Latvia's AST Receives Key Equipment for Advanced Battery Energy Storage System

Latvia’s transmission system operator AS "Augstsprieguma tīkls" (AST) has received a critical shipment from Italy, delivered by Rolls-Royce Solutions GmbH. The delivery includes inverters and battery control equipment for a battery energy storage system (BESS), one of the most powerful in the European Union. The system, with a total capacity of 80 MW and 160 MWh, will be built at AST substations in Rezekne and Tume.

The equipment has been delivered to Rezekne, where foundation work for the BESS is nearing completion. AST board member Arnis Daugulis emphasized the project's significance for Latvia’s energy stability, highlighting its role in balancing production and consumption, particularly as renewable electricity integration increases.

The Rezekne BESS is fully financed by the EU Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RePowerEU), while the Tume BESS and related substation expansions are 75% co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Rolls-Royce, collaborating with Germany’s LEC Construction International GmbH, is implementing the project. AST’s IT team is concurrently developing a custom battery management system to optimize charging and discharging operations.

The system will include 20 MW/40 MWh batteries at Tume and 60 MW/120 MWh batteries at Rezekne. AST is on track to synchronize Latvia’s electricity transmission system with continental Europe by February 2025, a key step in achieving energy independence from Russian-controlled grids.

Source: Delfi Bizness