the Visaginas nuclear power plant, and the Lithuanian electric energy system synchronisation with the continental Europe will ensure a common electric energy reserve policy with the rest of the European energy systems. Interconnection of energy objects with the European system, including electricity interconnections and the Visaginas nuclear power plant, will release Lithuania from its dependency on a single centralised reserve source in Russia and offer the choice of using interconnections with the West or other Baltic power plants, if the need arises.

“For Lithuania, running an efficient, modern, and powerful electricity generator like the Visaginas nuclear power plant in its own energy system means the capability to satisfy domestic electric energy needs and being a full-fledged system operating in the European rather than Russian network. The planned Visaginas NPP capacity creates the basis for our full synchronisation with the European continental network,” the head of electricity transmission system operator Litgrid is convinced.
 
For more information:
Laura Šebekienė
Litgrid Head of Communications
Tel.: +370 693 65377, E-mail: [email protected]