ENERGY January 2013, No

ENERGY January 2013, No. 1 (13) UPDATE

PUBLISHED BY THE LITHUANIAN ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OPERATOR

TODAY AND TOMORROW In this issue: Standards prepared by a Wind-power Lithuanian engineer will be generation forecasts applied throughout entire published daily Europe’s energy system page 3 In territorial terms, the world’s smoothly (which is by no means electrical energy system that an easy task). One of these weaves a web across our con- specialists is Ramūnas Ponelis, tinents was by far humankind’s Head of the Technical Division largest engineering feat by the at Litgrid. He has contributed end of the 20th century. Only to a number of technical solu- at the turn of this century could tions for integrating electricity another system, the data-trans- generators into the transmission mission network, run it close and grid. Although such behind-the- now one is unimaginable with- scenes work remains invisible to out the other. A team of specia electricity consumers, the fact lists at Litgrid, Lithuania‘s only that not a single bulb has ever Litgrid electricity transmission system gone off for reasons other than Ramūnas Ponelis, Head of the operator, is responsible for en- completes the Technical Division at Litgrid suring that power grid functions see page 2 reconstruction STRATEGIC PROJECTS of Viršuliškės Strategic project with Poland transformer will ensure Lithuania’s energy substation page 4 independence The LitPol Link power inter- double-circuit transmission line system will be connected to the connection currently being con- will connect transformer substa- Western European power grid structed between Poland and tions in Alytus (Lithuania) and when the project is completed, Lithuania is one of our coun- Elk (Poland). This project is a joint laying the groundwork for integrating electricity markets of the Everything is going according to plan, Baltic States into Western Euro- pean electricity markets. This will Energy sector so the project should be successfully bring added benefits to Lithua completed by the end of 2015. nia’s economy. We asked Karolis news Sankovski, Litgrid Project Mana try’s key strategic projects in initiative by Litgrid and PSE, which ger responsible for successful the energy sector. The project is are respective national transmis- implementation of the LitPol Link page 8 due for completion by the end sion system operators in Lithuania of 2015. The 400 kV overhead and Poland. Lithuania’s electricity see page 5

