Giedrius

The Pulse of Kruonis: Giedrius’ Story from the Inside

“There’s no such thing as ‘luck’ or ‘bad luck’ in energy. We simply have to get the job done,” says Giedrius Radvila, Head of Ancillary Services Development at Ignitis Gamyba. He believes not in chance, but in purposeful work and responsibility.

Currently, Giedrius works at the Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant. Implementing smart generation management systems, automating processes, and contributing to the construction of the new fifth unit—these are just a few of the projects he and his colleagues are involved in. As he puts it, this is where he sees the greatest purpose, value creation, and opportunities for professional growth.

Experience That Comes Full Circle

Giedrius has been working in the energy sector for over two decades. He began his career right after university at the Electricity System Management Center, which at the time coordinated not only grid and overall system operations but also the generation regimes of the country’s major power plants, including the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Later, during the unbundling of operations in the electricity system to meet EU requirements, he became part of the Litgrid team. There, he helped build the new organization’s structures and functions from the ground up. After more than a decade, Giedrius returned to the Group—this time to Ignitis Gamyba at the Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant, where he says he found a unique place for professional self-fulfillment.

Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant – More Than Just a Power Plant

“I believe I work in a truly special place—it’s the only plant of its kind in the Baltic region and one of the largest in all of Europe,” says Giedrius. His team is currently implementing an automated generation management project and contributing to the development of the fifth unit, which will significantly enhance the flexibility of the Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant. The new control systems and innovative unit will not only increase the plant’s total capacity to 1010 MW, but also incorporate advanced, automated generation control solutions.

According to Giedrius, the results of these projects will enable not only automated equipment control—starting, stopping, or adjusting generation volumes—but will also integrate the capacity of all Ignitis Gamyba power plants into a single, centralized management system. This will help ensure more flexible and efficient capacity management in the evolving balancing market environment.

When a Power Plant Supports Entire Cities

The Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant is not only a technologically advanced facility—it’s also a strategic pillar of the energy system. Giedrius recalls an incident when the plant helped restore power to Riga: “A few years ago, when one of Riga’s power plants went offline and a large portion of the city and surrounding regions lost power, Kruonis was the first to activate its reserve capacity and help stabilize the system. So, the Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant ensures energy security not only for Lithuania but also for neighboring countries,” he explains.

An Evolving Sector, Growing Responsibilities

The fifth unit is expected to begin operation by the end of 2026. According to Giedrius, the decision to build it was driven not just by solid planning and analysis, but by a real and growing need observed in daily balancing operations. As the energy sector becomes more decentralized and increasingly reliant on renewable sources, greater flexibility is required. The new type of generator—with a wider capacity regulation range—will enable smoother and more extensive integration of solar and wind power into the electricity system.

Giedrius’ team, currently made up of five balancing dispatchers, is expected to grow. They are responsible for the real-time commercial operations of all power plants—Elektrėnai Complex, the Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant, and the Kaunas Hydroelectric Plant—including the fulfillment of commercial obligations for electricity trading and balancing services. As Giedrius notes, it’s a dynamic, ever-changing, and challenge-filled job, as both market and system conditions evolve constantly.