Baltic states synchronization with UCTE (also known as Baltic Synchro) is an international electricity transmission infrastructure project to synchronize the three Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) with the Synchronous grid of Continental Europe (UCTE), managed by ENTSO-E, and leave the IPS/UPS transmission system managed by the BRELL (Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) agreement.[2] The project is scheduled to be completed on 9 February 2025.[3]
National transmission grids of electrical power overhead power lines in 2022 in the Baltic states
The BRELL agreement was an agreement by Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to synchronise their power grids as part of the IPS/UPS power distribution system. It was originally made in February 2001.[4] The electricity systems of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were integrated into the IPS/UPS following the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States. IPS/UPS is largely managed centrally by Moscow.
In 2007, the three Baltic States made an application to join UCTE and began technical feasibility studies on joining the European synchronous power network.[5] The synchronization project will allow the three Baltic States to regain full control of their electricity networks and strengthen their energy security.[6][7] According to the European Commission, the synchronization of Baltic States is a political and financial priority and therefore it has allocated more than EUR 1.2 billion towards the funding of the project.[8]
Chronology
In 2007 the Prime Ministers of the three Baltic States confirmed their strategic objective to become part of the continental European network.[7] In September 2018 an official application for expansion of the synchronous zone was submitted to ENTSO-E.[9] On 27 May 2019, an agreement was signed for the connection of the Baltic states to the Continental Europe synchronous electric power network operation zone.[9]
Proposals to speed up the process
The need for synchronization became more urgent after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė announced that Lithuania was seeking to speed up the process of transition and leave BRELL transmission system before 2025 with expected finalized plan made public by the end of 2023.[10]
On 22 April 2023 a stress test was scheduled in the Baltic states to test the infrastructure and operate for a day outside the IPS/UPS grid.[11] Latvia and Estonia withdrew from testing, while Lithuania successfully conducted the test and concluded that the country was ready to join the Synchronous grid of Continental Europe in 2024.[12] Estonia and Latvia proposed the synchronization with the European grid to be delayed to 2025 due to infrastructure not being ready.[13] President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda continued to pressure both Estonia and Latvia to synchronize with continental Europe in 2024, without waiting until 2025.[8] Eventually, the countries agreed to synchronize no later than February 2025.[3]
Withdrawal from BRELL
On 16 July 2024, the three Baltic states, represented by their transmission system operators Elering (Estonia), AST (Latvia) and Litgrid (Lithuania), formally notified Russia and Belarus of their decision to withdraw from the BRELL agreement.[14] In Vilnius, a 9-metre tall clock began counting down on 1 November 2024.[15]
The agreement was set to legally expire on 7 February 2025 and the Baltic states were scheduled to technically disconnect from IPS/UPS on 8 February 2025.[14] Following the disconnection, Kaliningrad will become a power island, disconnected from its surrounding states.[16]
On 8 February 2025 at 9:09 AM (UTC+2), the Baltic States have permanently disconnected from IPS/UPS.[17] For a day, they operated in isolated mode and conducted various frequency, voltage stability and system resilience tests.[17]
Connections
On 9 December 2015, Poland and Lithuania commissioned LitPol Link, which was the first direct connection between the Baltic states and the European grid.[18] In 2018 another proposed link with Poland via the Baltic Sea was announced, called Harmony Link.[19] The total investment planned for the Harmony Link project is around €680 million, of which €493 million will come from the Connecting Europe Facility.[20] The Baltic States also have connections with the Nordic electricity grid via Nordbalt and Estlink, although Estlink2 was severed by the ship Eagle S on 25 December 2024.[21]
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