Amber Grid, the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator, has opened a new System Control Centre (SCC) equipped with the latest technologies. The project, which took one and a half years to complete, involved an investment of around 1.6 million EUR. It is an important strategic investment to strengthen the country‘s energy security, independence, gas transmission reliability and resilience to emergencies.

The new System Control Centre is equipped with advanced technologies, including a state-of-the-art SCADA system, that makes it possible to monitor remotely and control the entire Lithuanian gas transmission network. Engineers can open or close gas pipeline valves in real time from the centre, and thus react efficiently to any system disturbance or emergency situation. Gas pipeline sections are closed by the SCADA system from the SCC in Vilnius to reduce the release of gas into the atmosphere in the event of an accident. According to the company representatives, the continuous monitoring of gas parameters and the operational management of the network ensure the stable and safe management of natural and green gas flows.

The Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, who attended the opening of the Centre, stressed the importance of the security of critical energy infrastructure. “The new System Control Centre will become the main control point for gas transmission in the country, and its significance goes beyond the borders of Lithuania. In ensuring the security of one link, which in this case is the gas transmission system, we strengthen the energy reliability of the whole region and Europe. After having implemented bold projects, such as the Klaipeda LNG terminal, electricity and gas interconnections with the West and synchronisation of the electricity system, we have become an example for others in increasing Lithuania’s energy independence, security and resilience. After having established the advanced control centre of the gas transmission system, the company should continue to make sustainable investments in maintaining and modernising the infrastructure of strategic importance”, – said Ž. Vaičiūnas.

The new centre also ensures more efficient data monitoring and strengthens the resilience of the entire gas system to potential crisis situations. “Amber Grid continuously invests in upgrading the gas transmission network, modern technologies and organises emergency drills to ensure maximum efficiency in preventing emergencies, and that the response to them is quick and coordinated.

“This centre not only symbolises readiness for the future challenges, but also practically increases the reliability of the gas transmission system. Modern technologies allow a more efficient response to emergencies and manage the gas network by oneself in real time, which is an essential condition for strengthening Lithuania’s energy independence. The technological solutions in place will create the prerequisites for further improvement of the system management, its digitalization, and data analysis, and for other projects focusing on continuous progress“, – notes Mindaugas Keizeris, Head of EPSO-G Group.

Nemunas Biknius, CEO of Amber Grid, said that the modern technologies introduced in the new System Control Centre provide more opportunities to see, analyse and assess the situation in the system.

“Investing in advanced infrastructure makes it possible to control promptly the gas transmission system, ensure the system security and commitments to customers. After having introduced a gas transmission telemetry or SCADA system in the SCC, we can remotely control the country‘s gas transmission network. Such digitalisation of the gas pipeline control began back in 1999, and is now well on its way to completion. Currently, we remotely control almost all transmission system facilities with a SCADA system, and control the technological processes of all gas distribution and metering stations and gas compressor stations. All main international points on the gas transmission system in the interconnections with Poland and Latvia are fully digitised. This made it possible to ensure efficiency of the pipeline operation work, to reorient the specialists who were permanently on duty at the stations into engineers who periodically service the facilities. In the future, we plan to integrate hydraulic modeling data, gas flow rate parameters, load calculations for individual system sections into the system”, – says N. Biknius.

Remote control of the system is critical for localising potential accidents. With all information on gas pressure at the transmission system facilities, the specialists of the System Control Centre can quickly identify the location of an accident and, by closing the tap valves in the individual sections of the gas pipeline, localise the accident within minutes without a separate specialist visit to the scene, which can take up to a couple of hours.

In the newly equipped SCC, the entire system management team will work in one place. This will ensure effective coordination of actions, rapid response to disruptions, and smooth communication with the operators of the neighbouring countries. The new infrastructure makes it possible to rapidly assess the state of the network, anticipate potential risk factors, better forecast gas demand, and efficiently manage the network repair schedules. All of this will ensure the maximum availability of services to customers.