Baltic TSOs launch reserve services with Europe’s PICASSO platform
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Just over two months since synchronising their grids with the continental European grid, Litgrid, Augstsprieguma tīkls and Elering have launched new reserve services in the Baltic balancing capacity market.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia’s transmission system operators (TSOs) launched the services after joining the European balancing energy exchange platform, PICASSO.
PICASSO (Platform for the International Coordination of Automated Frequency Restoration and Stable System Operation) enables member countries to exchange available balancing energy by matching bids with requests between areas. Local market participants submit balancing energy offers to relevant TSOs. Such balancing services can be provided using a variety of technologies, including energy storage batteries, solar and wind farms, and flexible consumption.
Donatas Matelionis, head of the system management department at Litgrid, said in a release: “With all Baltic electricity transmission system operators having joined the PICASSO platform, cross-border exchanges of automatic frequency restoration reserves (aFRR) have commenced. As a result, balancing services can now be procured within the Baltic balancing capacity market. This enables even more efficient management of balancing energy, strengthening the security of electricity systems.”
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In the balancing energy market, participants can offer to reduce or increase their generation or consumption capacity immediately, so that the TSO can ensure a continuous balance between generation and consumption.
Current PICASSO members include Austria, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, and France.
Since joining PICASSO, aFRR balancing energy services have been procured since April 10, and procurement of aFRR balancing capacity services in the common Baltic balancing capacity market started from 15 April 2025.
Litgrid joined the PICASSO platform on March 5, Elering on April 9, and Augstsprieguma tīkls on April 10.
On February 8 this year, the Baltic countries disconnected from the Russian-controlled IPS/UPS electricity system, and on February 9, they successfully joined the Continental European grid, which serves more than 400 million consumers in 26 countries.
Synchronisation allows the Baltic countries to manage their electricity systems in close cooperation with other Continental European countries, ensuring stable and reliable frequency regulation.
