LitPol Link

LitPol Link is an electricity link between Poland and Lithuania which connects the Baltic transmission system to the synchronous grid of Continental Europe. It has a capacity of 500 MW and since 2021 it can operate in a synchronous regime.

History
In 2000, European Commission and the EBRD agreed to finance a feasibility study on the Poland–Lithuania transmission interconnection. The study was completed in September 2002. The connection is expected to increase Poland's electricity interconnection level from 2% to 4%. Parts of LitPol are on the EU "Projects of Common Interest" list in November 2015.

On 29 September 2006 Polish President Lech Kaczyński and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus signed a joint declaration on the joint power grid project during their meeting in Warsaw. The memorandum of understanding to establish a joint interconnection operator was signed between Lietuvos Energija and Polish PSE-Operator in Vilnius on 8 December 2006. Project Company Shareholding Agreement signed on 12 February 2008 in Warsaw. The joint project company LitPol Link was founded on 19 May 2008.

Aiming to build a 400 kV overhead line between Ełk and Łomża PSE-Operator signed a contract with the Polish construction company PBE ELBUD Group on 12 September 2011. During start of 2013 Lithuanian transmission system operator Litgrid awarded ABB Group a $110 million contract to supply and install the first HVDC converter station in proximity of Alytus, Lithuania.

Construction of the link commenced in the Alytus district on 5 May 2014. LitPol electricity link started operations on 9 December 2015 the same day transmitting up to 200 MW power from Poland to Lithuania.

The second part of project (another 500 MW capacity link) is planned to have a different route through Marijampolė. The full plan of second part was scheduled to be reviewed at the end of 2016.

Technical features
The interconnection comprises a 53 km double-circuit 330 kV line from Kruonis to Alytus, a 1000 MW back-to-back converter in Alytus and 48 km double-circuit 400 kV line from Alytus to the Lithuania–Poland border on the Lithuanian side, and a 106 km double-circuit 400 kV line from the border to Ełk on Polish side.

According to the pre-feasibility study, the cost of the interconnection was estimated to be €237 million. With a view to enhancing existing energy infrastructure, including Poland–Germany and Poland–Czech Republic upgrades, the Polish TSO invested an additional €650 million and the Lithuanian TSO €262 million. The Lithuania–Poland interconnection has been designated an EU Trans-European Networks project. The interconnection initial capacity is 500 MW, with a transmission capacity upgrade of up to 1000 MW possible after completion of a second HVDC back-to-back station.

The tower 61 near Ełk, tower 160, tower 166 (both near Suwalki), and tower 293 near Sankury, have a height of 107 metres.

HVDC Back-to-back station
The Alytus HVDC back-to-back station is located 600 m southwest of the existing 330 kV-substation which has been extended as well. It consists of two converters each rated for 500 MW transmission power. The facility is 200 m long and 170 m wide.

Project company
LitPol Link was founded by PSE-Operator and Litgrid with equal stakes. The company is based in Warsaw. Acting Managing Director of LitPol Link Mr. Artūras Vilimas.