1 ENERGY UPDATE

TODAY AND TOMORROW Completed tasks continued from page 1 and projects and natural calamities shows that participation in studies: this painstaking task is adeptly Working group member of the handled. feasibility study for a full syn- chronous interconnection of The energy expert’s road UCTE-IPS/UPS. Working group member of the Ponelis’ biography is made dis- feasibility study for construc- tinctive by his ability to combine tion of a new nuclear reactor in scientific research with practical Lithuania. work. Ponelis has been interested in engineering since his Mr. Ponelis was entrusted to prepare solutions to integrate electricity Calculation of the electrical sys- youth and went to study electri- generators into the country’s electricity transmission grid tem regime after the closure of cal power systems engineering Ignalina NPP. at Kaunas University of Techno Lithuania’s electricity transmis- years ago) was not an easy task in Preparation of the plan for re- logy. Towards the end of his stu sion system operator. 2004 without being highly quali- storing the electrical energy dies, the capable young man However, getting into Lietuvos fied. In his fourth year at the uni- system after a blackout and realised that he sees his future in Energija (which transferred its versity, the bright undergraduate calculation of the system’s dy- the electricity sector and that he electricity transmission system student was recommended to namic regimes. is interested in the activities of operator functions to Litgrid two Lietuvos Energija by his scientific Preparation of technical require- supervisor Dr. Vaclovas Ažubalis ments for integrating wind and carried out his first scien- Ramūnas Ponelis’ doctoral dissertation: farms for power generation and tific research for the company. other types of electricity gen- Supervisor: Docent and Doctor of Technical Sciences Vaclovas Ažubalis. As only a student, the first task erators into the country’s elec- Topic: Dynamic Process Modelling of Thermal Power Plant Generation Ponelis was given was to restore tricity transmission system and Units. the electrical energy system af- for the NordBalt and LitPol Link Aim: To create a dynamic model of a thermal power plant generation ter a blackout. After successfully interconnection projects. unit, allowing an assessment of multiple steam extraction in the tur- completing the work, the young Testing generators to be con- bine and modelling its operation specifics on the analysis of electro- man was noticed by senior nected to the energy transmis- mechanical transient processes in power systems. A dynamic model managers of the National Dis- for a thermal power plant steam turbine with multiple steam extrac- sion grid, determining their patch Centre and System Relia tion is created, allowing the use of permanent power proportion coef- characteristics and assessing bility Division and presented to ficients to investigate different operational regimes of a power genera- the quality of their operations tion unit. The research was conducted in Mažeikiai Power Plant. the company’s executive board. in view of relevant technical Practical value of the work: The proposed dynamic model of the But even after this challenge he requirements. steam turbine with multiple steam extraction enables a more precise had to hang tough to secure a determination of stability limits and transmission grid bottlenecks, per- missible electricity market regimes and Ponelis now has a remarkable the potential for development of re- career and substantial experi- newable energy sources, as well as the integration capabilities of large power ence of international project generating units in small power systems and participation in the frequency work on his CV. His history as control of thermal power plants. The an expert in the energy field EU encourages the construction and development of cogeneration power has recently been supplemented by a doc- plants that supply both electricity and heating, switching from condensation power plants that can only pro- toral degree in technical sciences. duce electricity. The number of such power plants is rising across all job and do a scientific research in the System Reliability Division electrical energy systems and a more accurate and convenient model project called Estimation of Sys- for assessing their operational regimes is definitely useful for any fu- and there met Rimvydas Dičius, ture investigations of electromechanical transient processes in electric tem Transition Processes Follo who was to become his teacher power systems. wing Closure of the Ignalina Nu- in practical matters. clear Power Plant. He carried out Having started as a simple en- Ramūnas Ponelis’ career: the research before the Ignalina gineer, Ponelis now has a remark- NPP’s closure, which therefore able career and substantial experi- 2004: System Reliability Division Engineer at Lietuvos Energija. had tremendous practical value ence of international project work 2005: System Reliability Division Senior Engineer. later on. After completing this on his CV. His history as an expert 2006: System Reliability Division Managing Engineer. task fairly successfully and gai in the energy field has recently 2008: Leader of the group devising technical standards for system de- ning a Master’s degree, Ponelis been supplemented by a doctoral velopment. was offered a job in Lietuvos degree in technical sciences. 2010: System Development Managing Engineer at Litgrid. Energija’s National Dispatch Cen- 2012: Head of Technical Division at Litgrid. tre. He thus became an engineer see page 3

