Category: News

KNESS and Green Genius have started a partnership to provide operation and maintenance services for high-voltage infrastructure in Latvia.

A 110/30 kV substation with a capacity of 126 MVA has been added to KNESS Baltic’s portfolio of facilities under servicing. This is a substation node for one of the country’s largest solar power plants, with a capacity of 120 MW. The facility is owned by Green Genius – a company that has been developing, building, and maintaining RES projects in five European countries for 20 years.

At the substation, KNESS Baltic team will provide a full range of O&M services, including key ones such as scheduled and corrective maintenance, 24/7 monitoring of equipment status via the SCADA system, warranty support and spare parts management, and coordination with transmission system operators (Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST)).

The partnership between KNESS and Green Genius in the field of substation maintenance is based on a shared commitment to high quality standards, professional approaches, and a strong sense of responsibility in ensuring the stable operation of energy infrastructure. We combine the expertise and over 15 years of international experience of both teams in the development and operation of power facilities. Together, we are advancing the industry and accelerating Latvia’s energy transition.

For reference:

Green Genius is a renewable energy company, partly owned by EBRD, on a mission to empower sustainability for people, nature, and the planet. Operating across 5 European markets, the company drives decarbonization in the energy and transport sectors through solar, wind, battery storage, and biomethane solutions. With 20 years of expertise, Green Genius is at the forefront of Europe’s clean energy transition, aiming to reach over 1 GW of operational renewable capacity.

Three high-voltage substations of the international company Ignitis Renewables, which is actively scaling up green generation across the Baltic countries and Poland, have been added to the O&M portfolio of KNESS Baltic. The substation nodes, with a voltage class of 110/20 kV and a total capacity of 260 MVA, integrate some of the largest solar power plants in Latvia into the country’s energy grid.

Under the terms of the O&M contract, the KNESS Baltic team will provide a full range of technical and operational maintenance services for Ignitis Renewables substations, including: preventive and corrective maintenance work, testing of relay protection devices, thermal imaging inspection of contact connections of current-carrying parts, interaction with transmission and distribution system operators, performing operational switching, territory maintenance, etc.

Maintenance of high-voltage substations is a narrowly focused market segment with increased responsibility, where proven expertise and personnel qualifications, compliance with safety procedures, and protocol execution in accordance with state standards are critical.

KNESS Baltic has proven its competence in servicing power grids in the 20–110 kV range in practice, as there is:

• a team of qualified engineers with experience working with electrical equipment of various voltage classes
• experience in performing operational switching
• well-established work processes that meet ISO international quality standards
• own dispatch center for 24/7 remote monitoring of equipment status

KNESS continues to build an ecosystem of comprehensive services in Latvia for the development of renewable energy. Thanks to the group of companies’ more than 15 years of experience, we are consistently expanding our area of expertise and responsibility. In partnership with Ignitis Renewables, we are strengthening the sustainability of energy systems and the integration of renewable generation in Europe for a sustainable future.

For reference: Ignitis Renewables focuses on renewable energy projects and is part of Ignitis Group, the largest state-owned energy group in the Baltic States. The group’s portfolio of implemented projects includes 1.8 GW of green energy capacity. Ignitis Group operates in the Baltic States, as well as in Poland and Finland.

KNESS Baltic will implement a large-scale project in Latvia to build over 55 MWh of new energy storage capacity within the perimeter of solar power plants (co-location). The storage systems will be integrated into six existing solar power plants (SPPs) with a total capacity of 55 MW, which were built by the KNESS Baltic team in various regions of the country. The investor behind these energy projects is Volterra Energy Group – a producer of electricity from renewable sources and our strategic partner for many years.

“The development of modern energy storage solutions is one of the key directions of KNESS’s strategy. ESS is a versatile tool that ensures grid balancing and stability, enables the seamless integration of renewable energy sources, and enhances the economic efficiency of projects. With practical expertise and engineering experience in implementing ESS for various application scenarios in Ukraine, we are now launching such projects for the Latvian market as well. After all, scaling up these projects is about modernizing the power system and the industry as a whole”  – mentions Sergii Shakalov, СЕО of KNESS Group.

KNESS Baltic team is implementing these energy projects under an EPC contract (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) which entails responsibility for the entire project lifecycle: from engineering, design, and equipment procurement to construction and grid connection. The company’s specialists are currently in the design phase. At the same time, production is already underway and the delivery of energy storage systems and other necessary equipment is being coordinated. The facilities will be built using technological solutions from our partner HiTHIUM, one of the world leaders in ESS manufacturing. KNESS is the official distributor of HiTHIUM ESS in Ukraine and the Baltic countries, which allows for maximum optimization of engineering and logistics processes.

