Region's Energy Future: Ensuring a Sustainable and Affordable Power Supply for the Baltic States
The Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - are making significant strides towards energy independence and sustainability. A key player in this transformation is Gatis Junghans, a Member of the Management Board at Augstsprieguma tikls.
The Baltic states are increasingly investing in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, creating a greater need for sophisticated energy storage solutions to manage intermittency and grid stability. While explicit storage projects were not detailed, the move to integrate renewable hydrogen infrastructure via the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC) will support renewable energy transmission and effectively serve as large-scale chemical energy storage, enhancing system flexibility and reliability.
A major recent achievement was the full synchronization of the Baltic grid with the European network via Poland, detaching from Russia’s power system ahead of schedule and without incident. This improved grid management fosters energy independence and resilience, allowing more efficient resource sharing and real-time balancing with the wider European grid. It also necessitates continued investment in sophisticated grid operations and cybersecurity to safeguard against disruptions.
Strong and sustained political will at both national and EU levels has underpinned the Baltic states’ energy transformation. The EU’s financing of 75% of the grid synchronization project illustrates vital policy support and funding frameworks that enable infrastructure upgrades. Looking forward, frameworks emphasizing prevention, detection, response, and repair will protect critical energy infrastructure, reflecting a comprehensive policy approach to energy security.
Cooperation between the Baltic countries, Poland, and wider EU partners is central. Poland’s role is pivotal both for grid interconnection and the development of offshore wind capacity in the Baltic Sea, which is expected to grow significantly by 2050. The Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor is another key example of regional collaboration creating interconnected clean energy systems across borders, enhancing security through diversification and shared infrastructure.
The Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan has facilitated regional cooperation and integration into the broader European energy market, further enhancing the energy security and resilience of the Baltic states. The modernization of existing infrastructure to improve efficiency and reliability is also part of the energy transition in the Baltic countries.
To boost the Baltic countries' energy transition, substantial financial investments and technological innovation are needed. Charlotte Ruhe, Managing Director for Central and South Eastern Europe at the EBRD, Aida Sitdikova, Director and Head of SI MEA at the EBRD, Riina Käi, CFO and Management Board Member at Elering AS, Grzegorz Zielinski, Director and Head of Energy Europe at SIG, and Dainius Vilčinskas, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director at ILTE, are among the speakers discussing opportunities in the Baltic region for addressing energy security. These efforts position the Baltics as a model for other regions seeking to increase resilience and decarbonize their energy sectors.
- The Baltic states' increased investment in renewable energy, such as solar and wind, requires advanced energy storage solutions to handle intermittency and maintain grid stability, sparking a need for sophisticated technologies.
- The move towards integrating renewable hydrogen infrastructure via the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor will not only support the transmission of renewable energy but also serve as large-scale chemical energy storage, providing system flexibility and reliability.
- The financing of 75% of the grid synchronization project by the EU underscores the crucial role of political will and funding frameworks in enabling infrastructure upgrades for energy independence and resilience.
- The Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan and regional collaborations like the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor are essential, as they facilitate integration into the broader European energy market and promote diversification of energy sources for improved environmental science and industrial growth.
