Lithuania Plans Ten New Power Plants and Seven Energy Islands to Strengthen Grid Resilience
Lithuania's transmission system operator Litgrid plans to build ten new power plants and set up seven "energy islands" by 2033 that could run independently of the main grid in emergencies. Private investors are expected to put in about €880 million.
Lithuania intends to build ten new power plants and create seven "energy islands" by 2033 to make its electricity system more resilient to natural disasters, sabotage and other emergencies. The plan is led by Litgrid, the country's electricity transmission system operator. Energy islands are regions of the power system able to operate on their own and keep consumers supplied even when the main 330-kilovolt transmission network is unavailable.
Litgrid chief executive Andrius Šemeškevičius said the initiative was prompted by increasingly frequent extreme weather that causes power outages, along with growing geopolitical threats. The operator wants consumers to have electricity even in the most difficult conditions, so it has drawn up a plan to upgrade existing power plants, add battery storage sites and develop new generation capacity where it is needed.
Which regions, and who gets power first
The seven islands will cover the Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda-Mažeikiai, Panevėžys-Šiauliai, Alytus, Jurbarkas and Utena regions. In isolated operation, electricity will be supplied by priority: emergency services and hospitals first, then households, with businesses given the lowest priority. Litgrid estimates that in the worst-case scenario households would receive power for at least eight hours a day, while on sunny and windy days supply within the islands could last around the clock.
Plant requirements and tenders
The new plants will have a combined capacity of 800 megawatts. Each will have a minimum capacity of 50 megawatts and a maximum of 100 megawatts, and must be ready to start within 30 minutes. Litgrid will hold procurement tenders: winners will have five years to install the plant and must then service it for another 15 years. Private investors will build the plants, while Litgrid will buy their capacity to provide an isolated-operation service. If the required changes to laws and regulations are approved, the first tender could take place in 2027.
The tender will be technology-neutral. Šemeškevičius said gas plants may currently be the most popular option, but hydrogen, biomethane or liquid-fuel plants are also possible. Under normal conditions, the electricity generated can be sold if it is economically viable. The private sector is expected to invest about €880 million.
First islands by 2028
Lithuania wants the first four islands — in the Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevėžys-Šiauliai and Klaipėda regions — to be operating by 2028, though not at full capacity. This will require upgrading some existing power plants.
Šemeškevičius also named risks: possible objections from communities concerned about plants being built near their homes, obtaining regulatory approval, and attracting sufficient private investment.
