Elering completes Estonian electricity system’s main substation for 16.3 million euros in Ida-Virumaa

Elering has completed the 16.3 million-euro Viru main substation in Auvere, Ida-Virumaa, which unites the entire Estonian electricity system more strongly into one unit and significantly reduces the influence of the Russian electricity system on the operation of the local electricity system.

The Viru substation is one of the country’s most important substations, where the 330-kilovolt lines supplying western Estonian and Tallinn as well as south Estonia are connected into a single unit. The substation is also an important transit node as it connects the 330-kilovolt lines to the Russian and Latvian electricity networks.

“With the completion of the Viru substation, Estonia’s energy security has increased significantly. From now on, the Estonian electricity system can also operate risk-free in situations where the Narva power stations are not operational,” said Chairman of the Elering Board Taavi Veskimägi.

Construction work started from scratch in May 2015 and within two years substation boxes for the connection of three 330-kilovolt overhead lines and six Enefit Energiatootmine AS power units were completed. During construction, six new 330-kilovolt overhead line connections between the substation and power station were erected, and a new substation control building was built. Work was complicated by the fact that at least five power units had to remain connected to the electricity system at all times.

The reconstruction of the Viru 330-kilovolt substation took place in two stages. The first stage’s reconstruction work from 2011-2013 and the second stage’s substation construction in 2015-2017 were carried out by Empower AS, which presented the successful tender for the public procurement.

Elering is an independent electricity and gas transmission system operator whose main task is to ensure a high-quality energy supply for Estonian consumers.