Litgrid

Synchronisation with the grid of continental Europe is the last step towards Lithuania’s energy independence. Currently, our electricity system is still dependent on frequency control in Russia, but already in 2025, it will operate in one synchronous area together with the systems of other European countries.

Synchronisation will take place using the existing interconnection between Lithuania and Poland (LitPol Link). The construction of a new offshore Harmony Link interconnection between the two countries will enable market integration.

Timeline

On 21 December 2018, the heads of the Lithuanian and Polish transmission system operators Litgrid and PSE signed an agreement committing to start the preparatory phase of the new Lithuanian-Polish offshore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable construction project. The Lithuanian and Polish representatives decided to name the new offshore connection Harmony Link.

On 4 December 2019, a contract was signed for EUR 10 million for the preparatory work for Harmony Link: route selection study, seabed surveys, preparation of technical specifications for the connection and territorial planning works. Lithuania was allocated EUR 4 million under this contract. On 20 December, a contract was concluded for the special territorial planning and selection services for environmental impact assessment of the Electricity System Synchronization Project “Construction of the Harmony Link connection and 330 kV switchyard “Darbėnai”.

In January 2020, a route study was prepared in the Baltic Sea. On May 26, Litgrid and PSE agreed on cooperation in constructing the connection. In June, an agreement was signed on the preparation of technical specifications for the connection, in October - on targeted consultations on technical, commercial, regulatory issues, and in November - on conducting seabed surveys. In December, the transmission system operators of the Baltic States and Poland signed an agreement with the European Commission on financing synchronization, which also provides support for the Harmony Link project.

In July 2024, the Lithuanian and Polish electricity transmission system operators Litgrid and PSE signed a cooperation agreement on the development of the Harmony Link onshore electricity transmission connection between Lithuania and Poland.

By the end of 2024, Litgrid and PSE will adopt a financial investment decision, by which both cooperating parties will confirm their commitments to finance and implement the project. According to the initial schedule, public procurement for construction works should be announced in 2026. The new connection should be activated by the end of 2030.

By the end of 2026, an engineering infrastructure development plan will be prepared, an environmental impact assessment of the planned economic activity will be carried out, land easements and territories where special land use conditions are applicable will be identified and registered, and other related works will be carried out.

It was previously planned to connect the Lithuanian and Polish electricity systems via a submarine connection, but due to a significant increase in costs and orders for submarine cables and converter stations exceeding production capacities, public procurement was terminated in April 2023.

General project information

The Lithuanian and Polish electricity systems were previously planned to be interconnected via a marine cable link, but significant cost increases and orders for marine cables and converter stations exceeding production capacity led to the cancellation of the procurement in April 2023.

The conception of alternative technical solution - overland interconnector Harmony Link instead of HVDC subsea cable was prepared in the end of 2023. Technical feasibility (system stability) study was started in January 2024 and completed in November 2024 concluding that new 220kV AC connection is a viable alternative to HVDC Harmony Link.

In July 2024, Litgrid and PSE, the Lithuanian and Polish electricity transmission system operators, signed a cooperation agreement for the development of the Harmony Link onshore electricity transmission link between Lithuania and Poland.

The Harmony Link project consists of the construction of a new double circuit 220 kV AC transmission line between Ełk Bis (Poland) and the planned Gižai substation in the Vilkaviskis district, as well as the construction of the Norki and Wigry substations and the reconstruction of the existing 220 kV Ostrołęka-Ełk Bis line in Poland. The construction of the overland line is planned to partly use the protection zones of existing and planned road infrastructure between Poland and Lithuania.

By the end of 2024, Litgrid and PSE will adopt a financial investment decision confirming the commitment of both cooperating parties to finance and implement the project.

According to the initial timetable, the procurement of the construction works should be launched in 2026. The new interconnector should be energized by the end of 2030.

By the end of 2026, an engineering infrastructure development plan, an environmental impact assessment of the planned economic activity, the identification and registration of land easements and areas subject to special land use conditions, and other related work will be completed.

More details

1. The construction of the new double circuit 220 kV alternating current (AC) over-land cable/overhead interconnection between the substation Ełk Bis in Poland (one circuit will start directly from Ełk Bis, the second one will be extension of the present single circuit of 220kV Ostrołęka-Ełk line) and substation Gižai in Lithuania;

2. The construction of the substation Norki, the substation Wigry, the extension of the substation Ełk Bis and the upgrade of the existing single circuit 220kV Ostrołęka-Ełk (Ełk Bis) line in Poland;

3. Construction of the substation Gižai in Lithuania.