Baltic States Achieve Historic Electricity Grid Synchronization with Europe, Boosting Energy Security

Baltic States Achieve Historic Electricity Grid Synchronization with Europe, Boosting Energy Security

(IN BRIEF) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have successfully synchronized their electricity grids with the European Continental European Network, marking a significant step in their energy independence from Russia and Belarus. This achievement, celebrated as “Energy Independence Day,” strengthens the region’s energy security and competitiveness. The event was attended by key leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Baltic States, supported by the European Commission and the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, are also accelerating their transition to renewable energy, with wind power playing a key role. Projects like the Harmony Link Interconnector will enhance renewable energy transmission and integration into the European grid.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 11-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have successfully completed the long-awaited synchronization of their electricity grids with Europe’s Continental European Network (CEN), marking a historic milestone in the region’s energy independence. Celebrated on “Energy Independence Day of the Baltic States” in Vilnius, the event signifies the end of the Baltic States’ reliance on electricity grids controlled by Russia and Belarus, replacing them with a direct connection to the European Union’s energy system. This achievement strengthens the countries’ geopolitical standing, ensuring greater energy security, and enhancing their competitiveness in the long term.

Held on Sunday evening, the event was attended by several key figures, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the heads of state and government from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and other high-ranking representatives.

As part of the historic moment, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania also disconnected their electricity grids from the Russian-dominated BRELL energy system, marking a significant step towards reducing dependency on Russian energy imports and reinforcing energy security throughout the broader region.

Malgosia Bartosik, Deputy CEO of WindEurope, who attended the event, commented: “This is a landmark moment as the final three EU member states sever their connections with the Russian and Belarusian electricity systems, where Moscow once centralized control. It’s a regional triumph that emerged from 18 years of collaboration and a shared European vision. This European project grants the Baltic States full control of their electricity networks and bolsters energy security in the Eastern Baltic Sea region and the EU at large.”

The successful synchronization project has been significantly aided by the European Commission and the governments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. With substantial backing from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the initiative has received more than €1.2 billion in grants since its inception in 2014.

A key part of this energy transition is wind power, with the Baltic States undergoing an impressive transformation toward renewable energy. Since 2018, their reliance on fossil fuels has dropped from over 60% to just 28%, with wind energy now accounting for 28% of the electricity they consume. The desynchronization from Russia is expected to further bolster wind energy’s role in the region’s future energy systems.

The three countries are working on a variety of projects to expand their wind energy capacities. Estonia is enhancing its radar technology to reduce interference from wind farms, allowing them to extend wind farm zones across 60% of the country. Latvia has fast-tracked the environmental approval process for its first 400 MW of onshore wind, and Lithuania is exploring new methods to electrify industries with wind power.

Bartosik praised the enthusiasm of the Baltic governments: “Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania exemplify how renewable energy drives energy security and competitiveness. Their determination and the support from key stakeholders in the wind sector are truly inspiring.”

Another key element of the synchronization is the Harmony Link Interconnector, a vital energy infrastructure project connecting Lithuania and Poland. This interconnector will not only aid the Baltic States’ integration into the European electricity grid but also increase capacity for renewable energy transmission. Additional interconnectors between Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, and Finland have further strengthened the Baltic’s connection to the European network, with more projects planned.

With additional investments in interconnectors and offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea, the three nations are laying the foundation for a cleaner, more secure, and competitive energy future. These efforts are aligned with the EU’s broader renewable energy and energy security objectives.

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SOURCE: WindEurope