JSC Augstsprieguma tīkls to invest 500.5 million euros in the development of the electricity transmission system over the next ten years

Until 2033, the Latvian transmission system operator JSC Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST) plans to invest 500.5 million euros in development in the form of own investments of 210.5 million euros and 75% co-financing by the European Union. According to the AST Ten-year Development Plan as approved by the Public Utilities Commission, work will continue on strengthening the security of the electricity supply and transmission system, including the introduction of digital solutions to prepare the transmission network for synchronization with continental European networks, as well as on the development of preconditions for large-scale entry of renewable electricity into the network.

"During the next decade, we are going to continue our work on improving the reliability of network operations, systematically renovating the existing and creating new network infrastructure, upgrading network management processes and introducing various digital solutions in order to be prepared for synchronization with European power grids by 2025. To ensure network flexibility and frequency regulation, three synchronous compensators, as well as energy-storing batteries will be installed in Latvia. The batteries will also serve to provide balancing reserves and guarantee the security and stability of the network after a large but volatile amount of renewable energy is integrated into the transmission network over the next few years. We are also going to continue the reconstruction of the interconnection from Valmiera to Tartu and Tsirguliina in Estonia, increasing the cross-border transmission capacity, which is currently insufficient", says member of the board of AST Arnis Daugulis.

A large part of the investment is aimed specifically at strengthening system security and synchronization with European networks – in the coming years, AST plans to modernize the electricity commercial accounting, the balance management system, the electrical network model management system, as well as the dispatching system and emergency automation, thus ensuring faster and better data exchange and system management. It is planned to implement these projects before the start of the synchronization process.

In the period until 2033, it is planned to invest 21 to 30 million euros annually in the reconstruction of 330 kV and 110 kV substations, lines, and distribution points, thus ensuring stable operation of the transmission system and an uninterrupted supply of the required amount of power to the connected users. In each project, AST evaluates not only the normative service life of infrastructure objects, but also their actual wear and tear, verifies the topicality of each project from the point of view of the infrastructure customer to prevent construction of objects, to which the load would not be provided to the required extent, because the priority of AST is a high-quality and secure electricity transmission service at the lowest possible tariffs. In general, financial investments are planned in such a way as to prevent the long-term obsolescence of transmission equipment and so that no equipment reaches its critical age.

In accordance with the Electricity Market Law, the PUC determines the information to be included in the 10-year transmission system development plan, sets up the procedure for submitting it, approves it and monitors its implementation. The full text of the development plan for 2023-2032 is available on the AST website.