Estlink

First plans for a submarine power cable between the Baltic and the Nordic regions were proposed in 1990s. Negotiations between Eesti Energia, Pohjolan Voima, Helsingin Energia, Graninge (now E.ON Sverige), Latvenergo, Statkraft and TXE Nordic Energy, a subsidiary of TXU (now Energy Future Holdings Corporation) started In 1999, and on 9 October 2001 a contract was signed in Tallinn.

{{cite news

| url = http://brilliantfixer.wordpress.com/2001/10/11/new-power-cable-to-unite-baltic-and-scandinavian-power-supp/

| title = New power cable to unite Baltic and Scandinavian power supplies

| first1 = Kairi | last1 = Kurm

| first2 = Aleksei| last2 = Gunter

| publisher=The Baltic Times

| date = 2001-10-11

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

However, only after the harsh winter of 2002–2003 which resulted in an increased demand for power, the project of the submarine cable between Estonia and Finland got a boost.

{{cite news

| url = http://tdworld.com/underground_transmission_distribution/power_estlink_tie_improves/

| title = Estlink Tie Improves Baltic States System

| first1 = Raine | last1 = Pajo

| first2 = Indrek | last2 = Aarna

| first3 = Matti | last3 = Lahtinen

| publisher = Penton Media, Inc.

| work = Transmission & Distribution World

| date = 2007-04-01

| accessdate = 2009-02-07| url-access = subscription

}}

The letter of intention for underwater sea cable was signed between Eesti Energia, Pohjolan Voima, Helsingin Energia and Latvenergo on 31 March 2003.

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=7326502b-5697-4464-82a3-1ceb3ea9bbc2

| title = Estonia- Latvia- Finland power groups sign undersea cable protocol

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2003-03-31

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

In May 2004, the Lithuanian power company Lietuvos Energija agreed to participate in the project, shortly after which the project company AS Nordic Energy Link was established.

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=df65b2b1-5f85-4bf0-8172-862bc3b807ce

| title = Lietuvos Energija agrees to invest in Estlink

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2004-05-13

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=d14ce18a-e9b2-4aa9-9516-586996df4225

| title = Sea cable Estlink partners formed joint venture

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2004-06-07

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

On 29 April 2005, the Estlink project was launched.

{{cite web

|url = http://www.globalmarinesystems.com/estlink

|title = Case Studies - Estlink

|publisher = Global Marine Systems

|accessdate = 2014-10-19

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20141010180406/http://www.globalmarinesystems.com/estlink/

|archivedate = 2014-10-10

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=610e929d-ac6f-4fbe-87bc-031416452ffd

| title = Estonian-Finnish undersea power cable project launched

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2005-05-02

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

Construction of Harku converter station and land cable installation begins on 5 April 2006.

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=9934b5a1-3749-4c66-b3da-7766c0fc5e73

| title = Construction work for Estlink submarine cable converter station begins

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2006-04-05

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

The submarine cable was laid in September 2006.

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=9a55181c-386c-4a25-9013-6a0f416ab4ac

| title = Laying of Estlink submarine cable on seabed begins near Tallinn

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2006-09-11

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=4dc60ad0-cdd5-476f-960f-7b87dd2f6d26

| title = Laying of Estlink cable on the seabed is completed

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2006-09-29

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

The Estlink cable was inaugurated on 4 December 2006 and it became fully operational on 5 January 2007.

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=177957f7-4dcc-43fc-ac47-36ade7b4a758

| title = EUR 110 mln power link between Baltics and Finland inaugurated today

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2006-12-24

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

{{cite news

| url = http://bbn.ee/Default2.aspx?ArticleID=1879212c-0b2b-459f-aa6b-8523087ca40e

| title = Estlink subsea cable between Estonia and Finland becomes operational

| first = Toomas | last = Hõbemägi

| publisher = Baltic Business News

| date = 2007-01-05

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

The Estlink 1 cable was operated by AS Nordic Energy Link company, founded by Baltic and Finnish power companies. The main shareholder was Eesti Energia with 39.9% of the shares, Latvenergo and Lietuvos Energija had 25% each, and the remaining 10.1% was divided between Pohjolan Voima and Helsingin Energia (operating through their joint project company Finestlink). On 30 December 2013 the interconnector was sold to the transmission system operators Elering and Fingrid.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/34150/

| title = Estlink gets new owners

| newspaper = The Baltic Times

| date = 2014-01-08

| accessdate = 2014-01-12}}

The {{convert|105|km|mi}} long (including {{convert|74|km|mi}} under water) +/-150 kV, 350 MW HVDC link cable is connected to the Estonian electrical system at the Harku 330 kV converter station and to the Finnish transmission network at Espoo 400 kV converter station in Järvikylä using HVDC Light transmission technology.

