2021-11-26
Litgrid has announced the procurement for works of design and construction of 330 kV Mūša substation
The Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid has announced the procurement for works of design and construction of 330 kV Mūša substation. The new substation in Joniškis district will be constructed in order to strengthen the electric power transmission grid in Northern Lithuania and to ensure its reliable operation in preparing for the synchronization of the Baltic States with Continental European Synchronous Area (CESA).
The public procurement procedure is expected to take about half a year, and the contract with the successful tenderer should be signed by 2022 July. Based on the project work schedule, construction work will start in 2023 and will be completed in 2025.
‘By implementing the Mūša project, we aim to increase the reliability of supply in the Lithuanian electricity system, as well as to ensure greater inter-system capacities with Sweden and Latvia. After the construction of the new substation, we will be able to strengthen the electric power transmission grid in Northern Lithuania. This is important in striving to ensure the smooth synchronous operation of the Lithuanian electricity system with the electricity grids of continental Europe, which we will connect to in 2025’ - says Rokas Masiulis, the CEO of Litgrid.
The project of Mūša substation, that is planned to be constructed in Gataučiai eldership of Joniškis district, includes the 3.69-hectare switchyard and 3.4 km of new electric power lines. The switchyard will be connected to 330 kV grid.
Currently, there is a T-shaped connection of three lines in this territory, and the total length of the lines is as long as 182 km, which means that failure in one place would result in disconnection of all three lines. The new substation will ensure more reliable electricity supply in Northern Lithuania, because the longest section of lines connected to the switchyard will be almost three times shorter than it is now.
In addition, the connection of three lines, that was built several decades ago, is located in the territory of cultural heritage - at the site of the Battle of Saule. For this reason, the new switchyard is planned to be moved north of this historic site, and electric power lines will be brought by bypassing the cultural heritage protection zone.
Construction of Muša substation is one of the 15 projects in the Synchronisation Programme of Particular National Importance (SPNS) approved by the Government of Lithuania, which includes the construction of a new Harmony Link offshore link to Poland, the installation of 3 synchronous condensors,the strengthening of the national grid, and the improvement of the system control and IT.
To date, 4 synchronisation projects have been accomplished. These are the expansion of the 330 kV Bitėnai transformer substation, the construction of the 110 kV Pagėgiai-Bitėnai overhead line, the reconstruction of the 330 kV Lietuvos elektrinė-Vilnius overhead line, and the expansion of LitPol Link. In total, almost 40% of the work needed for synchronisation will be completed by the end of this year in Lithuania.
Until now, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, together with Russia and Belarus, have been operating in the IPS/UPS system, the electricity frequency being centrally controlled by Russia. Connection to the Continental European Synchronous Area and the synchronous operation with Poland, Germany and other Continental European countries will be ensured by the end of 2025 at the latest.