2 January 2013, No. 1 (13)

Training the younger mendations from scientists who This complicated field was en- transmission system was shut generation teach them. trusted to Ponelis. off from poor or second-hand During the 2012 internship Ponelis studied the examples and outdated technologies, al- These days it is much easier programme, Litgrid chose 3 of Denmark, Germany, Spain and lowing in only high-quality and to become a part of the team young specialists who are suc- the U.S., where renewable energy trustworthy options. For exam- at Litgrid, Lithuania’s electricity cessfully working for the compa- development started much ear- ple, all wind farms connected to transmission system operator. ny today by applying the know lier, and in this way devised tech- Lithuania’s energy transmission This is because of the intern- ledge they acquired in their nical requirements for renew- grid must have remote control ship programme initiated by universities and learning from able energy producers wishing to systems to adjust the power and the company itself. Litgrid’s the company’s highly-experi- connect to the country’s electri voltage generated or shut down personnel should undoubtedly enced professionals. This year, city transmission grid. An entirely the whole farm. The absence of comprise experts in the field, Litgrid plans to select 5 young professional theorists who con- specialists from the programme. Lithuania’s electricity transmis- tinuously review and analyse proposed and applied technolo- Tasks have been dictated sion grid is currently equipped gies, assess their pros and cons by the country’s key energy with devices that comply with and later offer convincing argu- projects ments for adopting solutions the latest EU standards. that entrust Lithuania’s electricity Lithuanian businesses be- transmission, as far as possible, came seriously interested in gen- new concept was born based such systems among Germany’s to methods that are most effec- erating electricity from renewa- on global best practices. The electricity transmission system tive from the consumer’s point ble sources nearly a decade ago. technical requirements devised operators in 2006 made them of view. Litgrid has now stopped It was then necessary to find out by Ponelis for Lithuania’s wind unable to keep the system in carrying out repairs of the elec- the best way to integrate such energy producers will be ap- check, resulting in massive pow- tricity transmission system on producers into the country’s plied throughout Europe within er cuts for vast numbers of con- its own, when all that specialists energy system and the require- about three years. Thanks to this sumers. Lithuania’s transmission need to do is follow the instruc- ments they should be set, as well capable specialist, Lithuania has grid is currently equipped with tions given. This is a company as researching problems faced managed to outdo most other devices that comply with the that requires personnel capable in other countries and ways to electricity transmission operators. latest EU standards, have been of highly intellectual work. prevent them in Lithuania. Lithu- Furthermore, after assessing tested in countries such as Swit- Litgrid therefore cooperates ania’s electricity transmission op- the experience of integrating zerland, Germany and Sweden, with universities to attract the erator did not then have any staff electricity generators into na- and have been purchased only brightest and most proactive for carrying out this function and tional transmission grids in other students and relies on recom- conducting relevant supervision. countries, Lithuania’s electricity see page 4

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OPERATOR NEWS Wind-power generation forecasts published daily

Accurate predictions about Under the Minister of Ener the amount of electricity pro- gy’s order of 7 January 2013, duced in wind-power plants are Lietuvos Energija was tem- becoming increasingly neces- porarily assigned to purchase sary for enabling effective trad- electricity generated by wind ing of wind-generated electricity farms connected to Lithuania’s on the Nord Pool Spot power high-voltage electricity trans exchange. As of 8 January 2013, mission grid operated by Litgrid. electricity transmission operator Lietuvos Energija will be re- Litgrid publishes wind-power placed in the future by a perma- generation forecasts for the nent wind power intermediary. following day on its website Electricity generated by Lithu- (www.litgrid.eu/go.php/eng/ ania’s wind farms comprises ap- Wind_generation/10) by 10 am proximately 3 per cent of the Litgrid publishes daily wind-power generation forecasts on its website each day. This forecast is used by country’s daily electricity con- Lietuvos Energija for making sale sumption. From now on, all elec- Pool Spot power exchange. Elec- way to all market participants, offers in Nord Pool Spot Lithu- tricity generated by wind-power tricity generated from renewable thus increasing transparency in anian bidding area. plants will be sold via the Nord sources is made available in this the electricity market.

3 ENERGY UPDATE

TODAY AND TOMORROW

continued from page 3 careful consideration when pre- energy grid with Western Eu- paring technical requirements rope’s electrical energy system. after careful consideration of the for the NPP’s integration. All three Baltic States participate most technically and economi- Technical requirements for in this project. Consultants are cally-effective options. the planned fifth hydro unit at conducting a technical feasi- The scientist actively partici- Kruonis Pumped Storage Power bility study and experts from pates in the activities of ENTSO-E Plant also required careful a electricity transmission opera- (European Network of Trans- consideration and discussion tors in Lithuania, Latvia and Es- mission System Operators for with foreign experts. The pro- tonia are assessing the study Electricity), which focuses on posed hydro unit would feature results and proposed technical preparing legislative acts for con- a so-called asynchronous gene capabilities for synchronisation. necting to electricity networks of rator instead of a typical syn- It should be noted that Lithu- transmission system operators in chronous one. This would be ania’s infrastructure will be part European countries. the only such hydro unit in the of Scandinavian and Western In preparing the Visaginas NPP Baltics, with its closest equivalent European infrastructure by the project, Ponelis had to assess dif- installed in Germany. Along with end of 2015, after the NordBalt ferent ways of integrating this current hydro units, this would and LitPol Link electrical inter- massive electricity generator help control the power balance connection projects have been Lithuania’s electricity transmis- into the country’s energy grid. in the electrical energy system. implemented. sion system uses high-quality, According to him, it is already Litgrid’s main challenge to- trustworthy equipment clear which areas need the most day is to synchronise Lithuania’s Source: Veidas Magazine

