Baltic TSOs to establish the Baltic electricity system joint coordination centre

The Baltic electricity transmission system operators (TSO) Elering, AST (JSC “Augstsprieguma tīkls”) and Litgrid entered into an agreement to establish a Baltic Regional Coordination Centre (RCC) based in Tallinn and submitted a corresponding proposal to the competition authorities of the three countries.

Establishment of regional coordination centres derives from the European Unions’ Clean Energy Package regulations and are aimed at performing tasks related to planning of power system operations. Regional coordination centres do not replace TSOs but shall complement the role of them by performing coordination tasks of regional relevance.

Chairman of the Management Board of Elering Taavi Veskimägi: “Considering the challenges ahead in the energy sector due to green transmission, RCC is an important tool for moving from a nation-based perspective to a regional one, ensuring mutual trust between neighbouring countries and enhancing security of supply.”

Chairperson of AST’s Board Gunta Jēkabsone: "Commitment of the three Baltic TSOs to strengthen the regional coordination comes at an important time. With the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity system with the power system of the Continental European underway and the ambitious national renewable energy targets in progress, mutual cooperation is the key concept underlying regional success."

Litgrid’s CEO Rokas Masiulis: “The agreement on the new regional coordination centre demonstrates the fact that three Baltic countries and their TSO’s are capable to solve complex questions in a manner of the mutual respect. The centre will be launched on important timing when the synchronization programme and infrastructure construction are reaching the peak in terms of the implementation and more cooperation of expertise and service intelligence is needed for achieving our final goal - energy independence and greener future of the region.”   

The Baltic regional coordination centre will promote joint activities of the Baltic TSOs in keeping the Baltic power system operational, secure and reliable. More importantly, the coordination centre will be the main hub driving the synchronisation process of the Baltic power system with power system of Continental-Europe which is the most ambitious common goal set by the three Baltic TSOs.

It has been agreed that all Baltic TSOs shall have equal number of shares within the Baltic RCC. The everyday operations of RCC shall be arranged with representation of equal number of experts from all three Baltic states and with rotating management between three Baltic states consecutively.