{{cite news

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL3087437620061130

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130201193335/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL3087437620061130

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = February 1, 2013

| title = Finland-Estonia power cable at least a week late

| work = Reuters

| date = 2006-11-30

| accessdate = 2009-02-07}}

{{cite web

| url = http://www.abb.com/industries/ap/db0003db004333/ce9eeddef52ff677c125774a002e109b.aspx

| title = Estlink HVDC Light link

| publisher = ABB

| accessdate = 2010-10-02}}

The installation of land cable began on 4 May 2006 in Harku. The submarine cable was laid on the seabed of the Gulf of Finland in the autumn of 2006. The cable's maximum depth on the seabed is {{convert|100|m|ft|-1}}.

The cable was manufactured by ABB. The submarine cable was laid by Global Marine Systems using the CS Sovereign. The project cost €110 million.

{{cite web

|url = http://www.neurope.eu/articles/64691.php

|title = Work on Estlink cable begins in Gulf of Finland

|publisher = New Europe

|date = 2006-09-13

|accessdate = 2009-02-07

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071016090317/http://www.neurope.eu/articles/64691.php

|archivedate = 2007-10-16

}}

A preliminary agreement on EstLink 2 was signed between Elering and Fingrid on 15 February 2010 in Tallinn.

{{cite press release

|url = http://www.nordpoolspot.com/Market_Information/Exchange-information/No-092010-NPS---Preliminary-agreement-signed-on-EstLink-2-cable-connection/

|title = Preliminary agreement signed on EstLink 2 cable connection

|publisher = Nord Pool Spot

|date = 2010-02-15

|accessdate = 2010-12-31

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714195016/http://www.nordpoolspot.com/Market_Information/Exchange-information/No-092010-NPS---Preliminary-agreement-signed-on-EstLink-2-cable-connection/

|archivedate = 2011-07-14

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE61E1JY20100215

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100221161729/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE61E1JY20100215

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = February 21, 2010

| title = Power firms sign new Finland-Estonia link deal

| work = Reuters

| date = 2010-02-15

| accessdate = 2010-12-31}}

Capital investment decision by Fingrid was made on 20 May 2010.

{{cite press release

|url = http://www.nordpoolspot.com/Market_Information/Exchange-information/No-312010-NPS----Fingrids-capital-investment-decision-on-submarine-cable-link-to-Estonia/

|title = Fingrid's capital investment decision on submarine cable link to Estonia

|publisher = Nord Pool Spot

|date = 2010-05-20

|accessdate = 2010-12-31

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714195036/http://www.nordpoolspot.com/Market_Information/Exchange-information/No-312010-NPS----Fingrids-capital-investment-decision-on-submarine-cable-link-to-Estonia/

|archivedate = 2011-07-14

}}

A construction agreement was signed on 1 November 2010.

{{cite press release

|url = http://www.fingrid.fi/portal/in_english/news_and_releases/press_releases?bid=1174

|title = Electricity market expanding further to the Baltic countries

|publisher = Fingrid

|date = 2010-11-01

|accessdate = 2010-12-31

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720015250/http://www.fingrid.fi/portal/in_english/news_and_releases/press_releases?bid=1174

|archivedate = 2011-07-20

}}

On 23 December 2010, the contract to manufacture and install the subsea and underground cables was awarded to Nexans, the contract to build converter stations was awarded to Siemens, the contract to build the Nikuviken cable terminal station and to expand the Anttila substation in Finland was awarded to Empower Oy, and the contract to build the transmission line between Anttila and Nikuviken was awarded to ETDE, a part of Bouygues.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.pennenergy.com/index/power/display/7636796494/articles/powergenworldwide/t-and-d/t-and-d-infrastructure/2010/12/siemens-secures_eur100m.html

| title = Siemens secures EUR100m order to supply converter stations for Estlink 2

| work = Power-Gen Worldwide

| publisher = PennWell

| date = 2010-12-23

| accessdate = 2010-12-31}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.oilvoice.com/n/Nexans_Wins_Contract_for_EstLink_2_Power_Submarine_Link_Between_Finland_and_Estonia/780a97dd0.aspx

