Context
After joining the European Union, NATO (2004), and the Eurozone, Latvia’s integration into Europe’s energy system became the next decisive step. This process, known as Baltic synchronisation, was launched in 2007 following a decision by the Prime Ministers of the Baltic states. Over the past 20 years, it has become the most comprehensive energy independence project in the region, involving the construction of new energy infrastructure and the reconstruction of existing assets. Investments include new cross-border interconnections, synchronous condensers providing inertia services, battery energy storage systems for system balancing, and other measures to strengthen the electricity grid.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, risks to the Baltic energy infrastructure increased significantly, as the system historically operated within the Russia-controlled BRELL transmission system, and energy security is closely linked to national security. To reduce these risks, eliminate dependency, and ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply for consumers, the Baltics decided to desynchronise from Russia’s energy system in February 2025 – one year earlier than originally planned.
The synchronisation project is a strategic initiative with strong political and financial support from the EU and is being implemented through close cooperation between the Baltic states, continental European transmission system operators, and the European Commission.
Objectives
Baltic synchronisation stands as a joint regional initiative designed to fully integrate the electricity transmission systems of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia into the Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA), representing the most ambitious energy independence project in the Baltic region’s history. A primary objective of this synchronisation is to fundamentally strengthen the energy independence of the Baltic states. Historically, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have operated synchronously with the Russian power system, a legacy infrastructure that left them dependent on centralised frequency management controlled by Russia and highly susceptible to potential systemic failures. By shifting to CESA, the project eliminates this vulnerability and ensures total national sovereignty over grid operations.
Furthermore, the initiative prioritises deep European market integration and infrastructural connectivity. Synchronisation enables superior interconnectivity across European Union transmission systems, allowing the Baltic electricity grids to operate under common, transparent, and highly regulated European rules to the direct economic benefit of all end consumers. Alongside market integration, the project is a cornerstone for regional sustainability. The installation of modern power lines, high-capacity substations, and dedicated grid equipment significantly increases the physical capacity of the transmission networks to support a much higher share of volatile renewable energy sources in the overall electricity generation mix across the Baltic states and Poland. Finally, this transition acts as a powerful catalyst for technical innovation within the energy sector. The implementation of the Baltic synchronisation project has driven the deployment of advanced, cutting-edge infrastructure previously unseen at this scale in Europe, introducing large-scale synchronous condensers and high-capacity battery energy storage systems to maintain grid stability and pioneer next-generation utility management.
Implementation
Implementation of the project took over 15 years, four countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland), and 40 plus projects, and it united thousands of stakeholders from transmission system operators, and government agencies to European Commission, contractors, and municipalities.
Synchronisation was a significant project that required careful, systematic preparation at several levels – readiness of physical infrastructure, development of transmission operators’ IT systems, regional cooperation, and coordinated actions of the parties involved at the national level.
Thorough intensive development and construction had taken place especially during period from 2022 to 2024, at both the national level and the Baltic regional level to reduce the risks of disinformation and cybersecurity threats, particularly in the light of third-party efforts and physical damage to energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
Despite the pandemic and the new geopolitical situation, synchronisation with the Continental European Network was completed nearly a year ahead of schedule. It demonstrated unprecedented cooperation, adaptability, and strategic execution, setting a new global benchmark. The transition was carried out flawlessly.