330 kV Jurbarkas – Bitenai power line, Lithuania

The investor, UAB Enersense, asked Eltel Networks about the possibility of carrying out energy works on the section of the 330 kV Grobine – Klaipeda power line. In the course of negotiations and presentation of our work quality and conditions, #EltelNetworksTeam received also an order for another section of the 330 kV overhead power line Jurbarkas – Bitenai in the scope of stations 86-114.

During the implementation of tasks on the 330 kV Jurbarkas – Bitenai power line, our work consisted of:

• installation of new phase wires (2 sections – a total of 28 spans in a two-wire system per phase, and the total length of the ASCR cable was almost 133 km)
• installation of the OPGW cable (4 sections – a total of 33 spans)
• installation of OPGW on a pole structure on 4 poles
• installation of current bridges on new poles
• installation of phase spacers (1122 pieces)
• installation of vibration dampers on phase and OPGW wires
• suspending 30 sets of glass insulator chains
• hanging 227 pieces of bird diverters installed in 6 spans on the OPGW
• securing collisions during work performance

Our biggest challenge in this project was the very short deadline for completing the assigned scope of work. The ordering party wanted the entire work to be completed in approximately 40 days, and we completed the task in even less time, i.e. 37 days.

An additional difficulty that we do not encounter on a daily basis was the newly designed, almost 10 km long section of work cables. Unfortunately, on such a long section of the overhead line, there were significant differences in the suspension height of the wires on the pole positions, which caused difficulties when adjusting the wire sag. In addition, the existing MV and LV lines, local roads, the Jura River, and many swampy areas near the Neman River were other difficulties we faced during our work. It should also be emphasized that while performing the tasks, we had very difficult and demanding weather conditions. The turn of March and April was exceptionally cold, with lots of snowfall and freezing rain. In addition, there were gusty, cold winds that made our work very difficult.

Finally, thanks to the determination and professional approach of #EltelNetworksTeam, all inconveniences were resolved and the task was completed before the time specified in the contract. Additionally, by using solutions unusual in Poland, such as designing long cable sections, our teams enriched their execution skills and improved their ability to work under strong time pressure.

Eltel Networks, participating in the strategic energy project for LITGRID, completed the assigned task on time, which contributed to the reliable operation of the transmission network in Western Lithuania. According to LITGRID, the reconstruction is the first stage of the project to build the 330 kV Kruonis HAE – Bitėnai power line.

The future power line will strengthen the transmission network in Western Lithuania and ensure energy security after the construction of the “Harmony Link” sea connection with Poland and the disconnection of high-voltage power transmission lines in the Kaliningrad Oblast in Russia and Belarus. So far, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, together with Russia and Belarus, operate in the so-called BRELL ring, where in Russia the network frequency is centrally regulated. LITGRID is preparing the Lithuanian power system to disconnect from BRELL and start operating in synchronous mode with Poland, Germany and other continental European countries in 2025.