03.11.2023 13:17
Consolidated MWP Baltic-Finnish region 10.2023-12.2024_updated 03.11.2023
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458 KBGas system
Elering provides a natural gas transmission service that involves gas transport through the transmission network from the Estonian state border to the clients’ connection points.
Elering gained control of the natural gas transmission system in January 2015. The gas transmission network operated until the end of the same year under the name of Elering Gaas AS. Since the beginning of 2016, Elering has combined the electricity and gas transmission networks into one company and has continued operations as a united system operator.
Transmission network
The Estonian gas transmission network comprises 977 km of gas pipeline, 36 gas distribution stations, three gas-metering stations, two compressor stations and one gas regulation station*.
At the gas-metering stations, measurements are made of the volume and quality of the gas entering the gas transmission network. At the gas distribution stations, the pressure of the gas coming from the transmission network and entering the distribution networks is lowered, measurement and aromatisation take place, and the consumption regime agreed with the clients is ensured.
According to the Natural Gas Act, the gas transmission network comprises gas pipelines with an operational pressure of more than 16 bar and the permanent structures as well as all management, safety, connective and measuring system equipment required for the transmission system’s operations, management and development, which are necessary for gas transmission and for the establishment of connections with the networks of other countries or for gas transit.
The main developments and investments in the gas transmission network are connected with the development of the regional gas market and the improvement of security of supply. The most important project among these is Balticconnector to connect the Estonian and Finnish gas transmission networks. More detailed information on the transmission network and related developments can be found in the development plan for the gas transmission network for the next ten years (attached).
Development Plan
According to the Natural Gas Act Elering composes annually the ten-year development plan of the gas transmission network.
Summaries of the electricity and gas system
Elering publishes a summary of the electricity and gas system every month on its website, outlining the most important figures from the previous month in the electricity and gas systems and analysing the reason for the changes and their effect. Summaries can be viewed at the information centre.
Toleration payment
The gas transmission network is mostly located on land owned by third parties. According to the Law of Property Act, a landowner has the right to apply for toleration payments for technical networks and installations. More information on toleration payments is available here.
* Data updated as of 01.01.2022
Technical capacity is the maximum firm capacity that the transmission system operator (TSO) can offer to network users, by taking system integrity and the operational requirements of the transmission network into account. The technical transmission capacity is calculated and offered to network users at all the relevant entry-exit points of the Estonian natural gas transmission system.
For technical capacity calculation, the entire transmission network and its associated parameters must be taken into account. As the transmission network is a large and complicated system of pipelines, SIMONE software for the gas pipeline hydraulic calculations is used to carry out technical capacity calculations. SIMONE allows a descriptive model of the transmission network to be created and can carry out static and dynamic gas network simulations.
The transmission network model created in SIMONE describes the transmission network and its dynamics as precisely as possible. In creating the network model and conducting the simulation in SIMONE, the following network components and parameters are taken into account:
- Pressures at the border points
- Pipe length
- Pipe diameter
- Pipe roughness
- Valve assemblies
- Regulation assemblies
- Compressor stations
- Gas-metering stations (GMS)
- Gas distribution stations (GDS)
- Parameters limiting the transmission network (e.g. maximum operating pressure of pipes; GDS minimum pressure; maximum permissible gas velocity in the pipelines)
In addition to transmission network, the calculation of the technical capacity also takes into account gas demand, gas supply scenarios, planned investments and, at the time of the calculation, all the known maintenance works on the pipeline for the upcoming period.
Consolidated Maintenance Works plan of Baltic - Finnish region for the period from October 2023 to December 2024
Baltic – Finnish region gas transmission system operators AB Amber Grid, Conexus Baltic Grid AS, Elering AS and Gasgrid Finland Oy (TSOs) and LNG terminal operators AB Klaipedos nafta and Floating LNG Terminal Finland Oy (LTOs) have jointly prepared the Consolidated Maintenance Works plan of Baltic - Finnish region for the period from October 2023 to December 2024. The maintenance works plan contains scheduled maintenance works of gas transmission system, LNG terminals and Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage and capacities offered to the market participants.
The published Consolidated Maintenance Works plan describes the situation on 3th of November 2023 and is available HERE.
Please note that the direction (entry/exit) for the capacity indicated in the document is from the TSO’s or LTO’s perspective who is performing the related maintenance work. For instance, Vireši-Tallinn inspection performed by Elering limits Balticconnector entry capacity from Elering point of view (FIN->EE). This means that limitation affects exit direction from Gasgrid point of view (FIN->EE).
