LitPol Link
{{Short description|Electricity link between Poland and Lithuania}}
{{Redirect|Lithuania–Poland interconnection|the gas pipeline between Lithuania and Poland|Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania}}
{{Infobox power transmission line
|name = LitPol Link
|photo = Map of LitPol Link.jpg
|map_caption = Location of Lithuania–Poland interconnection
LitPolLink
|coordinates = {{coord|54|47|56|N|24|15|19|E|type:landmark|name=Kruonis substation}}
{{coord|54|26|34|N|23|58|32|E|type:landmark|name=Alytus substation}}
{{coord|54|26|19|N|23|58|02|E|type:landmark|name=Alytus HVDC back-to-back station}}
{{coord|53|46|25|N|22|19|20|E|type:landmark|name=Ełk substation}}
{{coord|53|01|38|N|23|02|43|E|type:landmark|name=Narew substation}}
{{coord|53|49|39|N|20|20|51|E|type:landmark|name=Mątki substation}}
|direction = south–north
|start = Kruonis
|finish = Narew / Matki
|owner = LitPol Link
|operator =
|cable_manufacturer =
|cable_installer =
|cable_layer =
|substation_manufacturer=
|substation_installer=
|contractors =
|construction = 5 May 2014
|construction_cost = €340 million[http://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/economy/lithuanias-litgrid-secures-eur-50-million-from-nib-to-fund-litpol-link.d?id=65502058 Lithuania's Litgrid secures EUR 50 million from NIB to fund LitPol Link]
|est = 9 December 2015
|decom =
|type = overhead transmission line
|current_type = AC
|length_km = 341
|capacity = 500 MW
|AC_voltage = 330 kV in Lithuania
400 kV in Poland
|DC_voltage =
|circuits_no = 2
}}
LitPol Link is an electricity link between Poland and Lithuania which connects the Baltic power systems to the Continental Europe Synchronous Area. It has a capacity of 500 MW and since 2025 operates in a synchronous regime.{{cite web|title=Lietuva jau turi sinchronizacijai paruoštą jungtį su Lenkija: "Litgrid" įgyvendino "LitPol Link" išplėtimo projektą|url=https://www.litgrid.eu/index.php/naujienos/naujienos/lietuva-jau-turi-sinchronizacijai-paruosta-jungti-su-lenkija-litgrid-igyvendino-litpol-link-ispletimo-projekta/31679|access-date=15 November 2021|date=15 November 2021|language=lt|website=Litgrid}}
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. The connection is expected to increase Poland's electricity interconnection level from 2% to 4%."[http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/energy-union/docs/interconnectors_en.pdf Achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225022701/http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/energy-union/docs/interconnectors_en.pdf |date=2015-12-25 }}" page 5+8. European Commission, 25 February 2015. Parts of LitPol are on the EU "Projects of Common Interest" list in November 2015."[https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/5_2%20PCI%20annex.pdf Union list of projects of common interest]" page 10. European Commission, 18 November 2015.
On 29 September 2006 Polish President Lech Kaczyński and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus signed a joint declaration on the joint power grid project during their meeting in Warsaw. The memorandum of understanding to establish a joint interconnection operator was signed between Lietuvos Energija and Polish PSE in Vilnius on 8 December 2006. Project Company Shareholding Agreement signed on 12 February 2008 in Warsaw. The joint project company LitPol Link was founded on 19 May 2008.
Aiming to build a 400 kV overhead line between Ełk and Łomża, PSE signed a contract with the Polish construction company PBE ELBUD Group on 12 September 2011. In early 2013, the 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.
Construction of the link commenced in the Alytus district on 5 May 2014.
{{cite news
| title = Pradedama "LitPol Link" statyba
|trans-title=Construction of LitPol Link starts
| url = http://vz.lt/article/2014/5/5/pradedama-litpol-link-statyba#fprubric
| newspaper = Verslo žinios
| date = 2014-05-05
| access-date = 2015-12-10
| language = lt}}
LitPol electricity link started operations on 9 December 2015 the same day transmitting up to 200 MW power from Poland to Lithuania.{{cite news|title=Russia's Power Grip Over Baltics Ending With Billion-Euro Cables |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-08/russia-s-power-grip-over-baltics-ending-with-billion-euro-cables |access-date=9 December 2015| agency=Bloomberg |date=9 December 2015}}
Technical features
The interconnection comprises a {{convert|53|km|adj=on}} double-circuit 330 kV line from Kruonis to Alytus, a 1000 MW back-to-back converter in Alytus and {{convert|48|km|adj=on}} double-circuit 400 kV line from Alytus to the Lithuania–Poland border on the Lithuanian side, and a {{convert|106|km|adj=on}} double-circuit 400 kV line from the border to Ełk on Polish side.