| title = Nexans Wins Contract for EstLink 2 Power Submarine Link Between Finland and Estonia

| work = OilVoice

| date = 2010-12-26

| accessdate = 2010-12-31

| url-access = subscription

}}

{{cite press release

|url = http://www.fingrid.fi/portal/in_english/news_and_releases/press_releases?bid=1207

|title = Contractors chosen for new submarine cable connection between Finland and Estonia:total value of contracts almost 300 million euros

|publisher = Fingrid

|date = 2010-12-23

|accessdate = 2010-12-31

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720015227/http://www.fingrid.fi/portal/in_english/news_and_releases/press_releases?bid=1207

|archivedate = 2011-07-20

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6BM0MK20101223

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130201061052/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6BM0MK20101223

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = February 1, 2013

| title = Nexans Norway, Siemens win Estlink 2 contracts

| work = Reuters

| first = Terhi | last = Kinnunen

| date = 2010-12-23

| accessdate = 2010-12-31}}

Laying of the cable started on 15 October 2012 and it is laid by the cable ship Nexans Skagerrak.

{{cite news

| url = http://subseaworldnews.com/2012/10/15/estlink-2-submarine-cable-laying-between-finland-and-estonia-starts/

| title = EstLink 2 Submarine Cable Laying between Finland and Estonia Starts

| work= Subsea World News

| date = 2012-10-15

| accessdate = 2012-10-15}}

{{cite press release|title=Laying of EstLink 2 submarine cable has been started|date=2012-10-15|publisher=Elering|url=http://estlink2.elering.ee/news-2/?article=15955|accessdate=2014-01-12}}

The cable testing started on 22 October 2013.

{{cite press release

| url = http://estlink2.elering.ee/news-2/?article=16991

| title = Testing of EstLink 2 Started on October 22nd

| publisher = Elering

| date = 2013-10-22

| accessdate = 2014-01-12}}

A trial operation started on 6 December 2013 and continued until 6 February 2014 after which it started commercial operations.{{cite press release

| url = http://www.fingrid.fi/en/news/announcements/Pages/EstLink-2-commissioning-tests-ran-smoothly.aspx

| title = EstLink 2 commissioning tests ran smoothly

| publisher = Fingrid

| date = 2013-10-22

| accessdate = 2014-01-12

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140112190729/http://www.fingrid.fi/en/news/announcements/Pages/EstLink-2-commissioning-tests-ran-smoothly.aspx

| archive-date = 2014-01-12

| url-status = dead

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://news.err.ee/v/economy/f939f987-c97e-4773-933d-21f55b024c71

| title = Power Cable EstLink 2 Enters Service

| agency = ERR

| date = 2014-02-10

| accessdate = 2014-03-08}}

It was officially inaugurated on 6 March 2014.

{{cite news

| url = http://news.err.ee/v/economy/e9374d13-2c32-4097-b1bd-9c97751c2393

| title = Estlink 2 to Open, Tripling Power Flow Across Gulf

| agency = ERR

| date = 2014-03-06

| accessdate = 2014-03-08}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/energy/?doc=88700

| title = EstLink 2 officially inaugurated

| agency = ERR

| date = 2014-03-07

| accessdate = 2014-03-08}}

The cable experienced an outage on 26 January 2024 originating from the Estonian coast. After repair work was concluded, the connection resumed commercial operation on 4 September 2024.

{{cite news

| url = https://www.fingrid.fi/en/news/news/2024/the-estlink-2-electricity-interconnector-between-finland-and-estonia-returns-to-commercial-operation

| title = The EstLink 2 electricity interconnector between Finland and Estonia returns to commercial operation

| agency = Fingrid

| date = 3 September 2024

| accessdate = 17 September 2024}}

{{Main article|2024 Estlink 2 incident}}

On 25 December 2024, an unplanned outage in Estlink 2 reduced the Estonia–Finland cross-border capacity from 1,016 MW to 358 MW.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-26 |title=Unavailability of electricity facilities : Transmission |url=https://umm.nordpoolgroup.com/#/messages/79210ee1-3395-4f75-a972-7b03888b107a/5 |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Nord Pool — UMM Platform |publisher=Fingrid Oyj}} Fingrid expects the outage to last until August 2025. At the time of the outage, electricity was flowing from Finland to Estonia at a rate of 658 MW. Concerns about potential sabotage have arisen due to recent outages in the Baltic Sea region, although subsea cables are also prone to technical malfunctions and accidents. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo confirmed that authorities were investigating the incident.{{Cite web |date=December 25, 2024 |title=Finland investigates outage of undersea power link to Estonia, Finnish PM says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-investigates-outage-undersea-power-link-estonia-finnish-pm-says-2024-12-25/ |website=Reuters}}

At early evening, the Finnish Border Guard escorted the tanker {{ship||Eagle S}}, a part of Russia's shadow fleet according to Lloyd's List, to Porkkalanniemi. By early morning on 26 December, both vessels were still near Porkkala.

