Ukraine in European Electricity Grid

March 17, 2022

Ukraine has been linked to an electricity grid of continental Europe. This will reduce Ukraine’s dependence on Russia.

Synchronization of the electricity grid

According to an announcement by the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E), electricity grids of Ukraine and Moldova were successfully synchronized with the Continental European Power System on a trial basis.
Preparation for grid synchronization was going on since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. But due to the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukraine put an emergency request to speed up the process, so immediately trials were started.
Now, energy suppliers in the European continental grid, that stretches from Portugal to Poland, can supply electricity to Ukraine during an emergency. This will help in maintaining the stability of the power systems of Ukraine and Moldova.
Also, Ukraine can turn off some of its currently running coal-fired power plants to ensure grid stability and save precious fuel in wartime. In the long run, this grid synchronization allows Ukraine to export its surplus electricity generated by nuclear power plants to other European countries.

About ENTSO-E

European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) represents 39 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) from 35 countries across Europe.
Thus its members include both European Union (EU) and non-EU member states. ENTSO-E has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium and it operates the world’s largest interconnected electrical grid.
ENTSO-E was established in 2009 and given legal mandates by the European Union’s third Package for the Internal energy market to liberalize gas and electricity markets.

Dependence on Russia

Ukraine and Moldova were earlier part of the Integrated Power System that also includes Russia and Belarus. This made them dependent on Russia’s grid operator.

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