The future hybrid facilities will provide ancillary services for frequency regulation in the grid, supporting Latvia’s power system. They will operate under an arbitrage model, which involves storing electricity from the SPP during periods of low demand (or peak solar generation) and selling it during periods of shortage (peak demand hours). The integration of ESS significantly increases the economic efficiency of solar power plants by mitigating their stochastic nature, and also strengthens the power system as a whole by adding new balancing capacity.

We would like to thank our partner for their long-standing trust and our win-win cooperation in developing modern energy infrastructure in the region.

The solar station is spread out in a cascade of separate sections on complex terrain. The hilly and swampy terrain significantly complicated the work of construction equipment. Despite the challenges, KNESS Baltic team completed a full range of construction and installation works on the part of the facility. Start-up and commissioning works and tests were also carried out to put the entire solar power plant into operation.

Thanks to the expertise of the KNESS Baltic team, the solar power plant is already generating megawatts of clean electricity for Latvia’s power grid, increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s overall energy mix. The total capacity of all solar power plants built by KNESS in the Baltic region is currently 143 MW.

Keeping on working towards our ambitious goal: transitioning to 100% renewable energy.

How to ensure stable and efficient operation of a solar power plant? KNESS O&M experts know the answer to this question, as they have 10 years of practical experience in servicing power facilities with a total capacity of over 1.93 GW. Moreover, the team continues to improve in its field, guided by international standards and taking into account local characteristics in Ukraine, Poland, and Latvia, where KNESS has representative offices.

Aleksandrs Maculevičs is the deputy head of the O&M department in KNESS Baltic. Together with his team, Aleksandrs performs operational switching, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, testing, regular inspections, and thermal imaging surveys of electrical equipment, as well as operational troubleshooting.

How do you manage to maintain a high level of service for industrial SPPs throughout Latvia? Aleksandrs revealed the details of the team’s work.

24/7/365 monitoring: dispatching and regular preventive maintenance work

“KNESS Baltic service team works systematically and comprehensively. My colleagues at the KNESS dispatch center monitor the technical parameters of all solar power plants remotely in real time. To do this, they use a monitoring system chosen by the customer or KNESS’s own software and hardware complex, PV.SCADA. At the same time, even if there are no deviations according to the data received, together with a team we physically check the condition of the electrical facility every month,” says Aleksandrs.

Regular maintenance of SPP by KNESS Baltic team includes:

• standard inspections: diagnostics of power circuits, transformer substations, cable lines, and safety systems.
• in-depth inspections: inspections of PV modules, inverters, transformers, insulation resistance measurements, thermography of conductive parts, thermal imaging of solar modules, etc.
• comprehensive maintenance: inspection and repair of all systems at SPP — from PV modules and distribution units to power supply systems, fire alarms, and weather stations.

Such preventive measures help reduce the risk of emergencies and keep SPP equipment in proper working condition throughout the year.

Prompt response to any emergency situations

“If we receive information from KNESS dispatch center about remarks or deviations in the operation of equipment at SPP, we arrive at the facility within 3-6 hours, perform the necessary diagnostics, and, if possible, immediately fix minor malfunctions to minimize equipment downtime,” Aleksandrs explains how the KNESS Baltic team works to prevent emergencies.

In Latvia, the rapid response team consists mainly of engineers of the highest category (group C), who are constantly improving their skills and therefore have the necessary qualifications to perform corrective work.

Special equipment and qualifications for the highest quality service

KNESS Baltic uses modern equipment to perform diagnostics and repair work.

“We use robotic equipment to mow vegetation, handheld thermal imagers to inspect live parts, and a thermal imaging drone to diagnose panels. To perform thermography using a drone, our personnel regularly improves their skills: in addition to obtaining special permits for drone flights (EASA Category A1/A3 European certificates), the team has undergone internal training and training from DJI Enterprise,” notes Aleksandrs.

The team continues to improve its skills: taking training courses on operation and maintenance from equipment manufacturers such as SMA and Sungrow. It also actively participates in courses at the Sadales Tīkls training center. For example, the team has completed a course in thermography, and Aleksandrs has confirmed his skills in servicing grid equipment of various voltages up to 110 kV, in particular, he has received special permission to perform operational switching and operate medium-voltage grids.

