STRENGTHENING THE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE OF

SYNCHRONISATION PROJECT NEWSLETTER 02 2020

Co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the Expansion of LitPol Link in Alytus, December 2020. SYNCHRONISATION MAP

Mūša

Darbėnai Telšiai Enhancing link with the Continental European SK Synchronous Area by expanding LitPol Link interconnector and Alytus substation Klaipėda Ignalina Utena Building o shore interconnector between Lithuania and Pagėgiai Bitėnai Strengthening internal Lithuanian transmission Jurbarkas networks

Lietuvos E SK Creating foundation for network reliability by Postavy Neris installing synchronous condensers Preparing for autonomous control of the frequency FSAS 50 Hz of the system Alytus AGV SK

Construction / reconstruction of transmission lines

HVCD interconnectors Elk

Construction / reconstruction of substation

Relocated variable shunt reactor

SK Installation of synchronous condenser

AGV Implementation of frequency stability assessment system

FSAS 50 Hz Implementation of automatic generation control system FOCUS OF THE MONTH: SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS - ENGINES FOR THE SYSTEM AND RENEWABLE GENERATION

The conditions of synchronisation However, not all electricity reaches our This is why we need synchronous Is frequency control the sole purpose renewable resources, when due to lack stipulate that three synchronous system from such synchronous and condensers. They are powerful and of synchronous condensers? of inertia we cannot ensure frequency condensers will have to operate in inertial generators: some of it is massive rotating motors with high stability. each of the three Baltic countries. In imported through the direct current rotational mass that are connected to Definitely not. Synchronous Lithuania, they are planned in Telšiai, connections LitPol Link and NordBalt; the grid. They do not generate condensers are also used for voltage The three new synchronous Alytus and Neris transformer some is produced, for example, in wind electricity themselves - on the management and stability, resulting in condensers will provide enough inertia substations. How do these devices farms, where generators operate contrary, they need electricity to better quality for our network users, to produce much more electricity from work and what challenges do they asynchronously. These supply energy operate. However, when rotating, they lower voltage dips and break times. In renewable sources than we produce address? to the grid through converters and are ensure that the inertia of the network fact, we are already doing this using now. not directly involved in ensuring remains sucient even when a large Kruonis Pumped Hydro Power Plant Frequency is one of the most important frequency stability. Such a system, in part of the power reaches the system generators, which can operate in parameters of the power system. In which a significant part of the through direct current connections or synchronous condenser mode. Europe, it is 50 Hz, and that is the electricity comes through connections asynchronous generators. For example, frequency that must be present in all or is produced from renewable sources, the inertia of one new synchronous The new synchronous condensers will Rimantas Redecki, Head of System Reliability Unit at networks, from high-voltage may work, but even a small disturbance compensator, which we plan to install, also have more functions which are transmission lines to wires that reach could mean a sudden change in will correspond to the total inertia of important for system reliability, but every home. The constant frequency in frequency that other generators in the two units 7 and 8 of the Elektrėnai ensuring frequency stability will be the system is traditionally ensured by system cannot compensate for, complex, the largest thermal power their main task. The synchronisation program in synchronously rotating power because their inertia is simply plant in Lithuania. Lithuania consists of 14 projects of generators. As they rotate, they insucient. In the worst scenario there You say that synchronous special state importance, which are provide the network with inertia, which could be a complete blackout of the The inertia created by these devices condensers will contribute to the designed to prepare for the operation on keeps the frequency of the electricity system. will help us manage the frequency and development of renewable the same frequency with the Continental stable for some time even when faults safely resolve supply disruptions in the resources. How? European Synchronous Area. One of the occur. In an event of systemic Currently, the are part of event of disturbances, integrate more most important projects - and the disturbance, not seconds but the IPS / UPS synchronous system and renewable energy generators, use Both wind and solar power plants do second largest in terms of budget - is milliseconds are the key to ensuring the frequency is regulated and energy eciently with neighbouring not provide inertia to the grid. the installation of new synchronous frequency stability. If during this short provided centrally here by the Russian countries and allow existing generators Consequently, when calculating how condensers. To find out what these period the frequency parameters start operator. However, after to participate in the electricity market many of such devices can be devices are and why they are important to return to the initial state, we say that synchronisation, the Baltic states will in the most ecient way. connected to the network, as a system not just for synchronisation, we talk to the dynamic stability of the system is disconnect from the IPS / UPS and, operator we would have a certain limit, Rimantas Redecki, Head of System ensured. individually, will have to ensure the beyond which we would not be able to Reliability Unit. frequency management themselves. allow greater development of FOCUS OF THE MONTH: SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS - ENGINES FOR THE SYSTEM AND RENEWABLE GENERATION

