LitPol Link

The Lithuania–Poland interconnection LitPol Link represents electricity link between the Baltic transmission system (part of the IPS/UPS system) and the synchronous grid of Continental Europe. As of 2016 the first stage of the project which has a capacity of 500 MW has been completed.

"Lithuania–Poland interconnection" redirects here. For a proposed gas pipeline between Lithuania and Poland, see Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania.
LitPol Link
Location
CountryLithuania; Poland
Coordinates54°47′56″N 24°15′19″E
54°26′34″N 23°58′32″E
54°26′19″N 23°58′02″E
53°46′25″N 22°19′20″E
53°01′38″N 23°02′43″E
53°49′39″N 20°20′51″E
General directioneast–west–east
FromKruonis
Passes throughAlytus
Ełk
ToNarew
Matki
Ownership information
OwnerLitPol Link
PartnersPSE-Operator
Litgrid
Construction information
Construction started5 May 2014
Construction cost€ 340 mill.[1]
Commissioned9 December 2015
Technical information
Typeoverhead transmission line
Type of currentHVDC ( back-to-back)
Total length341 km (212 mi)
Power rating500 MW (current)
1,000 MW (planned)
AC voltage330& kV in Lithuania
400 kV in Poland
DC voltage±70 kV
No. of circuits2

History

In 2000, European Commission and the EBRD agreed to finance a feasibility study on the Poland–Lithuania transmission interconnection. The study was completed in September 2002.[2] The connection is expected to increase Poland's electricity interconnection level from 2% to 4%.[3] Parts of LitPol are on the EU "Projects of Common Interest" list in November 2015.[4]

On 29 September 2006 Polish President Lech Kaczyński and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus signed joint declaration on the joint power grid project during their meeting in Warsaw.[5] The memorandum of understanding to establish a joint interconnection operator was signed between Lietuvos Energija and Polish PSE-Operator in Vilnius on 8 December 2006. Project Company Shareholding Agreement signed on 12 February 2008 in Warsaw.[6] The joint project company LitPol Link was founded on 19 May 2008.[7]

Aiming to build a 400 kV overhead line between Ełk and Łomża PSE-Operator signed a contract with the Polish construction company PBE ELBUD Group on 12 September 2011.[8] During start of 2013 Lithuanian transmission system operator Litgrid awarded ABB Group a $110 million contract to supply and install the first HVDC converter station in proximity of Alytus, Lithuania.[9]

Construction of the link commenced in the Alytus district on 5 May 2014.[10] LitPol electricity link started operations on 9 December 2015 the same day transmitting up to 200 MW power from Poland to Lithuania.[11]

The second part of project (another 500 MW capacity link) is planned to have a different route through Marijampolė. The full plan of second part was scheduled to be reviewed at the end of 2016.[12]

Technical features

The interconnection represents 53-kilometre (33 mi) double circuit 330 kV line Kruonis–Alytus, 1000 MW back-to-back converter in Alytus and 48-kilometre (30 mi) double circuit 400 kV line from Alytus to the Lithuania–Poland border on Lithuanian side and 106-kilometre (66 mi) double circuit 400 kV line border–Ełk on Polish side.[13]

According to the pre-feasibility study cost of the interconnection estimated €237 million. With intention to enhance existing energy infrastructure including Poland–Germany and Poland–Czech Republic upgrades in addition Polish TSO invested €650 million and Lithuanian TSO €262 million.[7] Lithuania–Poland interconnection has been listed as a EU Trans-European Networks project. The interconnection initial capacity is 500 MW with transmission capacity upgrade up to 1000 MW possible after completion of second HVDC back-to-back station.[14][15]

The tower 61 near Elk, the tower 160, the tower 166 ( both near Suwalki) and the tower 293 near Sankury have a height of 107 metres.

HVDC Back-to-back station

The Alytus HVDC back-to-back station is located 600 metres (2,000 ft) southwest of the existing 330 kV-substation which has been extended as well. It consists of two converters each rated for 500 MW transmission power. The facility is 200 metres (660 ft) long and 170 metres (560 ft) wide.[16]

Project company

LitPol Link was founded by PSE-Operator and Litgrid with equal stakes. The company is based in Warsaw.[14] Acting Managing Director of LitPol Link Mr.Artūras Vilimas.[17]

See also
  • Energy in Lithuania
  • Estlink (between Estonia and Finland)
  • NordBalt (between Lithuania and Sweden)
  • SwePol (between Poland and Sweden)
  • Lithuania-Poland pipeline (proposed natural gas interconnection between Lithuania and Poland)
  • Harmony Link, subsea cable between Lithuania and Poland

References
  1. Lithuania's Litgrid secures EUR 50 million from NIB to fund LitPol Link
  2. Mozer, Zygmunt (23 October 2007). "Current status of the LitPol project". PSE SA. Archived from the original (PPT) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2008. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target Archived 2015-12-25 at the Wayback Machine" page 5+8. European Commission, 25 February 2015.
  4. "Union list of projects of common interest" page 10. European Commission, 18 November 2015.
  5. "Poland, Lithuania agree to hook up power grids". Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 29 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
  6. "Poland, Lithuania clinch power link deal". Power Engineering International. PennWell Corporation. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
  7. "Polish, Lithuanians in energy venture". The Associated Press. 19 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  8. "Poland picks contractor to build power link with Lithuania". Polish News Bulletin. 14 September 2011. (subscription required). Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  9. "ABB to install 500 MW high-voltage converter station in Lithuania". The Lithuania Tribune. 18 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  10. "Pradedama "LitPol Link" statyba" [Construction of LitPol Link starts]. Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian). 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  11. "Russia's Power Grip Over Baltics Ending With Billion-Euro Cables". Bloomberg. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  12. Šiaurės rytų Lenkija įvertino „LitPol Link“ naudą
  13. Paškevičius, Vladas (26 January 2006). "Lithuanian power system and integration into European Union electricity market". Lietuvos Energija. Archived from the original (PPT) on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
  14. "Lithuania, Poland sign power deal, spurring nuclear plan". Forbes. 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
  15. "Phase I: present status of the electricity sector in the EU Member States surrounding the Baltic Sea, including Norway, Belarus, Kaliningrad region and Ukraine; main gaps and bottlenecks, qualitative assessment of new interconnection projects" (PDF). Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano Giacinto Motta SpA. European Commission. June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  16. "Back-to-back station". Litpol Link. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  17. ""Power bridge" deal finalised". The Baltic Times. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
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