Strenghtening of the domestic network Litgrid completes the reconstruction of Viršuliškės transformer substation

In January 2012, electricity in many households in Vilnius, transmission system operator and we are therefore very happy Litgrid completed the recon- to have completed the work in struction of Vilnius’ most impor- less than a year thanks to careful tant electricity hub, Viršuliškės planning.” transformer substation. This pro- The brand new transformer ject was necessary for ensuring a substation that is now con- safe and reliable electricity sup- nected to our capital’s energy ply in Viršuliškės and Karoliniškės grid ensures a reliable electri neighbourhoods and preparing city supply to residents in Vil- for the connection of a new nius’ Viršuliškės and Karoliniškės underground transmission ca- neighbourhoods and also to ble in 2013 near Vilnius’s west- some of Vilnius’ key institutions, ern roundabout way that is such as Vilnius University Hospi- The reconstructed Viršuliškės transformer substation is very important for ensuring LTL 2.2 million have been invested in the reconstruction of Viršuliškės the quality of life in many Vil- substation built in 1970s nius households. any transmission disruptions renovation. Reconstruction is in households and institutions started in four or five substa- currently under construction. tal, Lithuanian Radio and Televi- in the surrounding areas of the tions every year, with several ”Compared with other Litgrid sion Centre, Vilniaus Troleibusai city. All equipment in the sub- completely renovated substa- projects, this reconstruction has UAB and Vilniaus Vandenys UAB. station has been replaced in less tions connected to the trans- been a fairly minor undertaking,” Reconstruction works in than a year. mission grid annually. More said Vidmantas Grušas, Head of Viršuliškės transformer substa- Lithuania’s transmission grid, than 40 different transmission the Transmission Grid Depart- tion, in cooperation with distri- which was built three or four grid elements are currently un- ment at Litgrid. “However, it di- bution network operator Lesto, decades ago, is getting old der construction or renovation rectly affects the quality of life were planned so as to prevent and therefore needs constant throughout Lithuania.

4 January 2013, No. 1 (13)

STRATEGIC PROJECTS Strategic project with Poland will ensure Lithuania’s energy independence

continued from page 1 power interconnection project, to tell us more about the project and its progress so far.

How is the construction of the energy bridge going? What has been completed so far and what is being done at the moment?