According to the pre-feasibility study, the cost of the interconnection was estimated to be €237 million. With a view to enhancing existing energy infrastructure, including Poland–Germany and Poland–Czech Republic upgrades, the Polish TSO invested an additional €650 million and the Lithuanian TSO €262 million. The Lithuania–Poland interconnection has been designated an EU Trans-European Networks project. The interconnection initial capacity is 500 MW, with a transmission capacity upgrade of up to 1000 MW possible after completion of a second HVDC back-to-back station.
The tower 61 near Ełk, tower 160, tower 166 (both near Suwalki), and tower 293 near Sankury, have a height of 107 metres.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
=HVDC Back-to-back station=
Between 2015 and 2025, the line was connected to the HVDC back-to-back converter station, located in the Alytus, {{convert|600|m}} southwest of the existing 330 kV-substation. It had two converters each rated for 500 MW transmission power. The facility is {{convert|200|m}} long and {{convert|170|m}} wide. Following the synchronization with CESA, the line is connected to the transformers and operates in synchronous mode.
Project company
LitPol Link was founded by PSE and Litgrid with equal stakes. The company is based in Warsaw. Acting Managing Director of LitPol Link Artūras Vilimas.
See also
{{Portal|Energy|Poland|Lithuania}}
- Energy in Lithuania
- List of high-voltage transmission links in Lithuania
- Estlink (between Estonia and Finland)
- NordBalt (between Lithuania and Sweden)
- SwePol (between Poland and Sweden)
- Lithuania–Poland pipeline (natural gas interconnection between Lithuania and Poland)
- Harmony Link, subsea cable between Lithuania and Poland
- Baltic states synchronization with CESA
References
{{reflist|30em|refs=
{{cite news|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/energywatch/news/article_1206365.php/Poland_Lithuania_agree_to_hook_up_power_grids|title=Poland, Lithuania agree to hook up power grids|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|date=29 September 2006|access-date=16 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717062807/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/energywatch/news/article_1206365.php/Poland_Lithuania_agree_to_hook_up_power_grids|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead}}
{{Cite web|title=Lithuanian power system and integration into European Union electricity market|first=Vladas|last=Paškevičius|publisher=Lietuvos Energija|url=http://events.le.lt/uploads/File/20060126/Paskev_2006%2001%2026%20Power%20system%20and%20el%20market%20VP%20final%204.ppt|format=PPT|date=26 January 2006|access-date=16 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008040410/http://events.le.lt/uploads/File/20060126/Paskev_2006%2001%2026%20Power%20system%20and%20el%20market%20VP%20final%204.ppt|archive-date=8 October 2007|url-status=dead}}
{{cite news|url=http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2008/02/poland-lithuania-clinch-power-link-deal.html|title=Poland, Lithuania clinch power link deal|publisher=PennWell Corporation|work=Power Engineering International|date=13 February 2008|access-date=16 February 2008}}
{{cite journal|url=http://ec.europa.eu/energy/infrastructure/doc/2009_bemip_a9017214-cesi-interconn-ec-phase_i-final-june_2009.pdf|title=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|publisher=European Commission|journal=Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano Giacinto Motta SpA|date=June 2009|access-date=15 May 2010}}
{{Cite news|title=Poland picks contractor to build power link with Lithuania|work=Polish News Bulletin |url=http://www.pnb.pl/clientarea/cee-businessline/239387-lithuania_poland_picks_contractor_to.html|date=14 September 2011|access-date=18 February 2013|url-access=subscription }}
{{cite news|url=http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/29809/abb-to-install-500mw-high-voltage-converter-station-in-lithuania-201329809/|title=ABB to install 500 MW high-voltage converter station in Lithuania|work=The Lithuania Tribune|date=18 February 2013|access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231450/http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/29809/abb-to-install-500mw-high-voltage-converter-station-in-lithuania-201329809/|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
}}
External links
- [https://enmin.lrv.lt/en/strategic-projects/electricity-sector/electricity-link-litpol-link/ LitPol Link]
Category:2015 establishments in Lithuania
Category:2015 establishments in Poland
Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Baltic grid
Category:Electric power transmission systems in Lithuania
Category:Electric power infrastructure in Poland