Hitachi Energy

In October 2024, Hitachi Energy was awarded a control-system upgrade contract by NordBalt's joint owners Litgrid and Svenska kraftnät, covering the 700 MW, ±300 kV HVDC interconnector between Klaipėda (Lithuania) and Nybro (Sweden). Hitachi Energy is the successor to the original ABB scope and continues to support the link's MACH control-and-protection platform that was supplied as part of the 2010 turnkey contract. The contract scope covers installation of new control-system logic together with hardware and software solutions, as well as operator training and updates to technical documentation. The upgrade extends frequency-control functionality for isolated and synchronous-mode operation of the Lithuanian and Baltic power systems, broadens emergency power control, and lowers short-circuit capacity demand at the connection points — preparing NordBalt for stable operation alongside the Baltic states' synchronisation with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area in February 2025. Andreas Berthou, Head of HVDC & HVDC Service at Hitachi Energy, described the work as ensuring "the security of power supply in the entire Baltic region" and contributing to the integrated EU electricity market. The works are scheduled for completion by May 2026.