Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have become fully independent from Russia’s and Belarus’s electricity systems – having successfully integrated into the EU internal energy market by joining the European continental network via Poland. This allows the Baltic States to operate their own energy systems under common and transparent European rules.
The synchronisation of the Baltics not only contributes to the security of supply of the entire EU, it will also support the integration of renewable energy in the system, ultimately allowing consumers to benefit from lower energy costs. The synchronisation of the Baltics into the EU’s electricity grid is a flagship project which has been supported by the European Commission with unprecedented political, technical and financial backing over the past 15 years. This includes over €1.23 billion in grants from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, covering 75% of the investment costs.
The Baltic States were the last three EU Member States whose electricity networks were still operating fully within the Russian and Belarussian system. The electricity frequency was centrally controlled by Russia, leaving them vulnerable to Russia’s weaponisation of energy. Synchronising their electricity networks with those of EU Member States and several neighbouring countries enables the Baltic States to move away from energy dependence on Russia.
The success of this EU-backed project is a testament to the dedication of all EU Member States involved, especially the three Baltic States and Poland, together with the businesses, investors and transmission system operators, who worked together to bring the project to fruition 10 months ahead of schedule. The project was coordinated by the European Network of Transmission System for Electricity (ENTSO-E) together with the Continental Transmission Systems Operators (TSOs).
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today history is being made: the Baltic States are switching on energy independence. The last electricity grids in Europe still linked to Russia are now fully integrated into Europe’s internal energy market, with the support of over 1 billion euros of European funding over the years. The last remaining electricity lines with Russia and Belarus will now be dismantled. These chains of power lines, linking the Baltic states to hostile neighbours will be a thing of the past. This is freedom. Freedom from threats and blackmail. Congratulations on the start of this new era.”
