2026-02-09
One Year After Synchronisation: How We Are Doing in the Continental European System
A year ago, on 8 February 2025, we disconnected the electricity systems of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia from the Russian and Belarusian electricity networks. After nearly 30 hours of testing, at 2:05 p.m. on February 9, we successfully synchronised with the Continental European system via Poland.
One year later, we can assess how the Baltic countries are performing in the synchronous area of continental Europe and what changes have taken place in the electricity transmission system and markets.
Donatas Matelionis, Head of Power System Operations department at Litgrid
Since February 9 last year, the Baltic countries have been operating in a trial synchronization mode, during which continental European electricity transmission system operators monitored how we manage the electricity system and assessed whether we meet all the requirements for operating in a common synchronous area. Last November, we received a positive assessment: the Continental Europe Regional Group of ENTSO‑E, an organization uniting European transmission system operators, confirmed that we meet all technical requirements. In other words, the synchronisation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania has been successful.
Throughout the year, our dispatchers tested the system’s performance in all seasons. In spring, when Latvian hydroelectric power plants play a particularly important role in the Baltic countries, solar power plants also produce increasing amounts of electricity. In summer and autumn, as usual, most network disconnections are planned due to repairs or infrastructure development. And in winter – particularly cold this year – we set new electricity consumption records one after another.
During this entire period, electricity consumers did not experience any changes in the reliability of electricity supply, nor did they feel the disconnection from Russia or the connection to continental Europe.
The biggest test for the system came earlier this year, when both Estonian–Finnish electricity interconnections – EstLink 1 and EstLink 2 – were disconnected simultaneously on January 20. The resulting 1 GW shortfall was very significant for the Baltic countries, where winter electricity demand peaks at around 5.5 GW. However, thanks to the timely and appropriate response of control systems, the shortfall was compensated by the LitPol Link interconnection and the activation of balancing capacities in the Baltic countries. Electricity consumers did not feel the impact of this event.
For 65 years, until February 8 last year, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were part of the IPS/UPS electricity system, created during the Soviet era and controlled by Russia. In preparation for synchronization, we had to modernize electricity transmission infrastructure and systems across the Baltic countries. In Lithuania, this involved 20 different projects, ranging from the construction of new substations and transmission lines and the modernization of existing infrastructure to upgrades of electricity transmission network management systems. Both the successful operation throughout the year and the EstLink incident demonstrate that we prepared properly and are now operating reliably.
Synchronization ensured energy independence, but it did not have a significant direct impact on electricity prices, which are determined by supply and demand. The same electricity producers and interconnections with Sweden, Latvia, and Poland continue to operate in Lithuania, while consumption is steadily increasing. Last year, the average wholesale electricity market price was EUR 85 / MWh, slightly lower than in 2024, when it reached EUR 87 / MWh.
Synchronization has had an indirect effect on electricity prices by contributing to the development of renewable energy resources. Strengthening Lithuania’s electricity transmission network and installing new lines and substations have created more opportunities to connect new electricity producers. Synchronous condensers ensure system inertia – something solar and wind power plants cannot provide – allowing the system to operate without traditional thermal power plants.
Last year, power plants operating in Lithuania supplied 73% of total annual electricity demand – the highest share since 2009, when the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant was closed. By comparison, in 2024, local power plants provided 59% of Lithuania’s electricity demand. This change was mainly driven by a significant increase in installed solar and wind capacity, from 3.3 GW to 5.8 GW.
Another major development for electricity producers and suppliers was the launch of the electricity balancing market, which began at the same time as synchronisation.
Following synchronization, Baltic transmission system operators became fully responsible for balancing their electricity systems, ensuring that production continuously matches consumption. The newly launched balancing capacity and balancing energy markets have created an ecosystem for the development of balancing services. In Lithuania alone, new market participants with a total capacity of 731 MW have entered the market. By joining the PICASSO balancing energy platform, we have also begun exchanging balancing services with other European countries, enabling real‑time balancing energy exchanges. At the end of last year, we connected the first commercial electricity storage facilities to the transmission network, which will significantly enhance system reliability and help reduce costs for consumers.
Having implemented synchronisation, we continue to strengthen electricity interconnections with other countries to ensure reliability and expand electricity trading opportunities.
At the end of last year, we began implementing a concept to increase interconnection capacity between Lithuania and Poland. In cooperation with market participants, we aim to achieve electricity export capacities of up to 365 MW via the LitPol Link by the end of this year, and up to 500 MW by 2027.
Another particularly important project is the construction of the Harmony Link interconnector – a strategic electricity interconnection between Lithuania and Poland. It will further strengthen the energy security of the Baltic countries and increase commercial electricity exchange capacity between Lithuania and Poland by 700 MW. Having two operational interconnections with the Polish system will ensure more reliable synchronous operation. Construction of the Harmony Link interconnector is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027.
