2022-09-16
The isolated operation test of Lithuania’s electricity system postponed
Litgrid, the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator, informs that the isolated operation test of the Lithuanian electricity system planned for this September has been postponed. The decision was taken in consideration of the situation on the electricity market, including high energy prices, as well as to ensure the maximum capacity of the electricity interconnections between the countries in the region. The date of the postponed test will be clarified once it has been agreed with regional partners.
"Having assessed the situation on the electricity market, we have decided to postpone the isolated operation test of the Lithuanian electricity system. We are changing the timing of the test for several reasons: firstly, to avoid constraints on the capacity of the electricity interconnectors in the region during the test, which has an impact on electricity prices.
Secondly, we plan to expand the scope of the test to include a strategically important 200 MW electricity storage system in Lithuania, as well as other newly built infrastructure. We also expect regional partners to join the test.
Thirdly, we are saving costs - we expect that during the test the prices of electricity resources will be back to their usual range and the costs of the test will be lower," says Rokas Masiulis, Litgrid CEO.
Litgrid already carried out two important power system tests last year. The first partial isolated test of Lithuania's electricity system was successfully carried out in 2020.
In 2021, Litgrid, together with the Polish transmission system operator PSE, carried out an emergency test of the Polish electricity system through the extended LitPol Link, which will be used to synchronise all the Baltic countries' electricity grids with Continental Europe.
"This year, a study on the isolated operation was carried out, information systems were prepared, dispatchers were trained, the country's most important electricity consumers were tested, and the country's major power plants were tested. We will use the time before the test to prepare and integrate the new electricity system infrastructure into the test programme and to work with our strategic partners," says Rokas Masiulis.
Before the synchronisation with the continental European grid, all Baltic countries have to carry out a joint isolated operation test, during which Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will form the energy island. In the upcoming test it is planned to use the synchronous condensers currently being installed in the Baltics to help ensure system stability and inertia when a large part of the electricity supply comes from the renewable generation or from import through the DC interconnectors.
Once the three-country isolated operation test has been completed and the technical requirements for synchronisation have been met, the Baltic countries will be able to operate on the same frequency as the continental European networks.
In Lithuania, more than 45% of the work needed for the synchronisation has been completed and 6 synchronisation projects have been implemented. These include the extension of the 330 kV Bitėnai transformer substation, the construction of the 110 kV Pagėgiai-Bitėnai overhead line, the reconstruction of the 330 kV overhead line Lietuvos Elektrinė-Vilnius, the extension of the LitPol Link interconnector, the testing of the emergency connection to the continental European grid via the LitPol Link synchronous link and the optimisation of the North-Eastern Lithuanian transmission network.
To date, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, together with Russia and Belarus, operate in an IPS/UPS system, where the electricity frequency is centrally regulated by Russia. Connection to the continental European grid and synchronous operation with Poland, Germany and other continental European countries will be ensured by 2025 at the latest.
About Litgrid:
Litgrid AB, the operator of Lithuania's electricity transmission system, maintains the stable operation of the country's electricity system, manages electricity flows, and facilitates competition in the open electricity market. The company manages more than 7,000 km of overhead lines, more than 200 transformer substations and 17 interconnectors with other countries in Lithuania, and maintains them on a regular basis in order to ensure the proper transmission of electricity to all the country's residents, institutions and other organisations.
Since 22 December 2010. Litgrid's shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Vilnius Supplementary Trading List. 97.5 % of the shares of Litgrid are listed on the stock exchange. AB Litgrid's shares are owned by UAB EPSO-G, 100% of which is owned by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.
