https://hackaday.com/2025/02/09/moving-power-grids-in-a-weekend-the-baltic-states-make-the-switch/ Skip to content Logo Hackaday Primary Menu * Home * Blog * Hackaday.io * Tindie * Hackaday Prize * Submit * About * Search for: [ ] [Search] February 9, 2025 Moving Power Grids In A Weekend, The Baltic States Make The Switch 12 Comments * by: Jenny List February 9, 2025 * * * * * Title: [Moving Power Grids I] Copy Short Link: [https://hackaday.com] Copy [baltic-gri] A significant event in the world of high-power electrical engineering is under way this weekend, as the three Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, disconnect their common power grid from the Russian system, and hook it up to the European one. It's a move replete with geopolitical significance, but it's fascinating from our point of view as it gives a rare insight into high voltage grid technology. There are a few news videos in the air showing contactors breaking the circuit, and even a cable-cutting moment, but in practice this is not as simple a procedure as unplugging an appliance from a wall socket. The huge level of planning that has gone into this move is evident in the countrywide precautions in case of power loss, and the heightened security surrounding the work. As we understand it at the moment the three countries exist as a temporary small grid of their own, also isolating the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad which now forms its own grid. The process of aligning the phase between Baltic and European grids has been under way overnight, and an online monitor shows significant frequency adjustments during that time. At some point on Sunday a new connection will be made to the European grid via Poland, and the process will be completed. We imagine that there will be a very relieved group of electrical engineers who will have completed their own version of a Moon landing when that has happened. If you happen to live in either region, there's still some time to watch the process in action, by monitoring the supply frequency for yourself. It's not the first time that geopolitics have affected the European grid, as the continent lost six minutes a few years ago, and should you Americans think you are safe from such problems, think again. * [share_face] * [share_twit] * [share_in] * [share_mail] Posted in NewsTagged 50Hz, AC power, Baltic, Estonia, europe, Latvia, Lithuania, power, power grid, russia Post navigation - Matthias Wandel Hates CNC Machines In Person Your Chance To Get A Head (A Gnu Head, Specifically) - 12 thoughts on "Moving Power Grids In A Weekend, The Baltic States Make The Switch" 1. alialiali says: February 9, 2025 at 8:11 am The linked blog post from halcy.de is quite funny. Not that the idea isn't cool but they wrap an audio cable around a powercord and analyse the audio data in audacity. I guess they didn't try recording audio without any wire plugged in first? I just tried and got 50Hz spike at 34dB SNR. In fact a nearly identical -14dB signal on a local 48dB background. Report comment Reply 2. bob says: February 9, 2025 at 8:27 am it's no small feat to change from 60 to 50hz, i assume they're doing something like that. japan has two separate frequency grids and has been unable to integrate them. i expect they will be looking on to see how successful this is. Report comment Reply 1. alialiali says: February 9, 2025 at 8:34 am I believe the frequency is staying at 50Hz, the nominal voltage might change however. Once all power supplies are switch mode (and we wish for the days of a mains hum over an entire band of noise) it might be possible to change mains frequency. As far as I know Japan is still on the split system with 50 and 60Hz regions. I'm not sure what people do if they move from a 50Hz region to a 60Hz one? Unless all power supplies are designed to run on both? Report comment Reply 1. Cody says: February 9, 2025 at 12:32 pm A lot of stuff is designed to run on both frequencies. Some older electronics such as mains powered clocks or turntables may have frequency selector switches to make them run at the correct speed. Not everything works on both frequencies. Things like fridges or microwaves may not work well or could be damaged by using the wrong frequency. You would probably just sell them with the house when you move. Report comment Reply 1. limroh says: February 9, 2025 at 2:18 pm The generators, turbines, transformers and grid protection/monitoring equipment less so (I presume). Report comment Reply 2. Nathan says: February 9, 2025 at 8:37 am Most of the change would be shifting phase to align with the European grid. EU and Russia are both 50hz Report comment Reply 3. Eric says: February 9, 2025 at 2:52 pm Some of the existing appliances in Japan are not dual frequency compatible, switching them will get expensive. Particularly in larger factories with big industrial motors and the likes. I am sure one day Japan can finally be rid of weird split power problem if they mandated all new appliances and devices be 50/60hz compatible. Power plants would likely need to change their generator if it can't switch between 50 and 60 so they can be ready to switch at the right time. Report comment Reply 3. Dion B says: February 9, 2025 at 8:57 am I wonder how they're drifting the phase to match the EU. Operating as a a temporary island makes sense but do they just get all the local generation to push a bit harder over a period of time to nudge the phase towards the EU? How far out is/was Russia from the EU? Report comment Reply 1. geocrasher says: February 9, 2025 at 10:43 am Probably using giant capacitors and inductors to move the phasing around, as well as the smaller phase movements that can be done at the point of generation. Report comment Reply 2. alialiali says: February 9, 2025 at 1:43 pm The frequency shifts quite a bit, I think the easiest way to move the phase over would be to cautiously adjust the target frequency, and let it slip gently in phase towards the EU phase. i.e. if you set the target so the mean frequency will be 49.99 instead of 50Hz, the phase shifts 0.072 degrees. Every minute that mean offset is held the phase will shift 4.3 degrees. Maybe... I don't know how it actually works. Report comment Reply 3. Eric says: February 9, 2025 at 2:54 pm I think it could be as simple as dropping to 49 or 51 Hz for a while until the phase are in perfect sync then go back to 50 and maintain it before reconnecting the 3 countries to Europe Nearly everything will not have an issue running a bit fast or slow for a while although some clock might end up off by some minutes. Report comment Reply 4. Nikolai says: February 9, 2025 at 11:56 am The most for me is the electric grid frequency in Japan. The frequency of electricity in Japan varies by region. 50 Hz in the east and 60 Hz in the west. Report comment Reply Leave a ReplyCancel reply Please be kind and respectful to help make the comments section excellent. (Comment Policy) This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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