A Historic Connection to Continental Europe
At 14:05, the Baltic States successfully synchronized their power systems with the synchronous zone of Continental Europe. This event holds both historical and practical significance for the Baltic States and Europe, strengthening the region’s energy independence and resilience. All power connections with Russia and Belarus have been permanently disconnected.
The Significance of Synchronization for European Solidarity
“The fact that today all three Baltic States are synchronizing with Continental Europe demonstrates not only our shared direction and goals but also our ability to achieve them together. This achievement would not have been possible without Poland’s key role and the European Union’s comprehensive support. Therefore, this day is also about European solidarity and unity. Thanks to these values, even the most ambitious, complex, but necessary tasks become a reality—let us remember this as we face other common challenges of our time. Nearly two decades have passed since synchronization was established as a strategic goal in 2007, through complex preparations and the finalization of the project. The path was not easy; it involved steep challenges and required the work of multiple governments and institutions, as well as countless individuals. However, their hard work has resulted in this historically significant day. I sincerely congratulate and thank everyone involved,” said Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas.
Ceremonies in Vilnius and Discussions on Energy Security
Today in Vilnius, European Union Commissioners for Energy and Housing, as well as Defense and Space, alongside the Prime Minister of Lithuania and energy ministers from the Baltic States and Poland, officially marked the beginning of synchronization. They also discussed energy security issues and further measures to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure amid changing geopolitical circumstances.
Ending Dependence on the Russian Power System
“The Lithuanian power system was dependent on Russia for 65 years—more than half a century. Today, we are closing this chapter for good: together with Latvia and Estonia, we are joining the Continental European power grid and consolidating our energy independence. It is symbolic that several decades ago, the Baltic Way united our nations in the pursuit of independence, and today we are reaffirming that independence in the energy sector by disconnecting from Russia and connecting to Europe,” said Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas.
New Opportunities for the Baltic States’ Power Systems
Synchronization enables the Baltic States to manage their power systems independently while closely cooperating with other Continental European countries. This ensures stable and reliable frequency regulation, enhancing regional energy security. Previously, frequency control in the Baltic States was dependent on Russia’s IPS/UPS system. Now, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have joined the Continental European network, which serves more than 400 million consumers.
International Cooperation and Poland’s Role
The synchronization process is the result of years of preparation and cooperation between the transmission system operators of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—”Litgrid,” “Augstsprieguma tīkls,” and “Elering”—along with their partners in the Continental European synchronous zone. Poland’s transmission system operator, PSE, played a crucial role, as it serves as the Baltic States’ direct neighbor and physical connection to Continental Europe, coordinating the entire process. Extensive infrastructure modernization in the Baltic States and Poland was essential to achieving this goal.
Investments in Power Infrastructure
As part of the synchronization process, Lithuania has constructed 420 km of new power transmission lines, reconstructed 230 km of existing lines, and built or modernized a total of 13 substations and transformer stations. In Alytus, three 400/330 kV autotransformers—the most powerful of their kind in the Baltic States—have been installed. Additionally, three synchronous compensators have been connected to the transmission network: at the Telšiai transformer substation, the Alytus power hub, and the Neris transformer substation in the Vilnius region. Along with this infrastructure expansion, new frequency stability assessment, automatic generation control, and dispatch control systems have been implemented.
Funding for the Synchronization Project
The total investment in the synchronization project across the Baltic States and Poland exceeded €1.6 billion, of which approximately €1.2 billion was allocated from the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility for energy infrastructure.
Lietuvosvalstybe.com
Sources: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania
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