“This agreement means a lot as we have never been so close to synchronization as we are now after the signing of this agreement. It’s important because specific steps are confirmed at the highest level, a specific schedule on what must be done. With no doubt, it’s very important that we have a political commitment on the implementation of these steps. (…) We have a very strong foundation,” the minister told BNS Lithuania.
In his words, necessary calculations should be done by the end of this summer and an application to ENTSO-E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators, will be submitted in September.
“The formal start of the synchronization should be in September when an ENTSO-E application is submitted under this agreement. Then many other steps will be needed, including a request to the European Commission regarding funding, the technical preparation of projects. We have a very clear schedule, this agreement sets it, that the synchronization goal is 2025 and all necessary action should be taken by then,” Vaičiūnas said.
He also confirmed that the synchronization process will take place via the LitPol Link interconnection, and a submarine interconnection with Poland is also under consideration.
“The essence of this deal is an AC/DC scenario, plus additional technical measures. (…) We are starting synchronization from the LitPol Link interconnection, and a marine asynchronous interconnection with Poland,” the minister said.
A political agreement on the synchronization of the Baltic states’ power networks with continental Europe by 2025 was signed in Brussels earlier on Thursday ahead of a European Council meeting
The deal was signed by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Latvian, Estonian and Polish prime ministers and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.