The Baltic states have successfully completed key maintenance tests on their electricity grids, confirming their ability to operate independently ahead of full integration with the European electricity network.
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia disconnected from the post-Soviet energy system on Saturday morning, an event of such importance that some have dubbed it as an “independence day.”
The old system, a relic from the era of the USSR, meant that the three states were tied to Russia and Belarus’ grids, making them vulnerable and dependent on Moscow to a certain degree.
Following the disconnection, the transmission system operators of Lithuania (Litgrid), Latvia (AST), and Estonia (Elering) took full control of frequency management and system balancing, officially marking their departure from the Russian-controlled IPS/UPS system and BRELL ring.
The Baltic grids are set to link up with their EU counterparts early Sunday afternoon by fully synchronizing with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA) via the LitPol Link connection between Lithuania and Poland.
Saturday’s tests were meant to ensure that the three countries’ power network could function independently in the intervening hours.
Certain power sources were temporarily disconnected and reconnected to assess grid stability, including Lithuania’s 455 MW gas-fired Elektrėnai CHP plant, which was shut down for 90 minutes.
The electricity systems responded correctly, maintaining network parameters without disruptions to the power supply.
Additional tests on voltage maintenance are planned for Sunday morning.
Decoupling the Baltic states from Russia and Belarus’ grids is the culmination of an almost 20-year process, which cost €1.6 billion. It aims to give the three nations full electricity autonomy from Moscow by integrating them into the CESA, which powers over 400 million people in 24 countries.
The process was accelerated after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The old system, a relic from the era of the USSR, meant that the three states were tied to Russia and Belarus’ grids, making them vulnerable and dependent on Moscow to a certain degree.
Following the disconnection, the transmission system operators of Lithuania (Litgrid), Latvia (AST), and Estonia (Elering) took full control of frequency management and system balancing, officially marking their departure from the Russian-controlled IPS/UPS system and BRELL ring.
The Baltic grids are set to link up with their EU counterparts early Sunday afternoon by fully synchronizing with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA) via the LitPol Link connection between Lithuania and Poland.
Saturday’s tests were meant to ensure that the three countries’ power network could function independently in the intervening hours.
Certain power sources were temporarily disconnected and reconnected to assess grid stability, including Lithuania’s 455 MW gas-fired Elektrėnai CHP plant, which was shut down for 90 minutes.
The electricity systems responded correctly, maintaining network parameters without disruptions to the power supply.
Additional tests on voltage maintenance are planned for Sunday morning.
Decoupling the Baltic states from Russia and Belarus’ grids is the culmination of an almost 20-year process, which cost €1.6 billion. It aims to give the three nations full electricity autonomy from Moscow by integrating them into the CESA, which powers over 400 million people in 24 countries.
The process was accelerated after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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