Litgrid, Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator, started spatial planning and environmental impact assessment works in Lithuania for the Harmony Link overland electricity connection with Poland.
“We are shifting the complex and important Harmony Link project from the sea to the land smoothly and are consistently continuing our work. After signing the contract with the service provider, we started the spatial planning preparation stage. We aim for the new electricity connection to have as little impact on the environment and residents as possible. Harmony Link is a strategic project for Lithuania, this connection will ensure capacity for commercial electricity trade after the synchronisation of the Baltic countries electricity systems with Continental Europe,” says Rokas Masiulis, CEO of Litgrid.
Litgrid signed a contract with UAB Ardynas, which won the public procurement of spatial planning and environmental impact assessment works.
By the end of 2026, an engineering infrastructure development plan will be prepared; an environmental assessment impact of the proposed economic activity, determination and registration of land easements and territories subject to special land use conditions, and other related works will be carried out.
In July Lithuanian and Polish electricity transmission system operators Litgrid and PSE signed an agreement on cooperation on the implementation of Harmony Link interconnector as an overland line.
The project involves construction of the new double-circuit 220 kV alternating current (AC) interconnection between substations Ełk Bis (Poland) and the new substation near Gižai (Lithuania) as well as two new substations in Poland on the route of the interconnection, Norki and Wigry. The existing 220 kV power line Ostrołęka–Ełk Bis in Poland will be upgraded to increase its capacity. The overland line would potentially partly use existing and planned road and rail infrastructure between Poland and Lithuania.
By the end of 2024, PSE and Litgrid will make financial investment decision, allowing to start preparations for the procurement and permitting processes. According to the initial schedule, the tenders for the construction works will be launched in 2026. The new interconnection is expected to be energized by the end of 2030.
In Lithuania the Harmony Link overland interconnector project has been granted the status of a project of special national importance.
In April 2023, PSE and Litgrid cancelled the procurement tenders for constructing the Harmony Link as an offshore HVDC interconnection due to a significant increase in market prices for the cable and converter stations.
Lithuania and Poland already have one overland electricity connection LitPol Link, through which the synchronisation of the electricity systems of the Baltic countries with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area will be implemented.
The synchronisation projects implemented by the Baltic and Polish TSOs are partly financed by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility.
Source: Litgrid
