Lithuania Gains Energy Independence with Clean Tech

Ina Tamosiuniene still remembers the dark streets of 1990 Lithuania as her country fought for independence. Last year, she helped her nation win that battle again, this time with clean energy.

As a project manager at Siemens Energy Lithuania, Tamosiuniene led two pivotal projects that gave Lithuania full energy independence. Her team connected four battery parks that provide instant backup power and installed three synchronous compensators that stabilize the grid.

The result? In 2025, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia successfully disconnected from the Russian grid and synchronized with Europe. It's the continent's biggest grid independence project in decades.

"I heard my commissioning manager say: 'Success, we've done it,'" Tamosiuniene recalls. "I'm proud that Lithuania created this, and I'm really proud that Siemens Energy was part of the project."

She credits her success to asking tough questions and staying open to challenges. "You will never be punished for a wrong decision if you can explain why you made the call," she says about working in the energy sector.

Meanwhile in Hamburg, engineer Marvin Rust is tackling a different clean energy challenge. The shipping industry produces nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and Rust's team is changing that.

As group manager of Siemens Energy's ship solution department, Rust develops alternatives to traditional diesel engines. His team created a modular approach using batteries, solar panels, and cleaner backup fuels tailored to each ship's needs.

"A ship is basically a small city that needs to get from A to B without the lights going out," Rust explains. His work recently powered New York's first electric ferry, now running reduced emission trips between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The Ripple Effect

These engineers represent a growing movement transforming Europe's energy landscape. As more countries invest in renewable infrastructure, the sector is creating thousands of jobs for people with diverse skills in logistics, management, and engineering.

The shift matters beyond environmental benefits. Energy independence strengthens national security while creating opportunities for the next generation of engineers and problem solvers.

Lithuania's victory over darkness isn't just about power; it's about possibility.