The conditions of synchronisation However, not all electricity reaches our This is why we need synchronous Is frequency control the sole purpose renewable resources, when due to lack stipulate that three synchronous system from such synchronous and condensers. They are powerful and of synchronous condensers? of inertia we cannot ensure frequency condensers will have to operate in inertial generators: some of it is massive rotating motors with high stability. each of the three Baltic countries. In imported through the direct current rotational mass that are connected to Definitely not. Synchronous Lithuania, they are planned in Telšiai, connections LitPol Link and NordBalt; the grid. They do not generate condensers are also used for voltage The three new synchronous Alytus and Neris transformer some is produced, for example, in wind electricity themselves - on the management and stability, resulting in condensers will provide enough inertia substations. How do these devices farms, where generators operate contrary, they need electricity to better quality for our network users, to produce much more electricity from work and what challenges do they asynchronously. These supply energy operate. However, when rotating, they lower voltage dips and break times. In renewable sources than we produce address? to the grid through converters and are ensure that the inertia of the network fact, we are already doing this using now. not directly involved in ensuring remains sucient even when a large Kruonis Pumped Hydro Power Plant Frequency is one of the most important frequency stability. Such a system, in part of the power reaches the system generators, which can operate in parameters of the power system. In which a significant part of the through direct current connections or synchronous condenser mode. Europe, it is 50 Hz, and that is the electricity comes through connections asynchronous generators. For example, frequency that must be present in all or is produced from renewable sources, the inertia of one new synchronous The new synchronous condensers will networks, from high-voltage may work, but even a small disturbance compensator, which we plan to install, also have more functions which are transmission lines to wires that reach could mean a sudden change in will correspond to the total inertia of important for system reliability, but every home. The constant frequency in frequency that other generators in the two units 7 and 8 of the Elektrėnai ensuring frequency stability will be the system is traditionally ensured by system cannot compensate for, complex, the largest thermal power their main task. The synchronisation program in synchronously rotating power because their inertia is simply plant in Lithuania. Lithuania consists of 14 projects of generators. As they rotate, they insucient. In the worst scenario there You say that synchronous special state importance, which are provide the network with inertia, which could be a complete blackout of the The inertia created by these devices condensers will contribute to the designed to prepare for the operation on keeps the frequency of the electricity system. will help us manage the frequency and development of renewable the same frequency with the Continental stable for some time even when faults safely resolve supply disruptions in the resources. How? European Synchronous Area. One of the occur. In an event of systemic Currently, the Baltic states are part of event of disturbances, integrate more most important projects - and the disturbance, not seconds but the IPS / UPS synchronous system and renewable energy generators, use Both wind and solar power plants do second largest in terms of budget - is milliseconds are the key to ensuring the frequency is regulated and energy eciently with neighbouring not provide inertia to the grid. the installation of new synchronous frequency stability. If during this short provided centrally here by the Russian countries and allow existing generators Consequently, when calculating how condensers. To find out what these period the frequency parameters start operator. However, after to participate in the electricity market many of such devices can be Synchronous condenser in Denmark. devices are and why they are important to return to the initial state, we say that synchronisation, the Baltic states will in the most ecient way. connected to the network, as a system not just for synchronisation, we talk to the dynamic stability of the system is disconnect from the IPS / UPS and, operator we would have a certain limit, Rimantas Redecki, Head of System ensured. individually, will have to ensure the beyond which we would not be able to Reliability Unit. frequency management themselves. allow greater development of REVIEW: NEWS OF THE MONTH

