NAUJAŽERYS, LITHUANIA – Lithuania is witnessing a shift in its energy landscape with the operational launch of the country’s first hybrid solar and energy storage project, a 50 MW solar park in Naujažerys, Kaišiadorių district, coupled with a 107 MWh battery storage system. Developed by UAB “Vėjo galia,” the facility is now connected to the high-voltage transmission network operated by “Litgrid” and actively participating in the energy market.
The project represents a move beyond standalone renewable energy installations towards integrated systems that combine multiple energy sources – solar, wind, and energy storage – to enhance grid stability and financial flexibility for businesses. According to Gediminas Rožanskas, an engineer at TSPI, which provided the control system for the park, “Hybrid parks in Lithuania will only increase – Here’s a progressive and economically sound energy model that allows not only to generate but as well to intelligently manage energy.”
Rožanskas explained that combining energy generation and storage maximizes the use of grid connection capacity, enables more effective responses to network and price fluctuations, and transforms infrastructure into an active revenue-generating tool. “For businesses, this means higher returns, lower risks, and broader opportunities to participate in energy and system services markets,” he said.
The integrated storage system mitigates fluctuations in power generation and allows the park to actively respond to changes in electricity prices, offering balancing services to the grid. This capability increases revenue potential and ensures a more stable and predictable income stream, crucial for financial credibility. The park, functions not merely as a passive electricity producer but as a fully engaged participant in the energy system.
TSPI developed and implemented a complete control system (PPC) tailored to the coordinated operation of the different energy sources and storage units. The company also deployed its TSPI SCADA/EMS system, “TSPInsight,” for real-time monitoring and centralized control of both generation and energy storage. Integration with system services provider “CapaloAI” allows the hybrid park to leverage its key advantage – dynamically balancing generation and storage to actively engage in the system services market.
This advanced management facilitates not only efficient generation and storage but also integration into the electricity market and grid balancing. According to Rožanskas, electricity trading occurs in the day-ahead and intraday markets, responding to price signals, while system balance in real-time is ensured through balancing and frequency regulation services. The system fully meets the requirements set by “Litgrid.”
The shift towards hybrid systems is driven by increasing challenges within Lithuania’s energy system. With growing electricity generation from renewable sources, the need for system balancing and increased grid capacity is rising. “Litgrid” forecasts that installed capacity in the country will reach 10 GW by 2030, making balancing, storage, and frequency regulation services critically important.
Rožanskas noted that under these conditions, simply owning a power plant is no longer sufficient; it must be managed as an active market participant. Hybrid solutions allow renewable energy parks to avoid production restrictions due to grid congestion, adapt more flexibly to market conditions, and reduce operational risks. “Large energy consumers are increasingly locating themselves near production facilities,” he said. “This means that both renewable and traditional generation sources will have to operate in a coordinated manner.”
TSPI’s work extends beyond large-scale projects. The company is currently developing over 1 GWh of energy storage projects, approximately half of which are hybrid or will become hybrid, demonstrating that hybridization is becoming a universal solution across the entire energy system, regardless of project size or connection level. One example is a hybrid project developed by UAB “Relektra,” combining a 3 MW solar plant with a 6 MW wind farm, fully integrated despite being connected to the distribution network.
According to Rožanskas, the development of hybrid parks in Lithuania is increasingly occurring in stages – integrating storage systems or additional energy sources into already operational solar or wind farms. This phased approach allows for increased project value, maximum utilization of existing infrastructure, and adaptation to the rapidly changing market environment.
