Key dates
The synchronisation of the Baltic states' electricity grid with the Continental European Network is planned to be implemented in 2025, but more than a decade has passed since the first steps in Lithuania. We present all the major events since 2007 up to now.
2007
The Prime Ministers of the Baltic states confirmed the strategic aspiration of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to become part of the Continental European Network (at that time – UCTE).
2012
The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania adopted a law establishing the goal of integration of the Lithuanian electricity system with the Continental European Network. In the same year, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania authorized Litgrid to implement the actions of synchronisation of the Lithuanian electricity system with the Continental European Network.
2013
A feasibility study on the integration of the Baltic states into the European Union internal electricity market by 2020 has been completed by the Baltic electricity transmission system operators and the Swedish consulting company Gothia Power AB.
2014
The project of interconnection of electricity systems of the Baltic states and Continental Europe for synchronous operation is included in the list of projects of common interest of the European Commission.
2015
The European Council identified the importance of all dimensions of the European Energy Union in ensuring energy security. In the spring, a “Identification of technical requirements and costs for integration of large scale generating unit into the Baltic states' Power System Operating synchronously with the Continental Europe Networks” was carried out. Its purpose is to analyse the operation of the new NPP in the Baltic electricity system and to provide possible technical solutions for the connection of the new power plant to the transmission network, taking into account the currently valid technical standards.
2017
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre, in cooperation with the representatives of the Baltic Sea Region countries, conducted a study on the analysis of the Baltic synchronisation scenarios in the BEMIP (Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan) format.
2018
A Political Roadmap was reached in June on the synchronisation scenario and implementation deadline. In September, BEMIP approved a synchronisation scenario: the synchronous connection will take place via the existing dual-circuit 400 kV AC line LitPol Link and the new offshore HVDC connection between Poland and Lithuania.
On 19 September the transmission system operators of the Baltic states have applied to the Polish transmission system operator PSE for connection to the continental European networks. On 21 September PSE, as a supporting party, applied to ENTSO-E RGCE (Regional Group Continental Europe) for the connection of the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian electricity networks to the Continental European Network. This way the formal procedure for the extension of the continental European synchronous area began.
An application for EU funding for the first phase of work under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program was submitted in October. In November, a dedicated connection working group was formed by ENTSO-E, which includes the transmission system operators of the supporting country Poland and the Baltic states.
2019
In January, the European Commission allocated the largest possible funding for projects to synchronise the Baltic energy system with continental European networks from the CEF. EU funding is 75% of the value of the first phase of the synchronisation projects.
On 29 May, the ENTSO-E Continental Europe Regional Group of the European Transmission System Operators Association has announced that electricity transmission operators in Poland, the three Baltic States and the supporting countries have signed a connection agreement and technical connection conditions that will make Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia part of the Continental European Network.
On 20 June, a political agreement was signed in Brussels on the implementation of the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity system with the Continental European Network. It sets out a concrete action plan and the necessary flagship projects until 2025, when the Baltic States will join a secure and reliable European energy system. The political agreement was signed at the European Council by the President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker, the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Prime Minister of Estonia Jüri Ratas, the Prime Minister of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš and the Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki.
In August, the Government of Lithuania approved a list of 14 synchronisation projects and granted them the status of special state importance. The first of these projects – the expansion of Bitėnai transformer substation – was completed in November.
2020
In June, the second of the synchronisation projects approved by the Government was implemented – the construction of Pagėgiai-Bitėnai 110 kV overhead line.
In October, the European Commission made a decision to provide a record funding of 720 million EUR for the second phase of synchronization. As in the first phase, projects in this phase are funded at 75% intensity.
In December, the third project of the synchronisation projects approved by the Government was implemented – the reconstruction of Lietuvos E-Vilnius 330 kV overhead line.
In December, the third project of the synchronisation projects approved by the Government was implemented – the reconstruction of Lietuvos E-Vilnius 330 kV overhead line.
2021
In January, the route at sea and on land was selected for the interconnection with Poland to Harmony Link in the territory of Lithuania and the territory for the construction of the Darbėnai substation was purchased.
On March 30, the Baltic electricity transmission system operators signed a service agreement with the Continental European Consortium of Transmission System Operators for 5 studies aimed at providing recommendations on how to ensure the safe and stable operation of the Baltic States in the Continental European synchronous zone from 2025.