A statement released by the European Commission described the Eagle S as part of Russia's shadow fleet.{{Cite web |title=Estonia navy to protect undersea power link after main cable damaged |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1elq7lx9qdo |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

The total length of Estlink 2 is {{convert|171|km}}, including a {{convert|145|km|mi|adj=on}} long offshore cable, a {{convert|12|km|mi|adj=on}} long onshore cable in Estonia, and {{convert|14|km}} of overhead lines in Finland. The {{convert|12|km|mi|adj=on}} long underground cable starts at the Püssi substation and runs the coast of the Gulf of Finland at Aseri. From there the {{convert|145|km|mi|adj=on}} long offshore cable runs to the Nikuviken cable terminal station in Finland. The Nikuviken cable terminal station is connected with the Attila converter station by the {{convert|14|km|adj=on}} long overhead line, which is installed on 63 pylons.

Estlink 2 is a classic bidirectional monopolar high-voltage direct current connection with line-commutated converter thyristors. Its maximum transmission rate is 650 MW and it operates with a voltage of 450 kV. Its estimated cost was about €320 million, of which converter stations cost €100 million and cable €180 million. The European Commission has decided to allocate €100 million to the project.

{{cite news

|url = http://estonia.eu/news/150-european-commission-endorses-estlink-2-investment.html

|title = European Commission endorses Estlink 2 investment

|publisher = Estonia.eu

|agency = Baltic News Service

|date = 2010-07-12

|access-date = 2010-10-02

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100716142533/http://estonia.eu/news/150-european-commission-endorses-estlink-2-investment.html

|archivedate = 2010-07-16

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/231&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

| title = Economic Recovery: Second batch of 4-billion-euro package goes to 43 pipeline and electricity projects

| publisher = European Commission

| date = 2010-03-04

| access-date = 2010-03-08}}

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=List of waypoints}}

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{{hidden end}}

On June 28, 2022, Elering and Fingrid signed a memorandum of understanding to begin planning for a third submarine cable, EstLink3, with a capacity of up to 1000 MW, expected to be completed by 2035.{{cite web|first1=Patrycja|last1=Rapacka|access-date=2022-07-27|title=Elering and Fingrid begin planning for EstLink 3 submarine cable|url=https://balticwind.eu/elering-and-fingrid-begin-planning-for-estlink-3-submarine-cable/|date=2022-06-28}}{{cite web|access-date=2022-07-27|title=Elering ja Fingrid käivitavad ühistegevused EstLink 3 rajamiseks - Elering|url=https://elering.ee/elering-ja-fingrid-kaivitavad-uhistegevused-estlink-3-rajamiseks|website=elering.ee|language=et|date=2022-06-28}}

{{Portal|Estonia|Finland|Energy}}

• Balticconnector (gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland)
• NordBalt (between Lithuania and Sweden)
• Fenno-Skan (between Finland and Sweden)
• Baltic Cable (between Germany and Sweden)
• SwePol (between Poland and Sweden)
• List of HVDC projects
• 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060923071718/http://www.nordicenergylink.com/index.php?keel=eng Nordic Energy Link]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120327061917/http://www.fingrid.fi/attachments/newsletter/estlink_2_newsletter_issue_2_may_2011.pdf Estlink 2 Newsletter. issue 2, May 2011] (PDF)

{{GeoGroup}}

Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Baltic grid

Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Synchronous Grid of Continental Europe

Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Nordic grid

Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2006

Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2014

Category:HVDC transmission lines

Category:Submarine power cables

Category:Connections across the Baltic Sea

Category:Electric power infrastructure in Estonia

Category:Electric power infrastructure in Finland

Category:Estonia–Finland relations

Category:2006 establishments in Estonia

Category:2006 establishments in Finland

Category:Gulf of Finland