The Harmony Link project is an electricity interconnector that will connect the Zarnowiec substation in the Pomeranian region of Poland with the Darbėnai substation in the Kretinga region of Lithuania [1].
In the first in our series on the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), we explore the benefits of the project. In particular being part of a synchronous electrical grid.
The Project
The project, which includes a 330km cable route to connect the two substations, is set to be completed in 2025 and cost in the region of €680 million. An astounding 290km of the route will comprise submarine cables across the Baltic Sea.
The planned Harmony Link cable route is shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1 Planned harmony link cable route [2].
The interconnector will allow the Baltic states to improve their energy reliability as they are currently partially reliant on grid connections to Russia. It will also improve the region’s energy security through synchronisation of the Baltic states’ electricity systems with the European synchronous electrical grid – Continental European Synchronous Area (CESA).
Synchronous Electrical Grids
A synchronous electrical grid is a group of connected grids that work as a single large-scale network during normal system conditions. There are many benefits (and of course drawbacks) to synchronous networks; however, their main feature is the facilitation of electricity trading and sharing between networks across a wide area. In order to facilitate synchronisation, adjoining networks must use the same frequency and largely the same standards.
The CESA is the largest synchronous electrical grid (by connected power) in the world. The area supplies over 400 million customers in 24 countries, including most of the European Union [3]. The Baltic states will therefore be able to enjoy the following benefits of the interconnected grid [4]:
- Improved reliability and pooled reserves.
- Reduced investment in generating capacity.
- Improved load factor and increased load diversity.
- Economies of scale in new construction.
- Diversity of generation mix and supply security.
- Economic exchange.
- Environmental dispatch and new plant siting.
- Coordination of maintenance schedules.
Pager Power
Power cables produce both electric and magnetic fields which can potentially cause interference or impacts upon human health – typically referred to as Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). Pager Power can assess the potential impacts of electric and magnetic fields produced by power cables (or other electromagnetic emitting infrastructure) by using first principles and comparing against published safe levels for human exposure.
If you require assistance on EMI issues for one of your projects, please get in touch on +44 (0)1787 319001.
References
[1] Litgrid (2021) About project, Harmony Link. Available at: https://harmonylink.eu/about-project/#about-harmony-link (Accessed: 11 December 2023).
[2] Litgrid (2021) Route plan, Harmony Link. Available at: https://harmonylink.eu/about-project/#route-plan (Accessed: 11 December 2023).
[3] ENTSOE (2022) Continental Europe successful synchronisation with Ukraine and Moldova Power Systems, Continental Europe successful synchronisation with Ukraine and Moldova power systems. Available at: https://www.entsoe.eu/news/2022/03/16/continental-europe-successful-synchronisation-with-ukraine-and-moldova-power-systems/ (Accessed: 11 December 2023).
[4] United Nations (2006) Multi Dimensional Issues in International Power Grid Interconnections | Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations. Available at: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/publications/energy/interconnections.pdf (Accessed: 11 December 2023).
Thumbnail image accreditation: Karine Avetisyan (Jan 2021) on Unsplash.com. Last accessed on 18th December 2023. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-metal-chain-with-white-background-ipuiM-36tAg
