Estonian electricity system

The Estonian electricity system connects the power stations in Estonia, the network operators and electricity consumers. The Estonian electricity system in turn belongs to the larger synchronised united system BRELL, which controls the AC power lines connecting Estonia to the neighbouring countries of Latvia and Russia, and in turn with their neighbours Lithuania and Belarus.

Estlink, a direct current undersea cable between Estonia and Finland, has also been in operation since the end of 2006, and is of great symbolism for the connection of the electricity systems of the Baltic and Nordic states. Construction work will start in early 2011 on the EstLink 2 undersea cable between Estonia and Finland. EstLink2 will be the second undersea cable between Estonia and Finland, and will be 170 km long, with around 140 km under water. The new connection will start working in 2014.

The main grid of the Estonian electricity system contains:

• 1540 kilometres of 330 kV lines
• 184 kilometres of 220 kV lines
• 3476 kilometres of 110 kV lines
• 61 kilometres of35 kV lines
• 151 substations

Three 330 kV lines connect Estonia with Russia, two running from Narva to St Petersburg and Kingisepp, and one linking Tartu and Pskov, and we are connected to the Latvian system by two 330 kV lines, one between Tartu and Valmiera, and one between Tsirguliina and Valmiera. Estonia is connected to Finland by the Harku-Espoo 150 kV DC cable.

Elering works as the the Transmission System Operator of the Estonian electricity system, with responsibility for planning the functioning of the system and managing it so that the safe and reliable operation of the network is always guaranteed. As well as enabling the transmission of electricity, Elering is also responsible for managing the balance of the system so that it is in balance at all times.