OREANDA-NEWS. On January 30, 2009 Subject to the permit granted by the Commission for Technical Assessment of First Stage Works Completion, the 110/10 kV Center transformer substation, located in Vilnius, was put into test-operation. It is the only indoor-type 110 kV switchgear located within the limits of the capital. This substation supplies high voltage electricity to Naujamiestis and Centras districts of the city, reported the press-centre of Lietuvos Energija.

"For the past 20 years I have chaired commissions for technical assessment of a number of new power facilities, but the technical level of this substation is far more advanced than ever before", - says Mr.Vidmantas Grusas, Deputy CEO, responsible for the transmission grid. According to him, the indoor-type switchgear equipment not only ensures a high reliability of electricity transmission, but it also takes less space than the outdoor-type switchgear and is noiseless which is particularly important for this high-voltage substation located in the very center of Vilnius.

The value of the investment project – about LTL 10 million, of which about LTL 7 million is the cost of the equipment. The implementation of the entire project will significantly boost the power supply reliability, while reducing the substation’s operation cost and creating a possibility to control the equipment remotely - from the dispatch center of Lietuvos Energija AB. 

The substation is equipped with 110 kV GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) equipment set. The GIS equipment features small size, high reliability, safe operation, it is much more cost-effective and it serves much longer than the outdoor-type switchgear. Centras transformer substation is the second substation in Lithuania featuring such state-of-the-art equipment.

The obsolete equipment of the substation will be used in other transformer substations and as spare parts. The metal structures of the obsolete equipment will be disposed for recycling, the oil will be collected in special tanks and properly disposed.

The technical design of Centras transformer substation rehab was prepared by Energetines Pajegos UAB.

Centras TS was constructed in 1970, the 110 kV switchgear was commissioned in 1979. The reconstruction of the substation was started in 2007. The second stage of the reconstruction will be launched subsequent to the commissioning of the first stage works. The project is to be finalized in May of the current year.

Lietuvos Energija AB is a subsidiary of the national investment company LEO LT AB, which performs functions of electricity transmission grid (110-330 kV voltage) owner, system operator and market operator and seeks to ensure the stability of electricity transmission and power system in Lithuania. LEO LT AB controls 96.4 per cent of Lietuvos Energija AB shares.