Study on perspectives of main grid network interconnection between countries and with potential wind parks

Questions this practice may help answer

• What are the main problems in connecting offshore wind energy with the network on land in the South Baltic?
• What legal, economic and environmental aspects influence the development of an international energy grid and connections with offshore energy parks in the Baltic Sea?

Implementation Context

Previous project activities investigated the main grid network interconnection between countries and with potential wind parks. Due to a lack of reliable knowledge concerning interconnection between countries and with potential wind parks, reliable forecasting is hard and obstructs planning of offshore wind parks.

Aspects / Objectives

• Reviewing development problems and provided decisions of Poland, Lithuania and Kaliningrad district (Russia) electricity system, in connection with the construction of wind power parks in Baltic See.
• Define legislative, economical and environment aspects of main grid network interconnection between countries and potential wind power parks.

Method

Economical analysis, extrapolation, strategic scenarios and comparative analysis of the electricity systems in the region as well literature research on the legislative, economical and environment aspects of developing a main energy grid.

Main Outputs / Results

The report is the main output of the research. It concludes that:

• Also after the accession of the East European countries in 2007, efficient interconnection of power grids and electricity trade market are still lacking. In the end of 2006 construction of Estlink enabled to connect Baltic power grids to the Scandinavian power market. Lithuanian and Polish inland interconnections of power grids have been planned for 2015. Lithuanian and Swedish submarine interconnection possibilities are under investigation now and could be published at the end of 2015.
• The European Energy technological plan will develop the first out of four priority projects, namely the Power-Link between Germany, Poland and Lithuania. By 2020, green technologies will have to make the 20% renewable target a reality by fostering a cost reduction of renewable energy, including the roll-out of offshore wind. By prioritizing these targets large-scale offshore wind will become more competitive within the short term and will pave the way towards a competitive European offshore Supergrid.
• The trans European Supergrid has the possibility to create a stable power supply, which would reach capacity until 70% and thereby significant reduces power reservation needs. This technical decision could open and connect energy markets of member States.
• Comparing different scenarios of wind power parks interconnection, the most acceptable for Poland, Russia (Kaliningrad) and Lithuania is Line connection variant in the Eastern Baltic arm of trans European Supergid. This option does not require too much legislative changes and indirect investments related to enforcement inland grids and capacity reservation. The construction of a Supergrid could avoid construction of inland connection between Lithuania and Poland, same as submarine interconnection Lithuania – Sweden.

Transferability

The practice refers to the South Baltic Sea specifically and its institutional context. This makes the transferability of results to other regions low.

Costs / Funding Source

EU neighbourhood programme Lithuania, Poland and Kaliningrad region of Russian federation

Responsible Entity

Innovations Company "Eksponente"

Contact

Baltijos pr. 123-61

LT-93224 Klaipeda Lietuva

Phone:   + 370 46 350560, +370 46 230560.

Fax.: +370 46 230560

E-mail: infoeksponente.lt (info[at]eksponente[dot]lt)