The LitPol Link project started in May 2008, after coordinating company LitPol Link was established. In Lithuania, all work is being con- sistently carried out one step at a time. The territorial planning procedure has now been completed and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has been prepared and presented to the public. The necessary easements have been established and land has been bought in Alytus for the development of a substation and the construction of a direct cur- Karolis Sankovski, Litgrid Project Manager responsible for the successful implementation of rent insert. Technical projects are the LitPol Link power interconnection project We are happy about the public Protection Agency and Public ties into account when plan- Health Centre and other insti- ning the route. The process of acceptance of a project that is tutions. We have also organ- signing easement contracts so strategically important for ised public meetings with local with people on whose land residents where they shared the interconnection will be laid the country. their comments and sugges- therefore went rather smoothly tions about the planned route. and we have had only a few ob- currently being prepared for the You mentioned that the En- We are happy about the public jections. We are hoping to find installation of a 330 kV distribu- vironmental Impact Assess- acceptance of a project that is solutions favourable to all af- tion station (switchyard) in Alytus ment report has already so strategically important for fected parties in the near future. substation and the construction been prepared in Lithuania. the country. We have taken the of an overhead transmission line What are the results? comments of all interested par- see page 6 from Alytus to the Lithuanian border. We expect to obtain all The Lithuanian EIA report necessary permits for the con- was prepared in summer 2010. In January 2013, the Polish transmission system operator PSE an- struction of these elements by Three possible route lines have nounced a call for tenders to build the 400 kV (kilovolt) transmission May. Parallel interconnection been considered to assess the line from the city of Elk in Poland to the Lithuanian border. The win- project work is being carried out project’s environmental impact, ning bidder will not only have to build the transmission line, but will in Poland. At the moment, they choosing the one least harm- also be responsible for all legal formalities, the project’s preparation and the purchase of materials. The line will cross several districts, in- are performing territorial plan- ful to nature and least obstruc- cluding Elk, Suwalki, Punsk and Sejny. According to PSE, all necessary ning procedures, establishing tive to farming activities. Many contracts have already been signed for the co-financing of more than easements and preparing an EIA interested parties participated PLN 700 million (LTL 594 million) from the EU budget. PSE will finance report and the technical project in the EIA’s preparation, com- the rest. At the start of its use, the LitPol Link interconnection line is for interconnection. Everything prising municipality and neigh- planned to have 500 MW (megawatts) of capacity. This will increase is going according to the plan, so bourhood representatives, the to 1,000 MW in 2018–2020, when the second direct-current conver- the project should be successfully Department of Cultural Herit- ter block is built in Alytus. completed by the end of 2015. age, the Region’s Environment

5 ENERGY UPDATE

STRATEGIC PROJECTS

LitPol Link

Principal interconnection scheme

~100 km ~50 km

Polish Lithuanian electricity electricity network network 400 kv 400 kv

400 kV Converter 330 kV substation station substation

Ełk Lithuania-Poland Alytus (Poland) border (Lithuania)

The LitPol Link power interconnection between Poland and Lithuania is one of our country’s key strategic projects in the energy sector

continued from page 5 What technological inno- gineering, accommodation, ca- electricity at competitive prices. vations will be applied in tering and other businesses will Such reforms will first and fore- The LitPol Link intercon- constructing the LitPol Link be able to absorb foreign invest- most be beneficial to electricity nection is an overhead power interconnection? ment. As I have already said, new consumers. Where can the public transmission line. Did you technologies will also be used in find out more about this project? consider the option of an un- The project’s main innovation this project, so Lithuanian spe- To begin with, they can contact derground line? is a direct current back-to-back cialists will gain fresh knowledge the institutions responsible for converter station, of which there about how to operate these de- this project, which are electri A thorough comparative ana are very few in the world. This is vices. Finally, the overhead trans- city transmission system op- lysis of possible underground a complex engineering device mission line between Lithuania erator Litgrid and the LitPol Link and overhead lines was per- that requires exceptional com- and Poland will interconnect our company. A lot of useful informa- formed to determine the best petence. At present, foreign ex- region’s electricity transmission tion is also available on the Litgrid type of transmission line in this perts participate in the device’s system with the European Con- and LitPol Link websites (www. case. The analysis showed that purchase procedure. During the tinental Network (ECN). This will litgrid.eu and www.litpol-link.com). alternating current cable tech- preparation and setting up of not only ensure Lithuania’s ener- We actively cooperate with the nology is more harmful to nature an installation, training will be gy independence from the east- municipalities of Alytus and Lazdijai and agricultural land and seven organised for Lithuanian experts ern neighbours that are currently districts and their neighbourhoods, to ten times more expensive. so they can each gain valuable our largest electricity suppliers, so the public can also contact Moreover, a cable laid under the knowledge to aid the facility’s use but will also enable the supply of them if they have any questions. ground would cause difficulties and maintenance. for farmers because cultivating soil or planning other farming What added value will the activities on the route is forbid- project bring to the region of den. On the other hand, an over- Alytus and its residents? head line does not really restrict farming activities nearby or even The first thing we must note is directly beneath it. Local resi- that the LitPol Link power inter- dents and farmers only have to connection will modernise Lithu- bear in mind not to stay close to ania’s electricity transmission the lines longer than absolutely system, improving its reliability necessary. Time restrictions vary and ensuring safety both in the from one to four hours per day, Alytus region and at a national which is more than enough time level. Construction of the over- to carry out all the necessary head transmission line and the sowing or harvesting. Moreover, reconstruction of Alytus trans- this is not what a farmer does former substation will create new every day. jobs, while local construction, en- Alytus transformer substation after its reconstruction