Practical experience combined with continuous learning and mastering new technologies yields results: high standards, efficiency, and a comprehensive approach to service, and most importantly — trust from solar station owners throughout Latvia, Ukraine, and Poland.

KNESS has started operation and maintenance of one of the largest solar power plants in Latvia with a capacity of 94 MW. The facility covers an area of 110 hectares. The solar power plant is owned by international green energy company Ignitis Renewables, operating in the Baltic States and Poland. Under the terms of the O&M contract for this facility, the KNESS Baltic team provides a full range of operational, technical, and maintenance services.

Over the past 10 years, the KNESS team has gained unique expertise in servicing large ground-based solar power plants in compliance with international quality standards. Among the largest facilities we service are solar power plants with a capacity of 63 and 91 MW, and now 94 MW. However, we continue to learn and deepen our expertise in line with the demands of the times.

We ensure the efficient operation of RES facilities, power grids, and ESS in Ukraine, Poland, and Latvia 24/7/365. The total capacity of the facilities serviced by KNESS is 1.7 GW, including 149 MW of solar power plants in Latvia. This is our investment in energy security and a sustainable future for current and future generations in all countries of our presence. Therefore, we are joining forces with Ignitis Renewables and other partners, including in the Baltic region, for a common goal – to accelerate the green transition.

For reference: Ignitis Renewables is involved in renewable energy projects and is part of the Ignitis Group, the largest state-owned energy group in the Baltic States. The group’s portfolio of implemented projects includes 1.8 GW of green energy capacity. Ignitis Group operates in the Baltic countries, as well as in Poland and Finland.

Thinking of the long-term goals, creating a sustainable, decent, energy-independent future for future generations is the path that the KNESS Group of companies is following, being aware of its role in society. These approaches and values guide us in our activities.

Recently, our team has received a letter of appreciation for its contribution to the creation of a fair and stable environment for the development of Latvia. Also, KNESS Baltic been recognized as a company with good compliance and included in the highest category “A” according to the taxpayer rating system in Latvia.

This recognition is given to responsible and transparent businesses that not only faithfully fulfill their obligations, but also have a positive impact on society and the development of the country’s economy in compliance with the principles of fair competition.

We are grateful to the State Revenue Service of the Republic of Latvia for the high assessment of our work, and to our KNESS Baltic team for their professionalism and high-level work!

Sustainability and responsibility are among our values, which we live up to in our activities. We act transparently, create jobs and actively develop the local communities. We care about a sustainable future in Latvia, supporting an environment where mutual respect is the cornerstone of partnership.

In Latvia KNESS provides a full range of services for the operation and maintenance of industrial solar power plants. We are a trusted partner with nearly 10 years of experience in the industry, which we invest in developing innovative solutions and providing high-quality maintenance services in accordance with international standards. At the same time, we continue to develop and gain expertise, adapting to the needs of today.

Every action taken by the KNESS Baltic team is aimed at improving the efficiency of energy facilities:

🔸 Minimizing the risks of insufficient generation: performing regular preventive maintenance and responding promptly to emergency situations.
🔸 Operating 24/7/365: performing round-the-clock monitoring of SPP operation through our own dispatch center and own software and hardware complex — PV.SCADA.
🔸 Automatizing energy asset management: having integrated PV.SCADA with the Nord Pool AS energy platform for continuous monitoring of electricity prices, so generation restrictions are now enforced automatically, according to prices and set values.
🔸 Providing a full range of services — from remote management and analytics to equipment repair and replacement (including grass control and security measures).

You can learn more about O&M by KNESS on our website: https://www.kness.lv/#product

KNESS Baltic became a member of the Latvian solar association  “Saules enerģijai Latvijai” which brings together the leading players in the renewable energy market in the country.

The industry association, founded in 2022, aims to develop the renewable electricity sector and create an ecosystem of uninterrupted energy supply in Latvia. We are convinced that cooperation with industry colleagues will facilitate the introduction of advanced technologies and the scaling of green energy capacities in the region. Therefore, we are happy to share our expertise and experience and join forces for a common goal.

Moving together to a clean energy future!☀️

A new solar power plant with a capacity of 10.6 MW will soon emerge in western Latvia! 

KNESS Baltic team, as the general contractor, has begun construction of a solar power plant in Kuldiga district. The photovoltaic modules will be installed on metal structures manufactured in Ukraine by KNESS. The facility is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 16,128 tons annually. 

Every day we are getting closer to the moment when the new energy facility will start generating megawatts of clean energy for the country.