AKCIJU SABIEDRIBA AUGSTSPRIEGUMA TIKLS

Their core work

Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST) is Latvia's national electricity transmission system operator (TSO), responsible for managing the high-voltage power grid and ensuring secure electricity supply across the country. Within H2020, they contribute real-world operational data and TSO expertise to large-scale European projects designing the next generation of electricity markets and grid services. Their involvement focuses on how transmission operators can coordinate with distribution networks and consumers to integrate renewable energy flexibility at pan-European scale. As a regulated infrastructure operator, they bring practical grid management experience that complements academic and technology partners in consortium work.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

AST's early H2020 involvement (2017-2019) centered on flexibility products and electricity market design — exploring how TSOs could use new service categories and ICT tools to handle growing renewable penetration. By 2019-2024, their focus shifted decisively toward operational coordination: network codes, congestion management, and building unified TSO-DSO-consumer platforms. This trajectory shows a clear move from studying the flexibility problem to implementing the institutional and technical infrastructure that solves it.

AST is moving toward unified European grid operation platforms, making them a relevant partner for any project requiring a Baltic TSO perspective on cross-border energy coordination.

How they like to work

AST operates exclusively as a participant in very large Innovation Action consortia — their 3 projects involve 154 unique partners across 25 countries, averaging over 50 partners per project. They do not lead projects, which is typical for national TSOs that contribute operational infrastructure, real-world data, and pilot sites rather than research direction. Working with AST means gaining access to a regulated national grid operator willing to validate solutions under real conditions.

AST collaborates within an extensive European network of 154 unique partners across 25 countries, embedded in the major EU energy system integration consortia. Their network is dominated by other TSOs, DSOs, energy technology companies, and research institutions across the EU.

What sets them apart

AST is one of very few Baltic-region TSOs actively participating in flagship EU grid integration projects. For consortium builders, they offer something scarce: a national transmission operator from a region undergoing rapid energy system transformation as the Baltic states desynchronize from the Russian grid and integrate into Continental Europe. This geopolitical and technical transition makes them uniquely positioned to test and validate pan-European grid solutions at a critical infrastructure boundary.

Highlights from their portfolio

• OneNet
  Flagship project aiming to create a single unified European electricity network framework — AST's largest funded contribution (EUR 77,812) and most recent engagement.
• EU-SysFlex
  Major pan-European flexibility study involving dozens of TSOs and DSOs, addressing one of the most critical challenges in renewable energy integration.
• INTERRFACE
  Highest single funding (EUR 79,625) and directly tackles the TSO-DSO-Consumer interface architecture that is central to AST's operational mandate.