What goes on in Poland on the 25th of July.
Poland and the Baltic states are ready for synchronization
The Baltic states are still synchronized with the post-Soviet energy system in the so-called BRELL ring, which makes them dependent on energy supplies regulated by Moscow. In June, an agreement between the European Commission and Poland, and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on the synchronization of the European continental electricity network with the network of Baltic states was signed. The project is being implemented as planned, and the countries involved are preparing to apply for Brussels for the first tranche of financial support for this infrastructure project.
After Thursday’s meeting with European Commission officials responsible for climate and energy policy, Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, head of the Energy Directorate of the European Commission, Dominique Ristori and Lithuanian Minister of Energy, Žygimantas Vaiciunas, confirmed that according to the schedule four countries will be ready in October to apply for EU subsidies.
„Together with Latvia and Estonia, we worked hard to prepare all applications for submission at the beginning of October. This will be the first time we apply for co-financing not for the development of a case study or research, but for the implementation of specific projects. These projects are currently harmonized at the technical level. (…) once again, the Commission assured me that it was ready to finance such projects, and I confirmed that the Baltic States are ready to submit the relevant documents at the scheduled time, before the deadline for applications, which runs until October 11 „- said Vaiciunas.
Existing connections with the Baltic states
Two existing LitPolLink (AC, alternating current) lines with a connection capacity of 1000 megawatts (MW) will have to be used to implement the project. In addition, a new asynchronous electric line (DC, direct current) with a capacity of 700 MW will appear and will be located on the bottom of the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Poland. According to the Lithuanian minister, the technical details of the synchronization project should be made available to the public by 30 August. Soon after, they should be approved by the Group developing the Program for Mutual Connections of the Baltic Market (BEMIP).
Until September 21, Poland, along with other Baltic countries, will present a proposal of the Association of European Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E), and by October 11 will apply for funding from CEF (Connecting Europe Facility). By February 2019, the European Commission has time to make the relevant decisions.
It is expected that ENTSO-E will define the technical conditions of the merger in 2019, and the countries concerned will implement them in 2020-2025. In 2025, the Baltic states should already be completely synchronized with the networks of continental Europe. The full cost of the project was estimated at around EUR 1 billion.