6 January 2013, No. 1 (13)

ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OPERATOR NEWS Suggestions from local residents taken into account when building the new Kretinga-Benaičiai transmission line

In response to suggestions ments approved in Lithuania, some LTL 1.3 million each year. transmission line will cost about from local residents, several plan- and that the electric field will not There are no plans to connect LTL 7.5 million. Its total length is ning decisions have been adjus exceed permitted safety levels. additional wind farms to the approximately 27 km. ted in the segment between We have chosen the high-volt- transmission grind after com- The Kretinga-Benaičiai over- Kretinga transformer substation age route between Kretinga and pleting the project. head transmission line is one and the intersection with the Benaičiai transformer substation Most of Lithuania’s transmis- of western Lithuania’s key pro- 330 kV Klaipėda-Grobinė transmis- that is best for local residents and sion grid was built three to four jects, helping to create a safer sion line (approximately 2.5 km in total) when choosing the route When planning the Kretinga-Benaičiai route line in Kre- for the 110 kV Kretinga-Benaičiai transmission line. Electricity trans- tinga district, many factors were taken into account. Most mission system operator Litgrid proposed building the new line importantly, the company sought to minimise interferen- without constructing additional ce with local residents’ welfare, farming and economic pylons. A double-circuit overhead line is to be built, replacing the activities and avoid causing undue environmental harm. existing pylons with new ones. The remainder of the line will the environment and stretches decades ago and its renovation and more reliable electricity stretch next to the existing 330 kV through the least-populated and development is essential to transmission grid. The company overhead transmission line. areas. New technical solutions ensure a safe and reliable energy responsible for implementing Electricity system is a compli- that enable the building of fewer supply for consumers through the project is Litgrid, Lithuanian cated engineering feat and every new pylons for the transmission out Lithuania. Construction of electricity transmission system related project is therefore an im- line were presented by Litgrid the Kretinga-Benaičiai overhead operator. portant and highly responsible specialists in response to sug- task for the people and compa- gestions from local residents and nies involved. When planning the after considering technically pos- Kretinga-Benaičiai route in Kre- sible alternatives.

The Kretinga-Benaičiai overhead transmission line is one of western Lithuania’s key projects, helping to create a safer and more reliable electricity transmission grid. tinga district, many factors were The Kretinga-Benaičiai over- taken into account. Most impor- head transmission line will sig- tantly, the company sought to nificantly increase the flexibility minimise interference with local of the Klaipėda-Mažeikiai route residents’ welfare and their farm- management in the event of ing and economic activities and power failures and will ensure a not cause undue harm to the non-stop electricity supply for environment. The Environmental customers during repairs. The Impact Assessment procedure new transmission line will also has shown that the planned help prevent losses occurring in overhead transmission line route the transmission grid, which in complies with all hygiene and the past had to be compensated A double-circuit overhead transmission line is proposed in the most health norms and safety require- for in energy tariffs. This will save complicated segment of the Kretinga-Benaičiai line

7 ENERGY UPDATE

ENERGY SECTOR NEWS Drop in prices in Nord Pool Spot

ct/kWh 8

0 2012-12-18 2012-12-19 2012-12-20 2012-12-21 2012-12-22 2012-12-23 2012-12-24 2012-12-25 2012-12-26 2012-12-27 2012-12-28 2012-12-29 2012-12-30 2012-12-31 2013-01- 05 2013-01- 01 2013-01- 02 2013-01- 03 2013-01- 04 2013-01- 05 2013-01- 06 2013-01- 07 2013-01- 08 2013-01-09 2013-01-10 2013-01-11 2013-01-12 2013-01-13 2013-01-14 2013-01-15 2013-01-16

