Baltic States to discontinue procuring ballasting electricity from Russia

Operators of Baltic electricity transmission systems have agreed to discontinue procuring ballasting electricity from Russia, as confirmed by JSC Augstsprieguma tīkls.
Baltic transmission system operators (PSO) – Estonian Elering, Latvian JSC Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST) and Lithuanian Litgrid – have agreed to add changes to the balancing of Baltic energy system to further reduce dependence on Russia’s energy system. From 1 June onward consumption and generation balance in Baltic States’ transmission systems will be provided mainly using the energy available on the Baltic, Nordic and Polish markets.
Baltic energy system is synchronised with Russia’s single energy system, which provides frequency stability for the Baltic energy system, as well as balance between consumption and generation.
«Considering Inter RAO network’s companies’ growing difficulties with bank transactions, as well as the fact that Nord Pool has ceased cooperation with Inter RAO due to financial risks, Baltic PSA have agreed to cease procuring ballasting electricity from Inter RAO from 1 June onward to exclude the necessity of wiring transactions to the Russian company,» explains AST board chairman Gatis Junghāns.

The changes adopted by operators will help reduce Baltic States’ dependence on Russia’s energy system.

Changes will also promote balancing of Baltic energy system with power output of the Baltic Sea region, AST explains.
Read also: Riga hopes for state support to reduce heating cost pressure on residents
Baltic energy system will continue operating in sync with Russia’s energy system Baltic energy system has been synchronised with the Continental European Energy System in 2025.
AST will continue implementing a programme for Latvia’s energy system’s synchronisation with Europe’s system. It is also planned to reconstruct two high-voltage power lines in Estonia’s direction by 2025, build three synchronous compensators to ensure the stability of the system frequency, construct an 80 MW battery to ensure reserves to balance the system, introduce an automatic generation control system, as well as other projects. Estonia, Lithuania and Poland have also commenced their own synchronisation programmes.