"Litgrid" Launches Tender for "Harmony Link" Gižai Substation Contractor in Lithuania, Paving Way for Poland Interconnection Upgrade

Litgrid, Lithuania's electricity transmission system operator, has initiated a major procurement process for the construction of the Gižai transformer substation. This facility is a cornerstone of the "Harmony Link" project, a vital interconnector designed to link Lithuania's and Poland's electricity grids.

The tender seeks a contractor responsible for developing the technical design and executing the construction of the substation. Spanning approximately 35 hectares in the Vilkaviškis district, the Gižai substation will become the largest operated by Litgrid in Lithuania. It will serve as the primary hub for integrating the "Harmony Link" connection, a project described by Litgrid CEO Andrius Šemeškevičius as one of the largest electricity infrastructure procurements in Lithuania.

Šemeškevičius emphasized the project's critical timeline, stating that the pace and quality of the Gižai substation's implementation directly impact the overall "Harmony Link" project's completion by the end of 2030. The procurement is open to both Lithuanian and international contractors with relevant experience in similar energy infrastructure projects.

A unique technical aspect of the Gižai substation will be its use of 220 kilovolt (kV) voltage, a first for Lithuania's transmission system. Here, the 220 kV voltage from Poland will be transformed into the 330 kV and 110 kV voltages used within Lithuania's grid. The contract with the selected contractor is expected to be signed in the third quarter of 2027, with a duration of 54 months. Litgrid aims for parallel design and construction processes to meet the deadline.

The "Harmony Link" project, developed jointly with Poland's PSE, is the final infrastructure component of the Baltic states' electricity system synchronization program with continental Europe. Following an updated concept agreed upon in 2025, it will be a 700 megawatt (MW) capacity, 220 kV alternating current onshore connection. The Lithuanian government has approved the development plan for its engineering infrastructure. Upon completion, the combined transmission capacity between Lithuania and Poland, including the existing "LitPol Link," will reach up to 1.2 terawatts (TW), strengthening the Baltic region's integration into the European electricity market and enhancing energy security.

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We are announcing one of the largest electricity energy infrastructure procurements in Lithuania. The Gižai transformer substation will not only be the largest substation in Lithuania but also the main hub through which "Harmony Link" will connect the Lithuanian and Polish electricity systems. The possibility of completing the entire project by the end of 2030 directly depends on the pace and quality of the implementation of this facility.