Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid is working with Japan’s Tepco Power Grid on a feasibility study to assess technical and economic alternatives for offshore wind integration off Lithuania.
The study will take into account the objectives of the National Energy Independence Strategy, which states that by 2050, 80% of Lithuania’s energy demand will have to produced from non-polluting resources with 100% of the total electricity consumption in the country met by locally produced electricity.
Development of renewable energy sources, with strong focus on the development of offshore wind, is envisaged as one of the key measures to achieve these objectives.
In 2023, Lithuania plans to announce the auction for the integration of the first 700MW of offshore wind into the Lithuanian electricity system.
The overall offshore wind potential in the territorial waters of Lithuania is up to 3.5GW.
In order for the offshore wind integration to take place in a technologically advanced and cost-effective way, it is necessary to evaluate the possible different configurations of the grid, technical parameters, reliability of the system, the newly emerging market opportunities, plus socio-economic benefits of such projects.
Litgrid, together with Tepco, will focus on these during the preparation of the study.
The main conclusions of the study are planned to be published in the spring of 2022.
This is the second study that is being prepared by Litgrid together with Tepco.
Earlier in 2021 Tepco, together with Baltic operators, evaluated the recommendations and described the minimum requirements for generating electricity from renewable sources.