Sweden, a 4-zone Finland Estonia ELE zone Lithuania Prices in Nord Pool Spot electricity exchange from 18 December 2012 to 16 January 2013

Electricity demand fell be- energy security and serving as a tween Christmas and the New reserve source. Year, when the weather became The power plant started to ex- warmer and the holiday began. pand in 2009. A new combined LESTO customer satisfaction Nord Pool Spot electricity Electricity prices on the power cycle unit was built in its territory, score higher than European exchange news exchange therefore fell and re- along with another eight. The and global averages mained at those levels until the power plant controlled by Lietu- The average electricity price end of the year. Due to the rela- vos Energija continues to be reno- Lithuanian distribution network in Nord Pool Spot Lithuanian tively warm first days of January vated and modernised. operator LESTO AB conducted bidding area (NPS LT) rose from and an increased Russian elec- an annual customer satisfaction 13.6 ct/kWh in November to tricity supply, electricity prices in survey using GCSI methodology. 15.3 ct/kWh in December. By the Baltic States and Finland also The company’s results show that comparison, the average elec- remained low for the first ten-day its customer satisfaction index is tricity price in Lithuania’s power period in January 2013. higher than both European and exchange in December 2011 global averages in the provision was 12.4 ct/kWh. The price rose Baltpool finishes the year of electricity and other utility this December because of an in- successfully services. The company’s index in creased electricity demand due 2012 was 75 points, while the av- to cold weather: the average tem- Within the first few months of erage among European energy perature in December 2012 was 50 years’ successful operation Baltpool’s energy exchange opera- providers was 65 and the global -4.3 °C, which is about 2 degrees of the Lithuania Power Plant tion, two transactions were agreed average 71. below the average of many years. and 21 companies became energy In the survey, LESTO customers As in previous years, intraday The date of 30 December exchange participants. identified the company’s website electricity prices in NPS LT fluctu- 2012 marks the 50th anniver- Biofuel exchange currently (www.lesto.lt) and self-service ated this December because of sary since the Lithuanian Power trades wood chips. Trade orders website (www.manoelektra.lt) differences in trading volumes Plant’s first unit in Elektrėnai are accepted from Monday to as sources of the most positive among market participants trad- became operational. This unit Thursday and auctions are held changes. According to respond- ing between Lithuania and Esto- comprised a steam boiler with every Thursday. Biofuel trade in ents, information on these web- nia. The price also rose because a capacity of 500 t/h, a 150 MW the exchange is organised in sites is presented clearly and of the changing trading volume turbine, a 150 MW generator eight Lithuanian regions: Vilnius, conveniently and all questions of electricity from Latvia to NPS LT. and a transformer. Kaunas, Utena, Alytus, Šiauliai, are promptly answered by the This was mostly conditioned by Today, the power plant built 50 Panevėžys, Rietavas and Klaipėda company’s staff. In addition, cus- changes in the output generation years ago no longer operates at port. Heating and electricity pro- tomers’ assessment of the quality of Latvia’s hydropower plants on full capacity. However, it remains ducers that use biofuel and biofu- of the electricity supply is also the one hand and electricity sup- an integral part of Lithuania’s en- el producers (irrespective of their positive. ply volumes from Russia to Esto- ergy system, producing the coun- size) are invited to trade at the LESTO AB currently serves more nia and Latvia on the other. try’s base electricity load, ensuring exchange. than 1.577 million customers.

ISSN 2335-2167 This newsletter is based on information Further information: Litgrid AB that has been made public by Litgrid and Laura Šebekienė, Electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) other energy companies, Lithuanian and Head of Communication, Litgrid A. Juozapavičiaus St. 13, LT-09311, Vilnius, Lithuania foreign electricity exchanges, and energy Phone: +370 5 278 2428, +370 693 65377 Phone: +370 5 278 2777, Fax: +370 5 272 3986 analysts. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected], www.litgrid.eu 8