Reconstruction of the Klaipėda – Neris substation procurement Harmony Link route chosen, Seabed survey for the Harmony Grobinė line has started has been announced Litgrid has acquired territory for Link has begun substation

18/01/2021 20/01/2021 02/02/2021 03/02/2021

Litgrid has signed a contract for the design The reconstruction project of the Neris Litgrid has completed one of the planning Lithuanian and Polish electricity transmission and reconstruction of the 330 kV overhead transformer substation in Nemenčinė, Vilnius stages of the new electricity interconnector system operators Litgrid and PSE have line Klaipėda – Grobinė. This reconstruction is district, has started. The 330/110/10 kV project with Poland: a marine and land route started the seabed survey stage in the the first stage of the 330 kV Darbėnai – substation is one of the two main electricity has been selected in the territory of Lithuania Harmony Link project. The survey, which is Bitėnai overhead line project. The future line transmission nodes near the city of Vilnius, it and territory has been acquired for the scheduled to be completed in the second half will strengthen the transmission network in is related to two synchronisation projects of construction of the Darbėnai substation. of the year, will explore a 290 km long and Western Lithuania and ensure its reliable special state importance - installation of 300 m wide route in the Baltic Sea, and its operation after establishing a Harmony Link synchronous condensers and the new 330 kV Read more here (link in Lithuanian) report will be used to develop a cable laying interconnector with Poland. overhead line Vilnius – Neris. https://www.litgrid.eu/index.php/naujienos/naujienos/parinkta-elektros-jungties-harmony-link-trasa-litgrid-isigijo-teritorija-darbenu-pastotei/31400 and protection strategy.

Read more here: Read more here (link in Lithuanian): Read more here (link in Lithuanian) https://www.litgrid.eu/index.php/news-events-/news/litgrid-started-the-reconstruction-of-a-transmission-line-important-for-the-synchronisation-project/31398 https://www.litgrid.eu/index.php/naujienos/naujienos/litgrid-rekonstruos-greta-vilniaus-esancia-neries-pastote-paskelbtas-pirkimas/31391 https://www.litgrid.eu/index.php/naujienos/naujienos/lietuvoslenkijos-elektros-jungties-harmony-link-projekte-pradeti-juros-dugno-tyrimo-darbai/31407 STATUS: PROGRESS OF SYNCHRONISATION PROJECTS

Completion Project Implemented date* Works in progress

Expansion of LitPol Link in Alytus 91 % 2021 Waiting for power transformers to be supplied, all other essential works have been completed.

The development plan concept confirmed, land for substation acquired. Preparation of the design Construction of Darbėnai substation 15 % 2025 assignment.

Construction of Harmony Link marine cable connection 16 % 2025 Ongoing seabed survey, preparation of technical specification for design and construction.

Expansion of Bitėnai transformer substation 100 % 2019 Project completed

Construction of Pagėgiai-Bitėnai 110 kV overhead line 100 % 2020 Project completed

Reconstruction of Lietuvos E-Vilnius 330 kV overhead line 100 % 2020 Project completed

Construction of Vilnius-Neris 330 kV overhead line 25% 2025 Coordination of spatial planning document

Construction of Mūša substation 18% 2025 Publication of spatial planning document

Construction of Darbėnai-Bitėnai 330 kV overhead line 31 % 2025 Spatial planning document publication concluded, start of reconstruction works.

Construction of Kruonio HAE-Bitėnai 330 kV overhead line 30 % 2025 Spatial planning document publication concluded, procurement of reconstruction works.

Grid optimisation in North-Eastern Lithuania 90 % 2021 330 kV works in Utena and Ignalina substations completed, 110 kV works ongoing.

