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Monday, 27.03.2023, 17:32
New NPP, Baltic States' synchronisation with the European Continental Network discussed in Lithuania

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Detailed
information was presented to the Cabinet meeting, as to what had been achieved
in the area of common power generation of the Baltic States and their
synchronisation with the European Continental Network.
In consideration of results of improvement of Visaginas nuclear power plant
project funding conditions, the joint position of the potential investors, and
open issues related to the project implementation, the Government decided to
propose, together with Estonia and Latvia, to form an inter-governmental
commission on strategic matters in electricity sector, to deal with the common
Baltic states’ power generation and synchronisation with the European
Continental Network, as well as functioning of the electricity market. The
Ministry of Energy was also charged to initiate the formation of an
inter-institutional commission to deal with the open issues related to
Lithuania’s competence, as presented in the potential investors’ joint position
on the economic assessment of the new nuclear power plant project.
To enhance the project maturity and competitiveness, it is planned to propose
to the potential investors to draft a shareholders’ agreement to establish a
company of the project, to deal with the company-level open matters, to carry
out the search for new investors, to conduct negotiations on the contract
agreement for the nuclear power plant, to carry out reassessment of asset
contribution (site), as well as to carry out other project development
activities.
On the integration of the Baltic states electricity grids into the EU’s
internal electricity network via synchronisation with the European Continental
Network: the Baltic transmission systems operators, together with the Swedish
consultancy Gothia Power AB, have carried out a feasibility study for the
Baltic states synchronisation with the European Continental Network
(hereinafter, ECN) by the year
2020.
The study, which has been carried out together with representatives of the
European Commission and ENTSO-E, states that synchronisation of the Baltic
states and the European electricity grids is technically, legally, and
economically feasible.
The study concludes that the operation under the synchronized mode in the
Continental European Electricity Network is feasible technically, i.e. in terms
of energy flow distribution in electricity grids, system control, and
stability. However, in order to join ECN for synchronous operation depending on
synchronization scenario, the Baltic states, Poland, and the Kaliningrad Region
need to strengthen the existing power transmission systems, upgrade systems for
system and generator control, ensure the necessary capacity reserves, as well
as equip with the necessary BtB convertors with Russia and Belarus. Particular
attention should be paid to the parameters of the installed capacity value at
the Visaginas nuclear power generator, as well as to the reserves, in case of
the implementation of this project. No major legal or regulatory barriers to
synchronize with ECN have been found.
Considered scenarios: Baltic synchronisation with the European networks with
and without Kaliningrad. The study investigated the following three
synchronization scenarios:
1. Synchronisation of the Baltic states with the IPS/UPS;
2. Synchronisation of the Baltic states and Kaliningrad with ECN system (via
the interconnection: Kaliningrad-Poland or the second interconnection:
Lithuania-Poland);
3. Synchronisation of the Baltic states with the ECN, asynchronous with the
Kaliningrad Region (Baltic energy systems in sync with ECN without
Kaliningrad).
Furthermore, the
study has found that the project of the largest generation unit in the Baltic States
(NPP) can be compatible with the synchronization with the continental Europe.
However, it calls for timely necessary technological solutions combining
interests and capacities of all the regional partners. Specific aspects related
to technological integration of VAE in the mode of Baltic power system
synchronisation with the continental Europe, as well as financial issues should
be subject to an individual analysis.
Synchronization of the Baltic power systems with EU networks is among the key
projects of common interest made public by the European Commission on 14
October. Baltic synchronisation with the ECN needs EU’s financial support. As
an EU project of common interest, it becomes eligible for assistance from the
EU Energy Facility, which might cover 50-75% of project implementation costs in
2014-2020.