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“This is one of the key projects that will lay the groundwork for the sustainable development of local renewable energy,” says Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys.
“The installation of the fifth hydroelectric unit is important to ensure the security of the region’s energy system. In addition, it is necessary to integrate a greater local green production capacity into our energy system,” says Darius Maikštėnas, CEO of Ignitis Group.
After assessing the needs of the transmission system operator in the future and in 2020. recommendations from the completed socio-economic study, it was decided that the most rational Kruonis hydroelectric power plant would be to install a 110 MW synchronous hydroelectric unit. The conclusions of the socioeconomic study affirm that the construction of a hydroelectric unit of this type would generate more than 150 million tons of water for the society in the long term. Benefits of the euro.
Currently, the total capacity of the Kruonis HPP is 900 MW. The plant is equipped with 4 fixed speed synchronous hydraulic units of 225 MW. Kruonis HPP’s fifth hydroelectric unit could be much more flexible in real time to make up for electricity shortages or absorb surplus in the market and provide other high-quality system services.
“It is important that the new hydro unit, unlike the old ones, can provide system services flexibly not only in generator mode, but also in pump mode. The need for additional flexibility in hydroelectric plants is constantly increasing, as fluctuations in electricity production in the market due to the production of electricity from renewable energy sources gradually increase ”, says Rimgaudas Kalvaitis, General Manager of Ignitis Production .
The development of the Kruonis hydroelectric power station is also foreseen in the action plan approved by the Government in preparation for 2025. For the planned synchronization with the networks of continental Europe, therefore, the objective will be to adapt the preliminary program of implementation of the development from Kruonis PSHP to the sync project.
The company notes that approval of a business plan is not an investment decision. Ignitis gamyba will make a decision regarding investments in the development of HPP Kruonis only after receiving the results of the purchase of the contract works and estimating the cost of the construction works.
According to the preliminary calculations indicated in the conclusions of the socioeconomic study, investments in the new unit could reach about 80 million. euros. The precise value of the construction of the 5th Kruonis PSHP hydroelectric unit will become clear in the course of the project, then its implementation and possible sources of financing will be decided.
It is also noted that the operation of the planned fifth hydroelectric unit will not have any negative impact on the Kaunas lagoon, whose rules of use are provided in the rules for the use and maintenance of the Kaunas hydroelectric plant pond approved by the order of the Kaunas Environmental protection agency.
About Kruonis PSHP
Today, the 900 MW PSHP Kruonis is an integral part of the country’s energy system and regulates the operation of the entire system. The power plant, which can operate in two different modes, pump and generator, compensates for load imbalances and meets the needs of users in extreme conditions. This power plant can be connected to the grid at full capacity in less than 2 minutes. and has repeatedly rescued the entire energy system in crisis situations.
Currently, four hydroelectric units (225 MW each) have been installed in the Kruonis HPP, although the initial project for the power plant envisaged the possibility of building four more. Construction of the hydroelectric plant began in 1984, but protests by environmental organizations began as construction accelerated, so construction slowed down and the project had to be re-examined. Although no errors were found by the designers, it was decided to reduce the plant’s capacity to 900 MW by building 4 units of 225 MW each. 1992 the first two hydroelectric units were launched and the upper pool was filled. A little later, in 1994. and 1998 run the third and fourth hydroelectric units. About 75 percent of the old infrastructure was installed. All construction work necessary for the installation of new hydroelectric units.
Kruonis PSHP remains the only power plant of its kind in the Baltic countries. It is among the 60 most powerful power plants of its kind in the world and among the 12. In total, there are around 500 hydroelectric plants in the world, most of them built only in mountainous areas.
2020 The power plant generated the highest amount of electricity in its history: 717 GWh. Last year, the Kruonis hydroelectric power station provided the Lithuanian operator of the electricity transmission system Litgrid with two hydraulic units for the entire amount of secondary emergency required from the reserve of the electricity system to be purchased in Lithuania. Starting this year, Litgrid commissions the balancing service (secondary reserve) in the auction every hour at the lowest price from different suppliers on the market, including Kruonis HPP.
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