Synchronous condenser purchase competition under execution, substation reconstruction Implementation of New Synchronous Condensers 23% 2024 works ongoing

Implementation of Frequency Stability Assessment System (FSAS) 11 % 2024 Project plan preparation

Implementation of Automatic Generation Control System 12 % 2024 Project plan preparation * According to Actions and Measures Plan approved by Lithuanian Government. PEOPLE OF SYNCHRONISATION: MANAGING THE SPATIAL PLANNING PROCESS

area of ongoing challenge. Why? Because and their subordinate institutions), and share information on emerging within the deadlines set out in the act. it’s a process that sometimes combines municipal administrations, we and our problems. However, not everything is so simple, for completely opposite interests: public and hired planners, state inspection. example, the payment of compensation private. It is intertwined with legal How do you interact with residents and requires the personal data of the aspects of environmental protection, And also - residents of the community. respond to their expectations? landowner, but the law does not oblige construction permits and property rights. The spatial planning process is public, them to provide it, so compensation everyone can get acquainted with the In particular, we make e orts to reach the cannot be paid without active actions of What comprises the planning phase of solutions of the prepared spatial planning population with all the information still at the landowner. Therefore, we still have one specific synchronisation project? document and submit their proposal. The the planning stage. It often happens that unpaid compensations for the first new most sensitive group is the owners of the there are few participants in the public 330 kV power transmission line in To put it simply, the planning phase of a land on which the project is planned. For hearings when projects are presented, Lithuania after the restoration of project consists of two stages: planning example, the planned power line and we only get reactions much later, independence, although its construction and implementation. Planning would Darbėnai-Bitėnai crosses about 1600 after having started the construction was completed almost 7 years ago. include the process of spatial planning land plots, Kruonis HPP-Bitėnai - about works. However, we also see positive and the process of evaluation of the 740 land plots. signs, with a relatively large number of planned economic activity, whereas participants joining remote hearings at implementation is realisation of specific What are the key challenges you face the beginning of this year. For our part, solutions: adoption of administrative when working on synchronisation we aim to focus more and more on decisions, registration of property rights, projects? community relations, social responsibility establishment of restrictions, etc. Each and long-term commitment. Beata Kuzmik, of these processes has many more parts, Project implementation schedules are Head of Spatial Planning and Land Management Unit the preparation of a spatial planning really ambitious, and problems range How do compensation for land work, document alone includes the approval of from the simplest technical issues, such what is your role in this process? the work program, issuing of conditions, as a missing button in the spatial A large part of the synchronisation challenges and their management with analysis, formation of alternatives and planning information system, to complex Compensation is paid for destroyed crops projects under implementation in Beata Kuzmik, Head of Territorial selecting the best ones, specification of legal issues arising from insucient and and plantations, deforestation, losses Lithuania are related to the Planning and Land Management Unit. solutions and coordination with the unclear legal regulation. Therefore, in due to lost access to the land plot for its reconstruction and construction of lines public. order to achieve the ambitious goal of intended purpose. Compensation is or substations, which start with spatial Is spatial planning really a complicated How many participants are in this installing the infrastructure required for calculated in accordance with the planning. In this process, the interests of process, or does it just seem that way? process? synchronisation on time, it is necessary procedure established by the di erent groups in society need to be to involve all Lithuanian state, municipal Government. reconciled and weighted decisions taken The word complicated has a certain Definitely a lot. Planning organiser and other institutions involved in the as soon as possible. We talk about the negative connotation, so I wouldn’t use it. (Ministry of Energy), issuing and project and to cooperate closely, make Our role in this process is to pay the details of spatial planning, emerging I would describe spatial planning as an coordinating institutions (8 ministries decisions in the shortest possible time, compensation set to the landowners Expansion of LitPol Link in Alytus 91 % 2021

