Building a synchronous condenser station will help to maintain inertia and stability within the transmission network. This will be particularly important after the synchronisation of the Baltic States' power grids with Europe, as well as the development of large-scale renewable energy generators for connection to the power grids. Synchronous condensers are a technology that has not been used in the Baltics to date.
In order to ensure the required inertia within the energy system, as well as the functioning of short-circuit power relay protection, and the reliable connection of solar and wind power plants, three synchronous condensers will be installed in each of the Baltic States*. These devices will ensure the necessary system inertia in the event of the disconnection of a large generation source or interconnection until such time as other reserves are activated, which substitute the lost energy source and return the overall system to normal operating mode.
The reactive power of each of Latvia's synchronous condenser stations will be 100 MVAr (reactive megavolt-amperes) and will provide the required inertia, accumulating 2090 MVAsec (megavolt-ampere seconds).
All three synchronous condenser stations in Latvia (in Grobiņa, Ventspils and Līksna) are due to enter service in 2025.
In 2022, AST signed a contract with the general partnership EM&SE Syncons for the delivery and installation of three synchronous condensers. More detailed information is available here.
*In the dynamic stability studies conducted in 2018, it was ascertained that after disconnection from BRELL and synchronisation with continental Europe, the Baltic States' energy systems would have to continually provide 17100 MWs of inertia for the stability and reliability of the energy system. Inertial is a service that ensures a rotating mass for the stable functioning of the energy system, in an emergency preventing the system frequency from falling rapidly, instead reducing the frequency gradually and providing active power compensation measures to regulate the frequency. Inertia in the system can be ensured through existing power plants, but since the majority of power plants in the Baltics are of a seasonal nature, especially in Latvia, the safest solution is installation of stationary synchronous condensers, which can ensure the required volume of inertia in Latvia: 5700 MWs 24 hours a day. In Latvia, this amount of inertia can be provided by three synchronous condensers. Accordingly, in each Baltic State, with 75% EU co-financing, three plants will be built. In Latvia, these will be located at Grobiņa, Ventspils and Līksna.
Project events
On 9 January 2025, exactly a month before the Baltic States join the European energy system (synchronisation), the…
At the Freeport of Ventspils, a significant shipment for Latvia's power system stability has been received from the…