The Electricity Energy Storage System project is one of Lithuania’s most important energy security projects, aimed at ensuring the reliable and stable operation of the electricity system. Following the project’s implementation, a 200 MW power and 200 MWh capacity energy storage system was installed in Lithuania, providing an isolated electricity system operation reserve service to transmission system operator Litgrid.

The system consists of four battery parks, each with a capacity of 50 MW and 50 MWh, located in Vilnius, Šiauliai, Alytus and Utena districts. The full 200 MW isolated operation reserve service has been provided since October 2023. The operation of all four battery parks is monitored 24/7 from a control centre in Vilnius.

In the event of disruptions in the transmission network, the battery system can automatically respond within one second by supplying power to the grid or drawing power from it, thereby helping maintain a stable electricity system frequency. Once the instantaneous energy reserve is activated, the system provides the reserve until other market participants’ facilities can take over the provision of the service.

The project was an important part of Lithuania’s preparations for synchronisation with the Continental European electricity networks, strengthening the country’s ability to independently ensure the stability of its electricity system. The energy storage infrastructure also creates more favourable conditions for integrating more electricity from renewable sources and increases the flexibility and resilience of the entire energy system.

Up to EUR 87.6 million in funding was allocated for the installation of the four battery parks under the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility “NextGenerationEU” plan “New Generation Lithuania”. The main project contractors were the Siemens Energy and Fluence consortium. The value of the contract for the installation, warranty servicing and maintenance of the system is EUR 109 million.

The project was implemented and the electricity energy storage system is operated by Energy cells, an energy storage system operator belonging to the EPSO-G Group.