Lithuania Taps Strategy Chief to Lead Critical Energy Storage Unit

VILNIUS, Lithuania – April 24, 2026 – In a move underscoring Lithuania's strategic focus on energy independence and grid resilience, Paulius Butkus has been elected Chair of the Board of Energy Cells, the state-owned operator of the nation's critical energy storage system. Butkus, who also serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for parent company EPSO-G, will lead a newly formed board tasked with steering the company through a pivotal period in the nation's energy history.

The appointment comes as Lithuania accelerates its efforts to decouple from the post-Soviet BRELL electricity ring and fully synchronize its power grid with the Continental European Networks (CEN). Energy Cells and its 200-megawatt (MW) battery storage system are central to this transition, providing the instantaneous power reserves necessary to ensure grid stability and national energy security.

A Strategic Appointment for Energy Independence

The election of Paulius Butkus is a clear signal of the strategic importance placed on Energy Cells. As Chief Strategy Officer at EPSO-G, the state-owned group managing Lithuania’s core energy infrastructure, Butkus is deeply involved in shaping the country's long-term energy trajectory. His extensive background, which includes over a decade in the energy sector and a key role as RDI Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement Manager at the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) in Brussels, provides a unique blend of national and international perspective.

His leadership is expected to align Energy Cells' operations directly with EPSO-G's overarching strategy, which aims to invest up to €9 billion by 2035 to create a climate-neutral energy system and position Lithuania as a future green energy exporter. Butkus's expertise in energy system operations, infrastructure development, and group-wide strategic planning will be crucial for navigating the complex technical and political landscape of European energy integration.

Energy Cells operates a system of four battery energy storage parks located in Vilnius, Šiauliai, Alytus, and Utena. With a combined capacity of 200 MW and 200 megawatt-hours (MWh), it is the largest such system in the Baltic states and among the most significant in Europe. Its primary function is to provide an isolated standby power service, capable of responding within one second to stabilize the grid during an emergency. This rapid-response capability is essential for Lithuania's ability to operate its power system in an isolated mode, a necessary step before completing the full synchronization with the CEN, anticipated by 2025.

A New Board Blending Expertise and Governance

The new board, which commenced its term on April 14, 2026, reflects a deliberate focus on robust corporate governance and diverse expertise. Butkus is joined by two other key members, creating a leadership team designed to balance strategic direction, governmental oversight, and financial prudence.

Dovilė Kapačinskaitė, a Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Energy, continues her service for a second term. Her re-appointment ensures a direct line of communication with the government, Lithuania's ultimate shareholder in the energy sector, guaranteeing that Energy Cells' activities remain aligned with national policy objectives, including the ambitious National Energy Independence Strategy.

Adding a fresh perspective is new independent board member Jurgis Gabrielius Rudgalvis, the Chief Financial Officer of the tech firm Oxylabs Group. Rudgalvis brings over a decade of experience in financial management, strategic transformations, and major investment projects from his time at companies like Euroapotheca Group. His appointment adheres to Lithuania's push to strengthen corporate governance within its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by incorporating independent, private-sector expertise. This move is in line with OECD guidelines, which Lithuania has adopted to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in its SOEs, shielding them from undue political influence and promoting performance-based management.

This carefully constructed board composition—blending a corporate strategist, a government policy expert, and an independent financial leader—provides Energy Cells with a well-rounded foundation to manage its current critical role while preparing for future commercial and technological challenges.

Powering Lithuania's Sustainable Future

While the immediate focus of Energy Cells is ensuring stability during the synchronization process, its long-term role is inextricably linked to Lithuania's green transition. Once Lithuania is securely connected to the European grid, the 200 MW battery system will pivot to a new, equally vital mission: facilitating the large-scale integration of renewable energy.

Lithuania has set some of Europe's most aggressive renewable energy targets, aiming for 100% of its electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030 and to become a net exporter of green energy. The inherent intermittency of wind and solar power creates significant challenges for grid balancing. Large-scale battery storage, like the system operated by Energy Cells, is the key to solving this puzzle. The batteries can absorb surplus energy when generation is high and release it back to the grid when demand peaks or renewable output is low, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply.

The market is already responding to this need. Beyond Energy Cells, commercial battery storage projects are emerging across Lithuania, including a 65 MW system that recently joined the electricity balancing market. The government is further stimulating this growth, with plans to procure up to 1.7 GW / 4 GWh of additional energy storage capacity to support the burgeoning renewables sector. This strategic deployment of storage technology is foundational to achieving the nation's goal of full energy independence in a climate-neutral manner by 2050.

Under its new leadership, Energy Cells is positioned not just as a guardian of current grid stability but as a key enabler of Lithuania's sustainable and electrified future. The decisions made by this board will have a lasting impact on the nation's ability to achieve its ambitious energy and climate goals, solidifying its place as an innovative leader in the European energy landscape.