Lithuanian TSO “Energijos skirstymo operatorius” (ESO), together with one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, the Danish company Vestas, has established a “corridor” stretching from Klaipėda to the Latvian border, enabling the transport of oversized cargo without interrupting electricity supply.
In sixteen locations across the Samogitia (Žemaitija) region, ESO replaced overhead power lines crossing roads – which previously hindered the movement of large cargo – with underground cables. This has made it possible to transport large wind turbine components smoothly to three new wind farms under construction in the Kelmė, Akmenė, and Telšiai districts.
“ESO shared the costs of the cabling works with Vestas, and the newly created free ‘corridor’ will be available in the future to all developers of projects in this region. This is an excellent example of how targeted infrastructure upgrades carried out in cooperation with business can accelerate investment projects while safeguarding the interests of residents,” said ESO Public Relations Officer, Rasa Juodkienė.
In total, ESO replaced 16 sections of overhead lines crossing roads that would otherwise have required power shutdowns during the transport of large modules to the new wind farms. In an additional seven locations, the lines were insulated. The works were carried out in the Klaipėda, Kretinga, Plungė, Telšiai, Šiauliai, and Akmenė districts.
“Although ESO usually performs planned shutdowns at night to minimise inconvenience for residents and businesses, we understand that any interruptions can reasonably cause dissatisfaction among our customers. Therefore, we found a mutually acceptable and, most importantly, long-term, forward-looking solution,” Juodkienė noted.
Before the reconstruction, due to safety requirements, oversized cargo could only be transported through the mentioned areas after disconnecting the electricity supply. The costs of the infrastructure modernisation project that opened up the new “corridor” were shared equally between ESO and Vestas.
“We are proud that Vestas contributes to strengthening Lithuania’s energy security and modernising its network. We are delighted to be part of this forward-looking partnership that benefits both Lithuania’s economy and its people. We sincerely appreciate ESO’s professionalism and the swift, efficient implementation of this investment, which was crucial for ensuring the timely progress of our wind farm projects,” said Jagna Kubańska-Łyczakowska, Head of Public Relations for Vestas in Poland and the Baltic States told The Voice of Renewables.