Any updates to the Consolidated Maintenance Works plan after 3th of November 2023 will be primarily published as Urgent Market Messages (UMM) on GET Baltic inside information platform.
Up-to-date information on the technical capacity values can be found on the ENTSOG Transparency Platform.
To ensure up-to-date information, please carefully follow the following information channels:
Ensuring Safe Operation and Maintaining Gas Supply Integrity in the Baltic - Finnish region
Gas transmission infrastructure plays a vital role in supplying gas in the Baltic - Finnish region, and maintaining its safe and reliable operation is of utmost importance. To ensure the gas transmission system's integrity, periodic inspection and maintenance works are necessary, as stipulated by technical maintenance regulations. These regulations define the scope and frequency of maintenance, inspection, and diagnostic works, aligning with equipment manufacturer instructions and regulatory requirements. Due to these reasons internal diagnostics and maintenance works for the Vireši-Tallinn and Riga-Panevėžys pipelines are included in the next year’s maintenance works plan. Accordingly, the upcoming diagnostic work is scheduled for 2023 on the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline, with diagnostics on the Riga-Panevėžys pipeline planned for 2024 that will result in limitations of interconnection capacities. These periodic tasks are integral to the overall Baltic - Finnish region gas supply system's proper functioning, including the Balticconnector. The Vireši-Tallinn gas pipeline was constructed between 1988 and 1990, therefore, regular maintenance and repair works are essential to ensure the pipeline's safe operation and reliability of the region's gas supply.
It is crucial to note that the maintenance of the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline was already cancelled in 2022 due to challenges in the regional gas supply situation with the gas delivery stop to Finland via Imatra, leading to a reduction in the allowable operating pressure in the Latvian gas transmission system. Subsequent postponements of the scheduled works are not possible.
Executing the necessary diagnostic work on the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline presents specific challenges, especially with regards to the technical capacity of the Balticconnector. To tackle these challenges, Conexus Baltic Grid has proposed conducting the diagnostic work in October 2023, with the aim of minimizing associated risks and potential impacts on regional gas supply security. Additionally, it has been decided to reschedule the inspection of identified defects from January 2024 to July 2024. In the exceptional situation where significant defects are discovered, an Urgent Market Message (UMM) will be promptly published, and repairs will have to be addressed on an unplanned basis. It is important to note that if the regional gas supply situation worsens, the planned diagnostic work can be temporarily halted to ensure immediate restoration of full capacity if needed.
The completion of repair works on the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline and the ongoing ELLI project is aiming to achieve the certification for the higher allowable operating pressure by the end of 2023. Once the regional infrastructure projects have been commissioned, the Balticconnector technical capacity will be re-assessed with the aim of increasing it from the current level.
The TSOs and LTOs have a common objective to develop further the process of Consolidated Maintenance Work Planning having the target to increase the level of predictability of the maintenance works to the extent possible and minimizing the impacts of the works to the market participants by deepening the regional co-operation even more in maintenance work scheduling. The TSOs and LTOs are about to develop a longer-term maintenance work plan which provides the tools to respond to the above-mentioned objectives better.
Technical capacity is the maximum firm capacity that the transmission system operator (TSO) can offer to network users, by taking system integrity and the operational requirements of the transmission network into account. The technical transmission capacity is calculated and offered to network users at all the relevant entry-exit points of the Estonian natural gas transmission system.
For technical capacity calculation, the entire transmission network and its associated parameters must be taken into account. As the transmission network is a large and complicated system of pipelines, SIMONE software for the gas pipeline hydraulic calculations is used to carry out technical capacity calculations. SIMONE allows a descriptive model of the transmission network to be created and can carry out static and dynamic gas network simulations.
The transmission network model created in SIMONE describes the transmission network and its dynamics as precisely as possible. In creating the network model and conducting the simulation in SIMONE, the following network components and parameters are taken into account:
- Pressures at the border points
- Pipe length
- Pipe diameter
- Pipe roughness
- Valve assemblies
- Regulation assemblies
- Compressor stations
- Gas-metering stations (GMS)
- Gas distribution stations (GDS)
- Parameters limiting the transmission network (e.g. maximum operating pressure of pipes; GDS minimum pressure; maximum permissible gas velocity in the pipelines)
In addition to transmission network, the calculation of the technical capacity also takes into account gas demand, gas supply scenarios, planned investments and, at the time of the calculation, all the known maintenance works on the pipeline for the upcoming period.
