Amber Grid, which is responsible for the maintenance of the natural gas transmission network, is investing in the reliability and remote control of gas pipelines valves. Once the project will be implemented, half of the valve units in the company's transmission system will be controlled remotely, and the necessary data will be transmitted to the remote control system SCADA. The total value of the Project – EUR 9 million (exclusive of VAT), half of the funds has been drawn in from the EU structural funds.
Remote control is planned to be equipped by 2022 in 51 valve units, and, at the same time, 37 valve units will be replaced with the new ones. Amber Grid operates a total of 450 valve units, 186 of which are already digitized and remotely controlled. The works are being carried out by company MT Group. The Project is aimed at reducing quantities of gas lost during the maintenance of and accidents in the trunk gas pipeline, and optimizing management of gas flows.
'We are orienting the Lithuanian gas pipeline network towards increasing security and adapting innovative, digital technologies. Closing remotely the valves from the system control centre allows us to save time of the employees, to manage the gas flows more expeditiously, and to reduce the likelihood of interruption of gas transmission. Another important aspect is that, through the introduction of advanced technologies, we are pursuing environmental goals – we are reducing quantities of gas that can be released into the atmosphere in the event of an accident. Along with the modernization of infrastructure and the implementation of digital solutions, we also care about the decarbonisation of the energy sector', said Andrius Dagys, the Technical Director of Amber Grid.
The first works of replacing and digitizing valve units in the branches to gas distribution stations in Elektrėnai, Vievis, Žiežmariai, Kaišiadorys and Utena have already been completed. Gas from the stations is supplied to such large users of the system as Ignitis, Energijos skirstymo operatorius, Ignitis gamyba, urban heat facilities. Later works will be carried out in the branches to gas distribution stations in Širvintos, Šiauliai, and in the gas pipelines to Kaliningrad region, Panevėžys, Riga, Šiauliai.
Valves are closed in the event of accident in the gas pipeline or in other facilities of the gas transmission system. Then the valves, both before and after the accident site, are closed. In such case, with more remotely controlled valves, it would be possible to localize the damaged pipeline section faster, less gas would be released to the environment.
