The equipment of Latvia’s first synchronous condenser has been delivered to electricity transmission state system operator Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST) new condenser station’s building in Grobiņa.
The synchronous condenser is produced in Germany at the Siemens Energy factory and will serve to maintain a stable frequency in the energy system of Latvia and the entire Baltic. The synchronous condenser will be prepared for connection to the transmission network in the coming months. At the same time, production and testing of the other two of Latvia’s synchronous condenser equipment are taking place in Germany, while the synchronous condenser station building is being built at the AST substation in Ventspils and design work is underway in Līksna.
Each synchronous condenser station will provide a reactive power capacity of 100 MVAr and 2090 MWsec of inertia to the power network. The total investment is 114 million EUR euros.
“The delivery of Latvia’s first synchronous condenser to the condenser station building in Grobiņa is an important moment for the energy independence of Latvia and the Baltics,” said Kaspars Melnis, Minister of Climate and Energy. “It confirms our ability to be fully disconnected from the BRELL grid soon. Latvia has not purchased electricity from Russia for two years. We need to build on what we have started and become energy self-sufficient in the future – independent from any other country. Only in this way, we will be able to offer the Latvian society affordable energy in the volume we need – with wind and solar power plants, by laying the basis for Latvia’s energy independence in the upcoming years.”
“After Latvia joined the European Union, the Eurozone and NATO, synchronisation with the energy system of continental Europe is the logical next step on the way to the energy independence of Latvia and the entire Baltic,” added Gatis Junghāns, a member of the board of Augstsprieguma tīkls. “Energy independence, as well as the reliability of energy supply, which we will be able to maintain with strategically important synchronous condenser stations, are particularly important in the current geopolitical situation. We are glad that all projects related to power grid synchronisation are going according to plan and will allow us to fulfil all the prerequisites for the successful synchronisation of the Baltic power grids with Europe at the beginning of next year.”
Synchronous condensers will ensure the necessary inertia in the electric power system, as well as short-circuit power for relay protection and the safe connection of solar and wind power plants. The construction of synchronous condensers is part of the transmission system infrastructure reinforcement projects needed to synchronise the Baltic electricity system with continental Europe.
“Siemens Energy is proud to be part of this project that marks another important step in grid stabilisation for the Latvian power system, as well as synchronising the Baltic electricity system with continental Europe,” pointed out Joakim Lagerholm, Vice President of Siemens Energy Nordics & Baltics. “Working in partnership with AST and Enersense, the delivery of the synchronous condenser is an important landmark. Within the next year, nine synchronous condensers will be completed in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – three in each country – to ensure the necessary inertia in the electric power system. The synchronisation of the Baltic networks with continental Europe will play a vital role in the security of electricity supply in the region and will also enable the connection of renewable energy to the network.”
The synchronisation of the Baltic networks with continental Europe will increase the security of electricity supply in the region while promoting the development of the European internal energy market and creating new business opportunities. The investments in equipment and technologies are also one of the preconditions for the secure connection of large-scale renewable energy sources to the transmission network and for meeting the objectives of the European Green Deal.