Consolidated Maintenance Works plan of Baltic - Finnish region for the period from October 2023 to December 2024
Baltic – Finnish region gas transmission system operators AB Amber Grid, Conexus Baltic Grid AS, Elering AS and Gasgrid Finland Oy (TSOs) and LNG terminal operators AB Klaipedos nafta and Floating LNG Terminal Finland Oy (LTOs) have jointly prepared the Consolidated Maintenance Works plan of Baltic - Finnish region for the period from October 2023 to December 2024. The maintenance works plan contains scheduled maintenance works of gas transmission system, LNG terminals and Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage and capacities offered to the market participants.
The published Consolidated Maintenance Works plan describes the situation on 3th of November 2023 and is available HERE.
Please note that the direction (entry/exit) for the capacity indicated in the document is from the TSO’s or LTO’s perspective who is performing the related maintenance work. For instance, Vireši-Tallinn inspection performed by Elering limits Balticconnector entry capacity from Elering point of view (FIN->EE). This means that limitation affects exit direction from Gasgrid point of view (FIN->EE).
Any updates to the Consolidated Maintenance Works plan after 3th of November 2023 will be primarily published as Urgent Market Messages (UMM) on GET Baltic inside information platform.
Up-to-date information on the technical capacity values can be found on the ENTSOG Transparency Platform.
To ensure up-to-date information, please carefully follow the following information channels:
Ensuring Safe Operation and Maintaining Gas Supply Integrity in the Baltic - Finnish region
Gas transmission infrastructure plays a vital role in supplying gas in the Baltic - Finnish region, and maintaining its safe and reliable operation is of utmost importance. To ensure the gas transmission system's integrity, periodic inspection and maintenance works are necessary, as stipulated by technical maintenance regulations. These regulations define the scope and frequency of maintenance, inspection, and diagnostic works, aligning with equipment manufacturer instructions and regulatory requirements. Due to these reasons internal diagnostics and maintenance works for the Vireši-Tallinn and Riga-Panevėžys pipelines are included in the next year’s maintenance works plan. Accordingly, the upcoming diagnostic work is scheduled for 2023 on the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline, with diagnostics on the Riga-Panevėžys pipeline planned for 2024 that will result in limitations of interconnection capacities. These periodic tasks are integral to the overall Baltic - Finnish region gas supply system's proper functioning, including the Balticconnector. The Vireši-Tallinn gas pipeline was constructed between 1988 and 1990, therefore, regular maintenance and repair works are essential to ensure the pipeline's safe operation and reliability of the region's gas supply.
It is crucial to note that the maintenance of the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline was already cancelled in 2022 due to challenges in the regional gas supply situation with the gas delivery stop to Finland via Imatra, leading to a reduction in the allowable operating pressure in the Latvian gas transmission system. Subsequent postponements of the scheduled works are not possible.
Executing the necessary diagnostic work on the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline presents specific challenges, especially with regards to the technical capacity of the Balticconnector. To tackle these challenges, Conexus Baltic Grid has proposed conducting the diagnostic work in October 2023, with the aim of minimizing associated risks and potential impacts on regional gas supply security. Additionally, it has been decided to reschedule the inspection of identified defects from January 2024 to July 2024. In the exceptional situation where significant defects are discovered, an Urgent Market Message (UMM) will be promptly published, and repairs will have to be addressed on an unplanned basis. It is important to note that if the regional gas supply situation worsens, the planned diagnostic work can be temporarily halted to ensure immediate restoration of full capacity if needed.
The completion of repair works on the Vireši-Tallinn pipeline and the ongoing ELLI project is aiming to achieve the certification for the higher allowable operating pressure by the end of 2023. Once the regional infrastructure projects have been commissioned, the Balticconnector technical capacity will be re-assessed with the aim of increasing it from the current level.
The TSOs and LTOs have a common objective to develop further the process of Consolidated Maintenance Work Planning having the target to increase the level of predictability of the maintenance works to the extent possible and minimizing the impacts of the works to the market participants by deepening the regional co-operation even more in maintenance work scheduling. The TSOs and LTOs are about to develop a longer-term maintenance work plan which provides the tools to respond to the above-mentioned objectives better.