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| HVDC BalticLink | |
|---|---|
| Name | HVDC BalticLink |
| Type | High-voltage direct current interconnector |
| Status | Operational |
| Start | Klaipėda |
| End | Riga |
| Countries | Lithuania, Latvia |
| Owner | Litgrid, Augstsprieguma tīkls |
| Length km | 330 |
| Capacity MW | 700 |
| Voltage kV | 300 |
| Established | 2026 |
HVDC BalticLink HVDC BalticLink is a submarine and overland high-voltage direct current interconnector linking Lithuania and Latvia. The project connects national transmission system operators Litgrid and Augstsprieguma tīkls to enhance regional integration with initiatives such as Nordic-Baltic synchronisation, BEMIP and ENTSO-E. It supports energy markets like Nord Pool, facilitates projects such as LitPol Link and EstLink, and advances European Union energy policy including the European Green Deal and TEN-E objectives.
The interconnector augments the Baltic transmission system by adding capacity between Klaipėda and Riga, complementing links like NordBalt and Harmony Link. It enables power flows relevant to Balticconnector, Nordic electricity market participants, Polish power system operators, and network users engaged with ENTSO-E network codes. Stakeholders include national regulators such as CREG-type authorities in Lithuania and Latvia, EU agencies such as ACER, and financiers like the European Investment Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Planning began amid post-2014 security and energy independence discussions influenced by events like the Crimean crisis and policies tied to the Energy Union. Feasibility studies referenced interconnectors including EstLink 1, EstLink 2, and proposals such as Baltic Ring and academic analyses from institutions like Imperial College London and TU Delft. Funding combined national budgets, Connecting Europe Facility grants, and loans from the EBRD and EIB. Milestones paralleled the construction timelines of LitPol Link and synchronization projects coordinated with ENTSO-E and the European Commission.
The route comprises submarine cable segments across the Baltic Sea seabed and onshore sections crossing territories near Klaipėda, Palanga, Saldus, and into Riga. It uses a monopolar 300 kV HVDC design with a nominal capacity of approximately 700 MW, employing mass-impregnated or cross-linked polyethylene insulated cables similar to those used on NordBalt and EstLink. Technical partners included suppliers from ABB, Siemens Energy, Nexans, and Prysmian Group in consortiums that echo procurement seen in EuroAsia Interconnector and Celtic Interconnector projects. Route surveys drew on oceanography expertise from GEOMAR and geotechnical contractors like Ramboll.
Converter stations at the terminals incorporate voltage source converters (VSC) or line-commutated converters (LCC) depending on design choices, referencing technology used in DolWin1 and INELFE. Equipment included transformers, harmonic filters, reactive power compensation, and synchronous condensers akin to installations at Kyndbyværket and Battersea Power Station upgrade projects. Control systems integrate protection schemes developed by vendors like SEL and communications using protocols aligned with IEC 61850 standards. Ancillary services enable interactions with balancing entities such as Baltic TSOs and market coupling platforms including PCR.
Construction phases mirrored methodologies from NordLink and BritNed, involving marine cable-laying vessels similar to those operated by DeepOcean and DEM ETP. Environmental assessments were conducted with input from agencies like HELCOM and national ministries such as Ministry of Energy (Lithuania) and Ministry of Economics (Latvia). Onshore civil works coordinated with local municipalities including Klaipėda District Municipality and Riga City Council. Testing employed factory acceptance tests (FAT), site acceptance tests (SAT), and coordinated commissioning exercises akin to those used for Skagerrak and Konti–Skan interconnectors.
Operational management is a joint arrangement between Litgrid and Augstsprieguma tīkls, with regulatory oversight by national regulators and market supervision by Nord Pool and ACER. Ownership structures incorporated public utilities and potential minority stakes held by investors similar to participants in projects like North Sea Link. Operational coordination follows procedures established by ENTSO-E and involves grid balancing with neighboring TSOs including Elering, PSE, and Svenska kraftnät. Maintenance contracts mirror practices used by National Grid and TenneT for cross-border assets.
Environmental impact assessments addressed biodiversity concerns in the Baltic Sea and coastal zones, referencing guidance from OSPAR and HELCOM. Regulatory approvals navigated national permitting regimes and EU frameworks such as Habitat Directive and Birds Directive compliance, and aligned with TEN-E Regulation permitting guidelines. Stakeholder consultations involved NGOs like Greenpeace and WWF regional offices, fisheries associations including Baltic Fishermen's Association, and heritage bodies such as ICOMOS. Grid codes and operational standards complied with ENTSO-E network codes, while dispute resolution mechanisms referenced procedures within ACER and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Category:Electric power transmission in Europe Category:Submarine power cables Category:Infrastructure in Lithuania Category:Infrastructure in Latvia