Lithuania has completed the most significant project – it already has a connection with Poland ready for synchronization
Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid has successfully completed the Lithuanian-Polish electricity interconnection project LitPol Link. This is the most significant of the four pending synchronization projects, as the upgraded LitPol Link connection to Alytus has the possibility to operate with the continental European networks only if necessary.
“The synchronization of the Baltic States with the continental European networks is first and foremost a national security project that will allow Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to regulate their electricity in all systems, operating on the same frequency with reliable partners. Preparations in four countries continue at a rapid pace, with a focused approach to achieving synchronization by 2025. However, the most important link – the renewed LitPol Link connection – is already very large. This means that we cannot leave us an isolated energy island: if necessary, we will have connections to the continental European synchronous zone soon, ”says Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys.
Six years ago, the LitPol Link connection became Lithuania’s gateway to the West in terms of trade, creating conditions for importing and exporting electricity from Lithuania to Poland. This link will now play an even bigger role: from 2025 onwards. it will become the power to connect the electricity systems of all three Baltic countries together with their European partners. In the coming years, until the construction of the maritime connection with Poland at Harmony Link, the installation of synchronous compensators and other preparations for the management of internal networks and systems, the LitPol Link connection will operate in the normal mode, as before. However, it is now a very important guarantor of the security of the electricity systems in the Baltic States, ”says Rokas Masiulis, CEO of Litgrid.
The expansion of LitPol Link was organized by LitPol Link Reconstruction of the Alytus Transformer Substation and the nearby 330 kV and 110 kV power transmission overhead lines. One of the main elements of the upgraded LitPol Link switchyard is three 410/345 / 10.5 kV, 600 MVA autotransformers. These are the most powerful devices of their kind in the Baltic States. It is they that will allow the interconnection of the electricity networks of the Baltic States and continental Europe in one frequency.
Litgrid, together with the Polish operator PSE, plans to test the synchronous operation via the LitPol Link connection in case the synchronization would be necessary until 2025 due to unforeseen reasons.
The total value of the LitPol Link expansion project is LTL 22.5 million. The project is co-financed by the EU’s Trans-European Networks for Infrastructure.
After synchronization, a 700 MW Harmony Link connection will be available for sale on the existing 500 MW LitPol Link, and a LitPol Link connection from 2025 onwards. will be used for system purposes only.
The 500 MW LitPol Link connection now consists of two 163 km 400 kV electricity transmission lines Alytus – Elkas and a converter station in Alytus. The connection became operational in 2015.
The extension of the LitPol Link connection is one of 15 projects approved by the Government for the synchronization program of special national importance, which include the construction of a new offshore connection with Poland Harmony Link, installation of 3 synchronous compensators, strengthening of internal networks and improvement of systems management and IT.
Currently, 4 synchronization projects have been implemented. These are the extension of the 330 kV Bitėnai transformer substation, the construction of the 110 kV line Pagėgiai-Bitėnai, the reconstruction of the 330 kV line Lietuvos Elektrinė-Vilnius and the extension of LitPol Link. In total, almost 40% will be completed by the end of this year. all the work required for synchronization.
Until now, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, together with Russia and Belarus, operate in the IPS / UPS system, in which the frequency of electricity is centrally regulated temporarily. Connection to continental European networks and synchronous operation with Poland, Germany and other continental European countries will be ensured by 2025 at the latest.