Synchronisation with continental Europe

Synchronisation press releases  

FAQ on synchronization

Current situation

The Baltic states’ electricity system is part of the unified Russian electricity system, which constitutes a geopolitical and energy security risk. This is due to the fact that Russia controls one of the most important parameters of our electricity system – the frequency – and thus has the ability to influence the functioning of the system in the Baltic states. 

Why synchronization?

First of all, the transition to synchronous operation with the continental Europe frequency area lessens the risk that dependence on the Russian energy system and frequency area could be used against us.

Secondly, the Baltic states are politically and socioeconomically part of Western Europe, which makes it completely logical that the electricity system is likewise part of the continental Europe frequency area. This would reduce the risks related to controlling the system and improve energy security for individuals and businesses in Estonia. 

Besides energy security, better integration of Estonia with the European system would improve the international competitiveness of the local economy. In the course of synchronization, new markets and products will arise alongside existing electricity markets, and this will increase the opportunities for local electricity producers to sell electricity.  

Synchronization in brief:

How does synchronization take place?

To mitigate risks and expand the market, we have started activities to decouple the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian electricity systems from the Russian system and at the beginning of 2025, join the continental Europe power grid and the corresponding frequency area. Since synchronization is a joint effort by the three Baltics and Poland, it is key for the projects needed for this to be completed in all countries pursuant to the agreed schedule.  Activities related to synchronization have extremely high priority for Elering in order to ensure that all projects are completed on time.

During synchronization, the Baltics will reinforce their power grids and connections between each other. Elering will renovate the powerful 330-kilovolt power lines running from the Narva area to Latvia via near Valga. Similar reinforcements will be made to the Latvian and Lithuanian electricity systems.

To ensure frequency stability, the synchronous condensers will be established to add inertia to the system, and the electricity system, IT systems and existing direct-current connection control systems will be renovated. 

Besides new infrastructure and systems, synchronization will also result in interoperability between Baltic states’ control centres and create additional know-how for independent control of the power grid.

Project funding

Synchronization will cost the Baltic state and Poland about 1.6 billion euros, of which Estonia’s share is 298 million euros. The investments will fall into three stages, and due to the high priority status accorded by the European Commission, 75% of the funding will come from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The remaining 25% of the investments needed will come from the Congestion Income Fund, an ad hoc fund established in Estonia.

The total sum of the investments in the first stage of the funding in the Baltic states is approximately 430 million euros. In the first phase in Estonia, domestic power grids will be renovated and one synchronous condenser will be built. Similarly to Estonia, domestic network connections will be improved and synchronous condensers built in Latvia and Lithuania as well.

The volume of investments in the second stage in Baltics and Poland is approximately 700 million euros, which includes the establishment of two synchronous condensers in Estonia. The investments will fund the establishment of synchronous condensers in the other Baltic states and a  connection between Lithuania and Poland along with the necessary network reinforcements.

The total sum of the investments in the third stage in the Baltic states is approximately 230 million euros. The investment objects in the third phase in Estonia is the renovation of the IT, control and monitoring systems in the control centre, renovation of the control and supervisory system of the Estlink 1 and 2 submarine cables and raising the operational continuity of substations. In the other Baltic states and Poland, the third-stage funds will be used to perform renovations of high-voltage lines, further development of substations, construction of battery-based energy storage systems in Latvia and renovations of IT systems.

A total of about 30 investment objects will be funded in Estonia as part of synchronization.

Benefits for market participants

Synchronization will provide electricity producers and traders with a larger and more flexible market, which allows new types of energy market products and services to be offered. Since the Lithuania-Poland undersea cable to be established is meant to handle commercial electrical flows, electricity producer will have new business opportunities and export potential will improve. Besides the existing ones, new markets will develop, increasing electricity producers' options for selling electricity. Since as of 2022, there is no more electricity trading with Russia and Belarus, access to new markets is of key importance for market participants. TSOs are introducing new products to the electricity markets, giving market participants an opportunity to offer new services. Such services include a reserve for maintaining frequency and a reserve for automatically restoring frequency. TSOs will involve the market participants in introducing new products to meet their possibilities and expectations.

Benefits for consumers

For consumers, synchronization will above all ensure better security of supply as well as a sense of security that Estonia itself has full control of its electricity system, not Russia. In addition, European Union investments can be used to renovate the depreciated high-voltage lines, for which no additional resources will have to be raised; thus there would be no need to hike network fees. The transition from one frequency area to another will take place imperceptibly for end consumers and the quality of the network connection and uptime will improve. 

Environmental impact

Estonia is acceded to carbon neutrality goals aimed at slowing global climate change. It is thus not conceivable to invest in renewable energy at home while consuming electricity of unknown environmental footprint from third countries. Carbon emissions will not decrease if the emissions merely are diverted outside the border of the EU. Synchronization will put an end to the risk of possible carbon leakage and improve the possibilities for generating electricity from renewable sources. 

Readiness for extraordinary synchronization

The Baltic states and Poland have prepared for a situation where desynchronization from Russia must take place under extraordinary circumstances. To this end, Elering has agreed with the TSOs of the Baltics and Poland on specific actions and protocols for joining the continental Europe synchronous area as securely and rapidly as possible. This will ensure security of supply for consumers and protect countries’ security and economic interests.  The emergency synchronization would also be imperceptible for consumers and take place in a matter of hours.

 The basic outline of the desynchronization process would be as follows:

1. The Baltic states are desynchronized from the Russian and Belarusian (IPS/UPS) frequency area, as a result of which the inertia and frequency of the Baltic states’ electricity system is not overseen from Russia.
2. The Baltic states are in island mode, where the necessary inertia is ensured by local capabilities and means.
3. The Baltic states are synchronized with the continental European frequency area.

Elering is in constant cooperation with Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish partners to raise readiness for emergency synchronization. The following actions have been taken for this purpose:

• 400/330 kV alternating current transformers have been installed in Alytus substation in Lithuania, which ensure technical readiness for emergency synchronization via LitPol link in a matter of hours.
• Agreements have been reached with Nordic TSOs for obtaining frequency support via DC connections through the Estlink 1, Estlink 2 and NordBalt cables.
•  Regular training at TSOs’ control centres is carried out for a situation where emergency desynchronization takes place by Russia and Belarus.
•  A legal and technical framework for emergency synchronization with continental Europe has been developed.

Risk mitigation

From the perspective of synchronization, construction and supply contracts for most critical infrastructure projects have been concluded and activities have begun, due to which a number of risks arising from interruption of soppy chains or commodities price increases have not materialized or their impact has been low. The probability of potential risks materializing and their impact are assessed at Elering constantly to prevent and reduce negative impact to project budgets and timetables of the actions necessary for synchronization.

Overview of projects:

(updated in January 2024)