The first phases of the Western Lithuania Power Transmission Lines construction have been completed

In preparation for the synchronisation of the Baltic power transmission grids with the continental Europe, the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid has switched on 88 km of 330 kV transmission lines in Western Lithuania and completed first phases of the construction of the 330 kV overhead transmission lines Darb?nai-Bit?nai and Kruonio PSHP-Bit?nai.

Reconstruction included a 49 km-long stretch of Grobi?a-Klaip?da overhead line from Darb?nai to Garg?dai through the Kretinga and Klaip?da districts, and the entire 39 km-long overhead line Jurbarkas-Bit?nai through the districts of Jurbarkas and Pag?giai. The project upgraded single-circuit overhead lines to double-circuit, thus?increasing transfer capacity and strengthening grid reliability.

A total of 245 new overhead pylons were installed ranging in height from 48 to 60 metres and weighing a total of around 4 100 tonnes. Around 1,100 km of conductor was installed in the consolidated range of 88 km. ?The reconstructed and energised overhead lines Grobi?a-Klaip?da and Jurbarkas-Bit?nai further strengthen the security of the Western Lithuanian grid and contribute to grid reliability. In the near future, these lines will serve as an electricity highway between Western Lithuania, where renewable?energy generation is rapidly developing and offshore wind farms are planned, and Eastern Lithuania, where electricity consumption is growing the most, and they will also contribute to smooth synchronous operation with continental Europe.

With the first phases of the construction of Darb?nai-Bit?nai and Kruonis PSHP-Bit?nai now completed, we are now turning our attention to?the next steps. We are working responsibly to ensure that these works are completed on time,“ said Algirdas Damijonaitis , Head of the Synchronisation Programme Implementation Centre‘s Western Lithuania Group.?

The second phase of the Darb?nai-Bit?nai construction works will see the reconstruction of the overhead transmission lines Klaip?da-?y?a and ?y?a-Bit?nai, the latter of which will be connected to the expanded Bit?nai transformer substation. In the Klaip?da region, a new line section of approximately 12 km is also being built, bypassing?the cities of Garg?dai and Klaip?da. These works started in April.

The second phase of the Kruonis PSHP-Bit?nai project will involve the construction of a new 62 km-long single-circuit 330 kV overhead line from Kybartai to Jurbarkas, which will connect existing 330 kV lines Jurbarkas-Bit?nai and Kruonis PSHP-Sovetsk (Kaliningrad region). The installation of foundations, erection of pylons and construction of the new lines started this month. The Kruonis PSHP-Bit?nai project will enable the line to Sovetsk to be disconnected after the synchronisation with the continental European grid.?

Work on the third phase of the Kruonis PSHP-Bit?nai project - the extension of the Bit?nai transformer substation switchyard - is already?underway. In February this year, the construction permit for this project was received.

The construction of the Western Lithuania 330 kV transmission lines Darb?nai-Bit?nai and Kruonis PSHP-Bit?nai is scheduled for completion in 2025.