Principles for calculating technical capacity

Technical capacity by the Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council means the maximum firm capacity that the transmission system operator can offer to the network users, taking account of system integrity and the operational requirements of the transmission network.

The technical transmission capacity is calculated and offered to network users at all Latvian natural gas transmission system relevant interconnection Entry and Exit points, as well at UGS Incukalns.

The calculation of the transmission maximum technical capacity is performed with due consideration of technical possibilities and safe operating condition, which includes hydraulic calculations, network configuration, expected gas composition and operational marginal conditions and depends on the following:

  1. Geometric and physical parameters of pipelines (the material, length, and diameter of a pipeline, the relative roughness of the pipeline inner surface, etc.).
  2. Maximal operating pressure and the limitations of specific pipeline sections.
  3. Physical possibilities of locally installed equipment (gas metering stations, gas reduction and regulation stations).
  4. Possibilities of gas transmission from the entry to the exit, taking into account necessary parameters of security, efficiency and defined delivery pressures.
  5. Effective contractual obligations (regarding the gas volume and pressure).
  6. Level of simultaneous use of capacities of other Entry and Exit points of the transmission system.

Conexus Baltic Grid publishes the information on technical, booked and available capacity for the entry and exit points for a period of at least 24 months ahead in accordance with Commission Decision (EU) 2015/715 of 30 April 2015 amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks. The information on technical, booked and available capacity for the entry and exit points is published by Conexus Baltic Grid on an annual basis for all years of existing contractual commitments plus one year and at least for the next 10 years in accordance with article 3.3(5) of Commission Decision 2010/685/EU of 10 November 2010 amending Chapter 3 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. This information is updated every month or more frequently, if new information to Conexus Baltic Grid becomes available.

Information about planned interruptions to the technical capacity is published by Conexus Baltic Grid at least 42 days in advance. The publication of any changes on the website is provided promptly by Conexus Baltic Grid, while taking into account the actual and available information to Conexus Baltic Grid.