EU Provides €1.2 Billion to Connect Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to European Power Grid in February

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are preparing to disconnect their power grids from the Russian system and connect to the European grid. The transition is scheduled for February 2025, according to the Estonian energy company Elering.

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) has approved a preliminary testing programme. As a result, on 8 February 2025, the Baltic countries will disconnect their networks from the Russian IPS/UPS system, and on 9 February, synchronisation with the European system will begin.

According to the company, this will allow the countries to operate independently and ensure the stability of electricity supply. Currently, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania depend on centralised control of the grid frequency from Russia.

‘Synchronisation will ensure better interconnection of EU transmission systems and market integration, allowing the Baltic power systems to operate under common and transparent European rules for the benefit of all consumers,’ the company said in a statement.

The energy synchronisation project is supported by the European Union, which is providing funding of about €1.2 billion. This is expected to cover up to 75% of the transition costs.