Construction of Darbėnai substation 15 % 2025

Construction of Harmony Link marine cable connection 16 % 2025

Expansion of Bitėnai transformer substation 100 % 2019

Construction of Pagėgiai-Bitėnai 110 kV overhead line 100 % 2020

Reconstruction of Lietuvos E-Vilnius 330 kV overhead line 100 % 2020

Construction of Vilnius-Neris 330 kV overhead line 25% 2025

Construction of Mūša substation 18% 2025

Construction of Darbėnai-Bitėnai 330 kV overhead line 31 % 2025

Construction of Kruonio HAE-Bitėnai 330 kV overhead line 30 % 2025

Grid optimisation in North-Eastern Lithuania 90 % 2021

Implementation of New Synchronous Condensers 23% 2024

Implementation of Frequency Stability Assessment System (FSAS) 11 % 2024

Implementation of Automatic Generation Control System 12 % 2024

PEOPLE OF SYNCHRONISATION: MANAGING THE SPATIAL PLANNING PROCESS

area of ongoing challenge. Why? Because and their subordinate institutions), and share information on emerging within the deadlines set out in the act. it’s a process that sometimes combines municipal administrations, we and our problems. However, not everything is so simple, for completely opposite interests: public and hired planners, state inspection. example, the payment of compensation private. It is intertwined with legal How do you interact with residents and requires the personal data of the aspects of environmental protection, And also - residents of the community. respond to their expectations? landowner, but the law does not oblige construction permits and property rights. The spatial planning process is public, them to provide it, so compensation everyone can get acquainted with the In particular, we make e orts to reach the cannot be paid without active actions of What comprises the planning phase of solutions of the prepared spatial planning population with all the information still at the landowner. Therefore, we still have one specific synchronisation project? document and submit their proposal. The the planning stage. It often happens that unpaid compensations for the first new most sensitive group is the owners of the there are few participants in the public 330 kV power transmission line in To put it simply, the planning phase of a land on which the project is planned. For hearings when projects are presented, Lithuania after the restoration of project consists of two stages: planning example, the planned power line and we only get reactions much later, independence, although its construction and implementation. Planning would Darbėnai-Bitėnai crosses about 1600 after having started the construction was completed almost 7 years ago. include the process of spatial planning land plots, Kruonis HPP-Bitėnai - about works. However, we also see positive and the process of evaluation of the 740 land plots. signs, with a relatively large number of planned economic activity, whereas participants joining remote hearings at implementation is realisation of specific What are the key challenges you face the beginning of this year. For our part, solutions: adoption of administrative when working on synchronisation we aim to focus more and more on decisions, registration of property rights, projects? community relations, social responsibility establishment of restrictions, etc. Each and long-term commitment. of these processes has many more parts, Project implementation schedules are the preparation of a spatial planning really ambitious, and problems range How do compensation for land work, document alone includes the approval of from the simplest technical issues, such what is your role in this process? the work program, issuing of conditions, as a missing button in the spatial A large part of the synchronisation challenges and their management with analysis, formation of alternatives and planning information system, to complex Compensation is paid for destroyed crops projects under implementation in Beata Kuzmik, Head of Territorial selecting the best ones, specification of legal issues arising from insucient and and plantations, deforestation, losses Lithuania are related to the Planning and Land Management Unit. solutions and coordination with the unclear legal regulation. Therefore, in due to lost access to the land plot for its reconstruction and construction of lines public. order to achieve the ambitious goal of intended purpose. Compensation is or substations, which start with spatial Is spatial planning really a complicated How many participants are in this installing the infrastructure required for calculated in accordance with the planning. In this process, the interests of process, or does it just seem that way? process? synchronisation on time, it is necessary procedure established by the di erent groups in society need to be to involve all Lithuanian state, municipal Government. reconciled and weighted decisions taken The word complicated has a certain Definitely a lot. Planning organiser and other institutions involved in the as soon as possible. We talk about the negative connotation, so I wouldn’t use it. (Ministry of Energy), issuing and project and to cooperate closely, make Our role in this process is to pay the details of spatial planning, emerging I would describe spatial planning as an coordinating institutions (8 ministries decisions in the shortest possible time, compensation set to the landowners