IPS/UPS

"Unified Energy System" redirects here. For other uses, see RAO UES.

The IPS/UPS is a wide area synchronous transmission grid of some CIS countries, with a common mode of operation and centralized supervisory control. It has an installed generation capacity of 300 gigawatts, and produces 1,200 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year for its 280 million customers. The system spans eight time zones.^[1]

Worldwide synchronous grids. IPS/UPS is shown in orange.

History

The unified power system was started in 1956 by interconnecting the power systems of Center and Middle Volga. By 1978, the unified power system included all of the Soviet Union except Central Asia.

In 1979–1993 the power systems of Poland, the German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, now part of the synchronous grid of Continental Europe (ENTSO-E), operated synchronously with the Unified Power System of the USSR.

Central Asian countries (excluding Turkmenistan) were added to the integrated system in 2001.^[1] In 2009, Uzbekistan disconnected from the system resulting also in the disconnection of Tajikistan.^[2] In 2022, Ukraine disconnected, resulting in the disconnection of Moldova.^[3]

UPS

The Russian portion of the interconnection is known as Unified Power System of Russia (UPS; Russian: Единая энергетическая система России) and includes six regional transmission operators: ECO Center, ECO South, ECO North-West, ECO Middle Volga, ECO Urals and ECO Siberia. ECO East operates in isolation from UPS of Russia.

UPS of Russia came into existence as a result of Russian Federation Decision #526 dated 11 July 2001 "On the Restructuring of the Russian Federation United Energy System". Up until 1 July 2008 RAO UES operated UPS. It is currently being operated by the Federal Grid Company (FGC UES) of Russia.

IPS

The Integrated Power System (IPS) portion of the network includes the national networks of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Mongolia.^[4]

In early 2021 Ukraine announced that it would be disconnecting from Russia and Belarus by the end of 2023 and integrating into the continental European grid.^[5][6] In February 2022, Ukraine disconnected due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, also disconnecting Moldova.^[3] In early March 2022, Ukraine completed an emergency synchronization with the European grid. ^[7]

Interconnections with other systems

IPS/UPS is synchronously interconnected with the Baltic countries. In addition, it has an interlink to the Nordic system via a back-to-back high-voltage direct current (HVDC) connection to Finland with a capacity of 1420 megawatts.^[8]

In 2005, Russia and the EU considered unifying the IPS/UPS network with the ENTSO-E to form a single synchronous super grid spanning 13 time zones.^[1] There was also a proposal to interconnect the Russian grid to China and other Asian systems with HVDC links as part of an Asian Super Grid.

See also

• European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E)
• SuperSmart Grid - proposal for combining ENTSO-E, IPS/UPS and some Middle East networks with smart grid capabilities
• European super grid
• Baltic states synchronization with UCTE

References

1. Sergei Lebed (20 April 2005). (PDF). Brussels: UCTE-IPSUPS Study presentation: 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. Chorshanbiyev, Payrav (30 July 2010). "Energy blockade reportedly costs Sangtudinskaya GES-1 at US$20 mln". ASIA-Plus. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
3. Abnett, Kate (28 February 2022). "EU to urgently link electricity grid with Ukraine's". Reuters.
4. Luther, Matthias (2004). (PDF). TEN-E Conference: Developing a Secure and Sustainable Trans European Energy Network. Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
5. "Kyiv: Ukraine will cut itself off from power grids of Russia and Belarus". UAWire. 25 January 2021.
6. "Ukraine to disconnect from Russia and Belarus' power systems by end of 2023". TASS. 23 February 2021.
7. "ENTSO-E agrees to start trial synchronization of continental European power grids with those of Ukraine, Moldova from March 16". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
8. Haubrich, Hans-Jürgen; Dieter Denzel (30 October 2008). (PDF). Operation of Interconnected Power Systems (PDF). Aachen: Institute for Electrical Equipment and Power Plants (IAEW) at RWTH Aachen University. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2008. (See "Operation of Power Systems" link for title page and table of contents.)