After synchronizing the transmission networks of the Baltic countries with the Continental Europe power grid, each country will have to regulate the frequency of the network, ensuring the necessary amount of system inertia for system stability. In order to ensure the necessary inertia in the energy system, three synchronous condensers will be installed in Latvia.

"Synchronous condensers are an important infrastructure for the energy independence of the Baltics and the security and stability of the network. These devices will provide the necessary system inertia in the event of a large generation source or interconnection outage until other reserves are activated to replace the lost energy source and return the overall system to normal operation mode ", says AST board member Arnis Daugulis. The construction of synchronous condensers is part of the transmission system infrastructure strengthening projects, which are necessary for the synchronization of the Baltic electricity system with Continental Europe, which is planned for 2025. Synchronous condensers are planned to be installed in three substations of the power transmission system - "Ventspils", "Līksna" and "Grobiņa" all located in Latvia. It is expected that the first synchronous condenser will be commissioned within 28 months, the second within 32 months, and the third within 36 months.

"A synchronous condenser is a synchronous generator that is not connected to the load, but spins at idle speed, consuming a relatively small amount of energy from the network to ensure its rotation. In addition to frequency regulation, synchronous condensers will also help ensure sufficient short-circuit power compensation in the transmission network for proper system protection and automatic operation," explains A. Daugulis.

As part of the Baltic power grid synchronization project, such condensers will also be installed in Lithuania and Estonia - three in each country.

Synchronization of the Baltic networks with Continental Europe will increase the security of electricity supply in the region, simultaneously promoting the development of the European internal energy market and creating new business opportunities. Also, the aforementioned investments in equipment and technologies are one of the prerequisites for secure connecting large-scale renewable energy sources to the transmission network and meeting the goals of the European Green Course.

The implementation of the synchronous condenser projects will be co-financed from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funds, which is one of the most important financing instruments of the European Union in the energy sector, created to promote growth, employment and competitiveness through targeted investments in infrastructure at the European level. It supports the development of high-performance, sustainable and efficiently interconnected European energy networks. 75% of the eligible costs of the synchronous condenser projects will be covered by the co-financing granted by CEF.

On October 5, 2022, the Latvian transmission system operator JSC "Augstsprieguma tīkls" signed a contract with the general partnership "EM&SE Syncons" for the supply and installation of three synchronous condensers, with a total cost of 114 million euros. After resulted tender, "EM&SE Syncons" was recognized as the winner of the procurement, offering the lowest contract price.

More information about the synchronization project is available on AST website in the section Synchronization with Europe.

More information:

Elina Grivane

Head of Communications

Tel. +371 27060306

E-mail: elina.grivane@ast.lv

About JSC "Augstsprieguma tīkls"

AST is the operator of the Latvian electricity transmission system, which ensures continuous, safe and sustainably efficient electricity transmission throughout Latvia. Its vision is to become the region's leading transmission system operator that promptly and successfully implements development-oriented changes. AST owns 68.46% of the capital of JSC Conexus Baltic Grid, the operator of the natural gas transmission and storage system